The bufferyard is a designated open area, together with any plant materials, barriers, or fences required thereon. Both the amount of land and the type and amount of landscaping specified are designated to lessen impacts between adjoining land uses. By using both distance and landscaping, the impact of such items as noise, glare, activity, dirt, and unsightly parking areas will be minimized. It is a further intent of the following provisions to provide flexibility to the property owner through the adjustment of four basic elements: distance, plant material type, plant material density, and structural or land forms.
(a) Bufferyards shall be located on the side and rear lot lines of a parcel extending to the lot or parcel boundary line. Bufferyards shall not extend into or be located within any portion of an existing street right-of-way.
(b) To determine the type of bufferyard required between two (2) adjacent parcels, the following procedure shall be followed:
(1) Identify the land use class of the proposed use by referring to Table 1113-1.
(2) Identify the land use class of each adjoining use by referring to Table 1113-2.
(3) Determine the bufferyard requirements for those side and rear lot lines or portion thereof on the subject parcel by referring to Table 1113-2. The bufferyards specified are to be provided on each lot or parcel independent of adjoining uses or adjoining bufferyards.
(4) Should a developed use increase in intensity from a given land use class to a higher one (e.g., Class 3 to Class 4), the Planning Commission shall, during the site plan or development plan review process, determine if additional bufferyard is needed and, if so, to what extent and type.
(5) Bufferyard requirements are stated in terms of the width of the bufferyard and the number of plant units required per 100 linear feet of bufferyard. The requirements may be satisfied by any of the options indicated in Table 1113-3.
(c) Bufferyard Requirements for Nonconforming Structures or Sites. If a nonconforming site is unable to comply with the minimum bufferyard requirements of this chapter, the applicant shall not be entitled to the permit for which application has been made unless a variance is granted. Existing paved areas beyond the minimum code requirements for number of spaces, maneuvering/access aisles or loading areas, shall be removed if necessary to provide the required buffer.
TABLE 1113-1: BUFFERYARD LAND USE CLASSIFICATION | |
Use Classes | Uses Based on Principal Uses in Table 1105-2 |
Class 1 Uses | Agriculture Use Classification, Single-Family Dwellings, or Two-Family Dwellings |
Class 2 Uses | Public, Institutional, and Recreational Use Classification, Administrative, Business, or Professional Offices, and remainder of the Residential Use Classification |
Class 3 Uses | Remainder of Commercial, Office, and Mixed-Use Classification |
Class 4 Uses | Industrial Use Classification |
Table 1113-2: Bufferyard Type Requirements | ||||
Proposed Use | Adjacent Use | |||
Class 1 Uses | Class 2 Uses | Class 3 Uses | Class 4 Uses | |
Class 1 Uses | None Required | None Required | None Required | None Required |
Class 2 Uses | A | None Required | None Required | None Required |
Class 3 Uses | B | A | None Required | None Required |
Class 4 Uses | C | B | A | None Required |
Table 1113-3: Quantity of Plant Materials | |||||
Bufferyard Type | Bufferyard Width (Feet) | Deciduous Trees [1] | Deciduous Shrubs [1] | Evergreen Trees [1] | Fence or Berm Required |
A | 20 | 2 | 0 | 2 | No |
15 | 2 | 2 | 2 | No | |
10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | No | |
B | 25 | 2 | 2 | 2 | No |
20 | 2 | 4 | 2 | No | |
15 | 3 | 4 | 4 | No | |
C | 30 | 2 | 2 | 2 | No |
25 | 3 | 4 | 4 | No | |
20 | 3 | 4 | 4 | Berm[2] | |
15 | 3 | 4 | 4 | Fence[3] | |
NOTES: [1] The planting requirements are the total plants required per 100 lineal feet of bufferyard required. [2] The required berm shall be three to four (4) feet in height along the entire length of the bufferyard. [3] The fence shall be a opaque fence with a height of four (4) to six (6) feet along the entire length of the bufferyard. | |||||
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 6-5-23.)