New development shall provide landscaping and screening yards as provided in Section 1282.06. Walls and fences, plants, and mounds, as listed in subsections (a)-(c) below, are suitable for screening use individually or in combination with each other to create a dense screen, subject to review and approval by the Planning Commission.
(a) Walls and Fences. Walls and fences used to fulfill screening requirements shall be so detailed on the site plan. Walls and fences shall be constructed of weather-proof materials, including pressure treated, redwood or cedar lumber and aluminum or galvanized hardware. Except as specifically noted, chain link fences with or without wooded or synthetic slat material shall not be allowed when used to satisfy landscaping and screening requirements. Chain link fences may be used to screen outdoor storage areas and auto service enclosures required by Section 1276.11
.
(b) Plants. All plants are to be living and part of the acceptable plant lists in Section 1282.11
. Plant materials used in conformance with the provisions of this section shall conform to the standards of the American Association of Nurserymen and shall have passed any inspection required under state regulations. Trees shall be balled and burlapped or in containers. Shrubs, vines and ground covers can be planted as bare root as well as balled and burlapped or containers. Nursery stock identification tags shall not be removed from any planting prior to inspection and approval of final installation by the City.
(1) Deciduous Trees. Deciduous trees shall have a minimum caliper of at least 2 ½ inches conforming to acceptable nursery industry procedures at the time of planting. If deciduous trees are to be used for screening purposes, additional materials listed in this section must be used to create a dense buffer.
(2) Evergreen Trees. Evergreen trees shall be a minimum of 6 feet in height at the time of planting. Evergreen plantings shall be designed to provide an effective, dense screen within 4 years of planting.
(3) Shrubs and Hedges. Shrubs and hedges shall be at least 36 inches in height at the time of planting, when plant material is used for screening. All shrubs and hedges shall be designed to provide an effective, dense screen and mature height of at least 6 feet within 4 years after the date of the final approval of each planting, except as required in Section 1282.08(a). The height at installation of the planting shall be measured from the level of the surface of the plant base at the edge closest to the screening.
(4) Grass or Ground Cover. Grass of the fescus, bluegrass or perennial rye families shall be planted in species normally grown as permanent lawns in Medina County. In swales or other areas subject to erosion, solid sod, erosion reducing net, or suitable mulch shall be used and nursegrass seed shall be sown for immediate protection until complete coverage is achieved. Grass sod shall be clean and free of weeds and noxious pests or diseases. Ground cover shall be planted in such a manner as to provide 75 percent complete coverage after two growing seasons.
(5) Existing Material. The Planning Commission may approve the use of existing plant material to comply with the landscaping and screening requirements of this Chapter. In reviewing such proposals, the Commission shall consider whether the existing material is capable of performing the landscaping or screening functions required by this Chapter, by reason of its size, density, location, deciduous or evergreen foliage, and other characteristics. The Commission shall also consider the likelihood that the plant material will survive construction-related disruptions, including soil compaction and changes in grading and drainage. Existing vegetation shall be preserved in accordance with acceptable nursery industry procedures.
(6) Mulch. Mulch shall be shredded hardwood bark installed to a depth of 3 inches. Rock or shredded rubber shall not be used to mulch landscape beds. Mulch beds shall be delineated on landscape plans.
(c) Mounds. Mounds or berms may be used as physical barriers which block or screen a view. Differences in elevation between areas requiring screening do not constitute a mound. Mounds shall conform to the following standards:
(1) The maximum side slope shall be 3 feet horizontal to one foot vertical (3:1). The design shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission to ensure that proper erosion prevention and control practices have been utilized and that irrigation or other means are provided to insure plant material will have sufficient moisture for survival.
(2) Mounds shall be designed with physical variations in height and alignment throughout their length.
(3) Landscape plant material installed on mounds shall be arranged in an irregular pattern to accentuate the physical variation and achieve a natural appearance.
(4) The landscape plan shall show sufficient detail to demonstrate compliance with the above provisions, including a plan and profile of the mound, soil types and construction techniques.
(5) Mounds shall be located and designed to minimize the disturbance to existing trees located on the site or adjacent thereto.
(6) The base of a mound shall be located a minimum of 2 feet from any right-of-way or property line, unless drainage issues required a greater separation.
(7) Adequate ground cover shall be used and maintained to prevent erosion.
(d) Maintenance. All landscaping materials shall be installed and maintained according to accepted nursery industry procedures. The property owner shall be responsible for continued, perpetual maintenance of all landscaping materials, and shall keep them in a proper, neat and orderly appearance, free from refuse and debris at all times. All unhealthy or dead plant material shall be replaced within one year, or by the next planting period, whichever comes first. Violation of these installation and maintenance provisions shall be grounds for the Division of Permits and Inspections to refuse a zoning compliance certificate, require replacement of the landscape material or institute legal proceedings to enforce the provisions of this Chapter.
(e) Screening Yards. Screening yards shall be composed of continuous landscaping and related screening materials to the minimum widths specified in Section 1282.06
. Once a screening yard has been approved by the Planning Commission and established by the owner, it may not be used, disturbed or altered for any purpose.
(f) Conflicts. When an activity or land use falls under more than one of the categories listed in the table in Section 1282.06
, the most stringent of the requirements shall be applied.
(Ord. 50-05. Passed 4-25-05.)