The purpose of these provisions is to establish minimum requirements for the provision and maintenance of functionally adequate, attractive screening and buffering of structures, parking areas, driveways, and other facilities and land uses, while providing standards for the protection of existing and new trees and vegetation and their root zones. These requirements are intended to carry out the following objectives:
(A) To promote and increase design compatibility between different land uses, while ensuring attractive views from streets and adjacent properties;
(B) To assist in delineating separations of spaces, structures, uses, and activities on a site, or between adjacent sites;
(C) To shield adjacent properties from potentially adverse external impacts of development, and development from potential negative impacts of adjacent land uses and activities;
(D) To enhance the streetscape by separating the pedestrian from motor vehicles; abating glare and moderating temperatures of impervious areas; filtering air of pollutants, fumes, and dust; providing shade; attenuating noise; and reducing the air temperature, heat, amount and rate of stormwater runoff, and visual impact of large expanses of pavement;
(E) To promote the preservation of open space; existing tree canopy and vegetation; and natural diversity and wildlife habitat, using supplemental plantings when necessary to meet the performance criteria of this section;
(F) To mitigate adverse grade changes between adjacent properties;
(G) To improve the quality of the built and natural environments through air quality enhancements; heat reduction; carbon capture; energy conservation; reductions in the amount and rate of stormwater runoff and erosion; stormwater runoff quality improvements; and increase in the capacity for groundwater recharge; the provision of health, economic values, and social benefits; and
(H) To enhance the appearance and value of both residential and non-residential properties.
PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION |
The Landscaping, Buffering, Screening, and Tree Protection section contains requirements for the following: perimeter buffers, streetscape and street front landscaping, tree and vegetation protection, vehicular use area landscaping, fences and walls, screening, and miscellaneous landscaping requirements. |