(A) Upon any improvement, including a structural or use expansion, of property within a zoning classification of C or I, or any nonresidential special use, an obscuring wall shall be constructed to create a visual screen along all adjoining boundaries of property zoned or used for single-family or multiple-family residential. This same requirement shall apply to property zoned R-M along all adjoining boundaries of property zoned or used for single-family residential. All required parking lots shall be buffered from the public street right-of-way by a berm or obscuring wall at least 30 inches above the highest elevation in the parking lot and landscaped according to the standard set out below.
(B) A required screening wall shall be six feet in height as measured on the side of the propose wall having the higher grade, and shall be constructed on both sides with: face brick; poured-in-lace face brick; pre-cast brick face panels having simulated face brick; stone; or other alternative materials acceptable to the Planning Commission. In lieu of a required screening wall, the developers may request the construction of a landscape buffer in accordance with the standards of this section.
(1) Landscape buffer. The landscape buffer shall be constructed as follows.
(a) A strip of land a minimum of 15 feet in depth located between the residential use and the conflicting land use(s).
(b) One tree for each 30 feet lineal, or fraction thereof, located between the residential use and adjacent conflicting land use(s), located so as not to create a vehicular sight-distance obstruction.
(c) Between conflicting land uses, a hedge or other plant material barrier, wall, berm, or any combination of these landscape elements shall be planted to form a continuous screen at least six feet in height at all points. If a non-living barrier is used, living plant material will be required on both sides of the screen. The screen shall be located so as not to create a vehicular sight-distance obstruction and shall be a minimum of 20 feet from driveway intersections.
(d) Grass ground cover, gravel or wood chips shall be established and maintained on all portions of the required landscape strip not occupied by any other landscape material.
(e) The landscape buffer shall be planted in such a manner as to provide a minimum opacity (visual restriction) of 80% in summer and 60% in winter.
(f) A minimum landscape strip of ten feet shall be maintained between roads and interior parking areas or driving lanes.
(2) Parking lot. Each required parking lot shall have the following.
(a) Each separate landscaped area within a parking lot shall be adequately planted and maintained and shall be located in such a manner as to promote the following:
1. Divide and break up the expanse of pavement;
2. Parking areas;
3. Designate vehicular circulation; and
4. Separate parking lots from adjoin uses.
(b) The minimum landscaped space surrounding parking lots shall be 50 square feet per parking space. Right-of-way areas and retention ponds shall not be included within the required landscape area. For parking lots containing over 20 spaces, there shall be one tree for every ten parking spaces in all areas submitted for site plan review.
(c) 1. A minimum of three feet shall be established from the backside of the curb or planting edge to the center of the trunk of the proposed tree or shrub.
2. Narrow strips of landscaping incorporated within parking lots should contain sufficient landscaping and landscape buffering to soften large expanses of paved or gravel surfaces.
(Ord. 1, passed 11-13-2000, § 10.1)