(A) Unless an exception is granted pursuant to § 155.103 of this chapter, the required screening and buffer strip shall, at a minimum, conform to the standards prescribed by either one of the alternatives listed for the grade of screen and buffer required in §§ 155.096, 155.097, 155.098 and 155.099 of this chapter. The alternatives for a Grade 1 buffer are listed and illustrated in Figure 1. The alternatives for a Grade 2 buffer are listed and illustrated in Figure 2. The alternatives for a Grade 3 buffer are listed and illustrated in Figure 3. The alternatives for a Grade 4 buffer are listed and illustrated in Figure 4. The alternatives for a Grade 5 buffer are listed and illustrated in Figure 5. The alternatives for a Grade 6 buffer are listed and illustrated in Figure 6.
(B) To the extent that existing natural vegetation located on the same parcel of land as the proposed development can meet the required screening levels of this section, the use of such materials is encouraged. In such case, the owner shall designate the land on which such materials are rooted, which shall contain at least the minimum width required for the alternative chosen, as the designated buffer area. (See § 155.107 of this chapter.) Additional plantings shall be added, if the buffer is deficient in any way.
(C) (1) To determine the total number of plants required, the length of each side of the property requiring a screen/buffer, minus the area covered by a sight distance triangle as required in § 155.105 of this chapter shall be divided by 100 and multiplied by the number of plants listed for the required screen/buffer. When units of measurement determining the number of required trees shrubs result in a fractional tree or shrub, any fraction of one-half or more shall require one tree or shrub.
(2) For example, an industrial property 180 feet wide in the rear, which abuts a R-20 District, requires a 20-foot buffer. The calculations for the minimum required number of trees and shrubs is as follows:
180, 100 = 1.80
1.80 x 12 trees = 21.6 trees or 22 required
1.80 x 20 shrubs = 36 shrubs required
(D) For required screen/buffers, more than one alternative is shown. The owner of the lot which is required to provide screening and buffering may choose among these options. Unless an alternative prescribes a wall, fence or berm, such measures shall not be substituted for the required amount of plant materials, nor shall such measures be substituted for any required buffer width, except as provided for in § 155.103 of this chapter; provided, however, this requirement shall not prevent the owner from installing such measures as added screening above the minimum so long as all required plant materials are installed on the side of any wall or fence opposite the new development. (See Figure 7.)
(F) No structure other than a wall, fence, sidewalk, mailbox, sign or driveway shall be permitted within a required screen area. No off-street parking may take place in any required screen area. Where plant materials are required, the required amount of plant materials shall be installed on the side of any wall or fence opposite the new development (see Figure 7) unless a waiver of such requirement is granted pursuant to § 155.103 of this chapter.
(G) The height of any screen material required by this chapter in the vicinity of a point of ingress and egress may not exceed three feet in height within the sight triangle depicted in Figure 8.
Area and Height Specifications for Screening Materials at Ingress/Egress Points
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(Ord. passed - -, § 5.4.6) Penalty, see § 10.99