(A) Screening. Screening shall be used to eliminate or reduce the visual impacts of the following uses:
(1) Commercial and industrial uses when abutting residential uses.
(2) Industrial uses when abutting commercial uses.
(3) Service areas and facilities, including garbage and waste disposal containers, recycling bins, and loading areas.
(4) Outdoor storage areas.
(5) Parking areas for 20 or more vehicles.
(6) At and above grade electrical and mechanical equipment, such as transformers, heat pumps, and air conditioners.
(B) Screening methods. Screening may be accomplished by using sight obscuring plant materials (generally evergreens), earth berms, walls, fences, building parapets, building placement or other design techniques. Screening should be a minimum height of 6 feet.
(C) Buffering. Buffering is required between an industrial use and any non-industrial use to mitigate adverse visual impacts, dust, noise or pollution, and to provide for compatibility between dissimilar adjoining uses. Where buffering is required, one of the following buffering alternatives shall be employed:
(1) Planting area. Width not less than 15 feet, planted with either one row of trees staggered and spaced not more than fifteen 15 feet apart; or, at least one row of shrubs forming a continuous hedge at least 5 feet in height within 2 years of planting.
(2) Berm plus planting area. Width not less than 10 feet, with the combined total height of the berm and hedge not less than 5 feet.
(3) Wall plus planting area. Width must not be less than 5 feet with a masonry wall or fence not less than 5 feet in height and lawn, shrubs or ground cover covering the remaining area.
(4) Other approved methods which produce an adequate buffer considering the nature of the impacts to be mitigated.
(Ord. 2021-08-02, passed 10-12-2021)