(A) Trash and recycling receptacles. The following requirements shall apply to all multiunit residential, non-residential, and mixed use development.
(1) Trash and recycling receptacles shall be screened on three sides with a solid, opaque material with a minimum height of six feet and a maximum height of eight feet. The use of materials that are not solid, such as slats in chain-link, shall only be used in the Industrial District.
(2) Materials used for screening shall complement the architecture of the primary structure.
(3) Materials and elevations for enclosures that are attached to buildings shall be integrated into the primary structure.
(4) Enclosures attached to buildings shall comply with applicable fire and building codes.
(5) Enclosure openings shall be gated with an opaque material.
(6) Enclosure openings shall be kept closed at all times except for when the receptacle is being accessed by a service truck or person authorized to place refuse in the enclosure.
(7) Property owners shall be responsible for ensuring that trash and recycling receptacles are placed in the enclosure at all times other than when it is being emptied by a service truck.
(8) Access drives shall be constructed of material and thickness to accommodate truck loading. Year-round accessibility to the enclosure area for service trucks shall be maintained by the property owner or tenant.
(9) Enclosures shall be of an adequate size to accommodate the expected number of containers. It is recommended that the enclosure be designed to be expandable to accommodate additional containers in the future.
(10) Enclosure structures shall be designed to protect the walls from damage by containers. Such protection may be provided by use of barrier curbing, reinforced masonry walls, bollards, or other similar means.
(11) Trash and recycling receptacle enclosures shall not occupy required parking spaces.
(B) Service yards, loading docks, and truck-parking areas. The following requirements shall apply to all multiunit residential, commercial, and mixed use development and shall be equally effective throughout the year.
(1) Service yards, loading docks, and truck-parking areas that are visible from any public right of adjacent residential property shall be completely screened from public view.
(2) Materials used for screening shall be opaque masonry walls, wood or wood composite board on board fence, landscape hedging, berming, or a combination thereof.
(3) The height of screening materials shall not exceed eight feet with the exception of landscape materials.
(C) Ground and wall mounted mechanical units and process equipment. (See Figure 16-5-7(C)) The following requirements shall apply to all ground-mounted mechanical units, including but not limited to generators, air-conditioning condensers, heat pumps, ventilation units, computer cooling equipment, storage silos, tanks etc., and any related utility structures and equipment.
(1) Locating mechanical units within the principal building is strongly encouraged in order to minimize exterior visual impacts. Ground/wall mounted mechanical units and process equipment are prohibited within the front or exterior side yard, regardless of whether screening is provided, unless operationally necessary and approved by the Community Development Director.
(2) Ground/wall mounted mechanical units and process equipment that are visible from any public right-of-way or adjacent residential property shall be screened from public view.
(3) Materials used for screening shall be designed to be architecturally integrated with the building and established so that the area or element being screened is no more than 20% visible through the screen.
(4) Chain-link fence or slats in chain-link fence shall not be used to meet this requirement.
(D) Roof mounted mechanical units. (See Figure 16-5-7(D)) The following requirements shall apply to all roof mounted mechanical units, including but not limited to air-conditioning condensers, heat pumps, ventilation units, computer cooling equipment, etc., and any related utility structures and equipment which service multiunit residential, non-residential, or mixed use developments.
(1) Locating mechanical units within the principal building is strongly encouraged in order to minimize exterior visual impacts.
(2) Roof mounted mechanical units that are visible from any public right-of-way or adjacent residential property shall be completely screened from public view.
(3) Materials used for screening shall be architecturally integrated with the building in the form of a parapet wall and shall be continuous, permanent, and sound attenuating.
(4) Screening shall be required when new equipment is installed and shall be provided around both new and existing roof mounted mechanical units in order to provide visual continuity. Normal maintenance of roof mounted mechanical units shall not trigger the screening requirements.
(5) Additional screening may be required due to topographic differences in the adjoining properties.
(E) Drive through. (See Figure 16-5-7(E)) The following requirements shall apply to all drive throughs regardless of the use to which it is accessory.
(1) Drive aisles of drive throughs must be effectively screened from view along the public right-of-way and at the edges of sites adjacent to residential properties to minimize the impact of exterior site lighting, headlight glare and any menu intercom displays.
(2) Screening must be approved during the special use permitting process, shall be a minimum of six feet in width, and must consist of:
(a) An opaque masonry wall or solid fence of high quality material and design with a minimum height of four feet and a maximum height of six feet; and
(b) Shrubs or native grasses installed every three feet along the exterior of the wall or fence to provide a softening effect.
(F) Above-ground service facilities. The following requirements shall govern the landscaping surrounding above-ground service facilities.
(1) A service facility shall be landscaped/screened with a variety of plant materials that effectively screen the view of the service facility from adjacent property and public rights-of-way on a year-round basis. In some cases, such as a service facility sited on a wooded lot, natural growth around the property perimeter may be a sufficient buffer. Appropriate care and maintenance of plant material shall be provided to keep such growth alive and in good condition. Diseased or dead plant material shall be replaced. All trees shall be maintained until established. All trees not in a vigorous growing condition after one growing season shall be replaced at the beginning of the next planting season.
(2) In locations where the visual impact of the service facility would be and is likely to remain minimal for the foreseeable future, the landscaping requirement may be reduced or waived.
(3) The property owner and the service entity shall be jointly and severally liable for the landscaping and screening obligations set forth in this section.
(Ord. 2021-05-15, passed 5-3-2021)