(a) Landscaped buffers shall be provided between zoning district (residential and commercial and industrial, and commercial and industrial) and between conflicting uses (residential and commercial and industrial, and commercial and industrial).
(b) The aim of the buffers is to minimize the negative effects of proximity between incompatible districts and uses by providing adequate distance, screening, and aesthetically pleasing landscapes.
(c) Landscape buffers between different zoning districts and incompatible uses shall be designed at a minimum of 15 feet and a maximum of 100 feet in depth. The landscaped buffer area shall be design with due consideration for the character of districts and uses being screened by the buffer, topography, existing vegetation, and density and intensity of techniques and materials needed to provide adequate screening and aesthetically pleasing designs throughout the year.
(1) The burden is on the applicant to demonstrate that the landscape buffer is adequately designed to provide distance and screening between incompatible zoning districts and uses to minimizing the potential for negative impact between uses and to ensure the landscape buffer area is aesthetically pleasing and skillfully designed.
(2) The shallower or greater the depth of the buffer area, from 15 to 100 feet, shall be proportionate to both the incompatibility of the districts and uses and the intensity and density of techniques and materials implemented in the design of the landscape buffer. The more incompatible the district and use, the greater the depth and/or intensity and density of landscape buffer design shall be demonstrated.
(3) In considering the incompatibility of adjacent districts and uses, due consideration shall be given to negative impacts of noise, light, dust, vibrations, hours of operation, and aesthetics.
(d) Completion of landscaping. All landscaping shown on the approved plan shall be completed before issuance of a Zoning Permit, or a bond in a form and amount satisfactory to the Commission assuring completion within a specific time (not to exceed one year) shall be filed with the Commission. Such bond shall be forfeited if the work shall not have been completed within such time limit. (Ord. 147-2018. Passed 7-2-18.)