(A) General. The purpose of the buffer yard is to provide a transitional area between uses that may differ in development intensity and density. A BUFFER YARD is defined as a planting yard that serves as a visual separation between uses and should be densely planted. No buildings or parking areas may encroach within the buffer yard.
(1) (a) Where a commercial, office, multi-family, institutional or industrial (non-residential) proposed use abuts an existing residential use or residential zoning district, the developer is required to provide a vegetative buffer yard between the residential and proposed uses. This shall be accomplished through the use of densely planted landscaping that would provide complete visual separation within three years of planting, or a combination of shrubs and a six foot fence constructed of masonry or pressure-treated lumber. The buffer yard between non-residential and residential uses shall be eight feet in width. Buffer yards are required to use a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees as well as shrubs. This allows for a more natural setting and doesn’t limit the design to one type of plant that could become diseased and perish, leaving open gaps. All buffer yards are to be maintained and any dead plants shall be removed immediately and are to be replaced as soon as weather permits.
(b) No such buffer shall, however, extend nearer to a street right-of-way line than the established building line of the adjoining residential lot.
(2) When any parking area is located within 100 feet of an abutting property and no buffer yard is required by division (A)(1) above, a planting yard which is a minimum of five feet wide shall be planted between the parking area and the abutting property line, except along approved driveway openings which run perpendicular to the planting strip. One large evergreen or deciduous tree and five evergreen or deciduous shrubs shall be planted for every 40 linear feet of property line that parallels the parking lot area. Fifty percent of these trees and shrubs may be counted toward the parking lot trees and shrubs required in § 152.133 of this chapter, if the planting yard is located within 20 feet of the parking lot area.
(B) Exception: adjacent businesses on separate lots which share parking or driveways shall be exempt from this requirement provided that the required planting yard would interfere with the reasonable use of the shared parking or driveway. Parking areas located behind buildings and screened from view from a public street shall be exempt from this requirement.
(Ord. passed 3-14-2005; Ord. passed 7-13-2015; Ord. passed 10-10-2016; Ord. passed 3-14-2019, § 704)