(A) Screening in residential districts:
(1) Screening shall be required in residential districts where:
(a) Any off-street parking area contains more than four parking spaces and is within 30 feet of an adjoining residential district; and
(b) Where the driveway to a parking area of more than four parking spaces is within 15 feet of an adjoining residential district.
(2) In residential districts, all materials and equipment shall be stored within a building or fully screened (so as to not be visible) from adjoining properties except for the following: laundry drying and recreational equipment, construction and landscaping materials and equipment currently being used on the premises, agricultural equipment and materials if these are used or intended for use on the premises, off-street parking of passenger automobiles and pickup trucks. The use of any residential lot whether inside or outside a building, and the use of any open portion of the half of any lot that joins any street for the storage, keeping or abandonment of junk or scrap materials, and the dismantling, demolition or abandonment of automobiles or other vehicles is prohibited unless otherwise permitted by this chapter. Minor automobile repair may occur out of doors; major automobile repair must occur within a garage.
(B) Screening in business, industrial and institutional districts:
(1) Where any business, institutional or industrial use (that is, structure, parking or storage) is adjacent to and within 100 feet of property zoned for residential use, that business or industry shall provide screening along the boundary of the residential property. Screening shall also be provided where a business or industry is across the street from a residential zone, but not on that side of a business or industry considered to be the front (as determined by the building inspector).
(2) In business, industrial and institutional districts, all exterior storage shall be screened. The exceptions are:
(a) Retail merchandise being displayed as permitted by this chapter; and
(b) Materials and equipment being used for construction on the premises.
(C) In all zoning districts, all waste material, debris, refuse or garbage shall be kept in an enclosed building or enclosed within a container. The container shall be completely screened by a wall or an equivalent visual screen. The screen or enclosed building shall be architecturally compatible with the principal building it serves.
(D) Type of screening.
(1) The screening required in this section shall consist of an attractive solid fence or wall or landscaping or earth berm but shall not extend within 30 feet of any public street where the screening in excess of three feet in height is needed.
(2) Where landscaping, such as a hedge, is used, the landscape feature shall provide a year-round solid screen before the requirements of this section are met.
(3) Natural features, such as differences in elevation, tree masses or similar natural features, may negate the need for man-made screening in certain areas. This determination shall be made by the Zoning Administrator.
(E) It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to maintain all screening so as not to be unsightly, a nuisance or create a hazard or safety problem.
(‘81 Code, § A1-55) (Ord. 291, passed 4-21-83)