Except in situations where different zoning districts abut, landscape features such as hedges, trees, shrubs, and yard structures, such as vertical trellis, fences, walls, pools, and outdoor fireplaces, may be permitted in a required yard, but subject to the following limitations and in the following manner:
(a) The unpaved or unimproved portions of required front yards, side yards, rear yards and other open spaces of all lots in all zoning districts which are not in a natural wooded state or in which the natural state has been disturbed by grading or filling, shall be landscaped with sod, seed, or other horticultural materials within six months from the date of issuance of a certificate of occupancy. This provision shall not be construed to prohibit private gardening, greenhouses or farming operations.
(b) All fences and walls shall be constructed in such a manner so as to have the finished side facing out.
(c) Fences or hedges along a side lot line between the building setback line and the street line shall not exceed more than three feet above the finished grade, provided that in the case of a fence, at least seventy-five percent of the vertical surface is open to light and air and such fence is uniformly painted and well maintained. In the case of a corner lot, landscape features may be located within a triangle formed by lines drawn between points on the front and side lot lines twenty-five feet from their intersection, measured along the side line of the streets, provided the normal sight lines within a vertical height band of two and one-half feet to six feet above the curb level are not obstructed except for posts or tree trunks free of branches.
(Ord. 13-95. Passed 3-21-95.)
(d) All landscape features and yard structures are permitted in the rear yard. Fences, walls or hedges may be permitted along the side and rear yard lot line to a height of not more than six feet above finished grade, provided such fence is well maintained. (Ord. 34-95. Passed 6-6-95.)
(e) Fences and walls over three feet in height and all accessory buildings shall require a building permit.
(f) All required buffer strips shall be landscaped with sod, seed, or other horticultural materials.
(g) One evergreen tree shall be planted for every fifteen feet of length of the buffer strip. In addition to the evergreen trees, one deciduous tree shall be planted for every thirty feet of length of buffer strip. For landscaping and buffer yards within the required front yard, three accent shrubs for every ten feet of length of buffer shall be planted in addition to the required evergreen trees and deciduous trees. (See subsection (i) hereof for a list of suggested plantings.)
(h) In no case shall a fence, shrub, or evergreen be located within three feet of the right-of-way line.
(i) Suggested plantings for landscaping buffer strips shall be as follows:
Suggested Plantings | Required Size for Planting Stock |
Evergreen Trees: | All evergreen trees shall be a minimum of six to eight feet in height. |
Canadian Hemlock | |
Japanese Black Pine | |
White Pine | |
Deciduous Ornamental Trees: | Required Size of Planting Stock |
Flowering Crabapple | All deciduous ornamental trees shall be a minimum caliper of one and three-quarter (1 3/4) inches. |
Flowering Cherry | |
Smoke Bush | |
Clump Birch | |
Dogwood | |
Redbud | |
Rose of Sharon | |
Accent Shrubs: | |
Viburnum | |
Mock Orange | |
Butterfly Bush | |
Spirea | |
Cottoneaster | All deciduous shrub plantings shall be a minimum of two to three feet in height. |
Trees that are not permitted in off-street parking areas or buffer strips: | |
Box Elders | Poplars and Cottonwoods |
Silver Maples | Chinese Tree of Heaven |
Fruit Trees | All thorned trees and shrubs |
Nut Trees | |
Willows | |
Elms | |
(Ord. 13-95. Passed 3-21-95.)