(A) Applicability. Screening shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of this section whenever a building or structure is erected, converted, enlarged, or structurally altered, or whenever a use of land, building, or structure is established, expanded or changed. Screening requirements may be waived by the Zoning Administrator where the view is or will be blocked by a change in grade, by the natural vegetation, or by man-made features.
(B) Types of Screens. The following shall be the permitted types of screens for meeting the screening requirements for incompatible uses in division (C) below.
(1) Type A Screening. This screen shall consist of a fence or wall not more than six feet in height along the lot line.
(2) Type B Screening. This screen shall consist of a five-foot bufferyard and a fence, wall or landscaping placed along the lot line. A fence or wall shall be at least six feet in height, while landscaping shall attain a height of at least six feet within two years. If landscaping is used as the screen the landscaping shall be provided in accordance with the requirements for landscaping the perimeter of off-street parking areas.
(3) Type C Screening. This screen shall consist of a ten-foot bufferyard and a fence, wall or landscaping placed along the lot line. A fence or wall shall be at least six feet in height, while landscaping shall attain a height of at least six feet within two years. If landscaping is used as the screen the landscaping shall be provided in accordance with the requirements for landscaping the perimeter of off-street parking areas.
(C) Screening Incompatible Uses. The provisions of this subsection are intended to reduce the incompatibility between Zoning Districts of differing types and intensities. Whenever land uses of differing intensities are adjoining one another or across a public alley from one another, screening shall be provided in accordance with Table VI-4 hereinafter set forth.
(1) In addition to the required screen located in a bufferyard the remainder of a screened bufferyard shall be landscaped with grass, ground cover or other acceptable landscape treatment of which 70% must be live plant material.
(2) If any or all of the bufferyard is already provided on the adjoining property, the subject property shall provide only the amount of the bufferyard which is not provided on the adjoining property.
Zoning of Subject Property | Zoning of Adjacent Property | |||||||||||
R-1 | R-2 | R-3 | R-4 | MHP | P-1 | B-1 | B-2 | B-3 | B-4 | I-1 | I-2 | |
Zoning of Subject Property | Zoning of Adjacent Property | |||||||||||
R-1 | R-2 | R-3 | R-4 | MHP | P-1 | B-1 | B-2 | B-3 | B-4 | I-1 | I-2 | |
R-1 | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
R-2 | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
R-3 | A | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
R-4 | A | A | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
MHP | B | A | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
P-1 | B | A | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
B-1 | B | A | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
B-2 | B | B | B | A | A | A | A | N | N | N | N | N |
B-3 | C | C | B | B | B | B | B | A | N | N | N | N |
B-4 | C | C | B | B | B | B | B | A | N | N | N | N |
I-1 | C | C | C | B | B | B | B | B | B | B | N | N |
I-2 | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | N | N |
A = Type A Screen, B = Type B Screen, C = Type C Screen, N = No Screen
(D) Screening Utilitarian and Storage Areas. Utility areas accessory to a building, including but not limited to loading docks, mechanical equipment, dumpsters, and outdoor storage yards for construction materials, machinery, or inoperable vehicles, which are visible from public right-of-way or adjacent property that is in residential use or in a residential zoning district, shall be screened with a 100% opaque wood fence, masonry wall, earthen berm, landscaping, or any combination which provides a minimum height of six feet and ensures that such locations are not visible from any public right-of-way or adjacent property.
(E) Standards for Plantings. All planting materials utilized to satisfy the requirements of this section shall conform to the standards of § 150.067 (F) of this chapter and shall reach a height of at least six feet or greater within three years.
(F) Standards for Fences and Walls. The following regulations shall apply to all fences and walls, regardless of whether or not the fence or wall is required to be installed to meet the requirements of this section of this chapter. All fences shall be decorative solid wood or vinyl or another material approved by the Zoning Administrator. Walls shall be masonry or concrete. All fences and walls shall be at least six feet, but not more than ten feet, in height and shall form a solid screen. Fences and walls may be located along lot lines. The following exceptions apply to the aforementioned:
(1) Fences and walls exceeding six feet in height shall be subject to the minimum setback requirements of the Zoning District in which the fence is located.
(2) Fences constructed in front yards in Residential Districts shall not exceed four feet in height and shall be at least 70% open. Fences erected in either side or rear yards in Residential Districts shall not exceed six feet in height.
(3) No barbed wire or other such sharp pointed fence and no electrically charged fence shall be erected or maintained except in the A-1 or I-Districts. Any strand of barbed wire shall be at least seven feet above ground level.
(4) No permanent fence or retaining wall shall be constructed or erected within any public street or alley right-of-way unless authorized by the City Engineer. Fences erected on public easement or across ditches shall be so constructed that drainage shall not be obstructed, and, in event of necessity for removal of the fence for maintenance or other purpose, removal or replacement of the fence or other improvement shall be the responsibility of the property owner.
(G) Installation of Screens. All planting materials utilized to satisfy the requirements of this section shall be installed in accordance with an approved landscaping plan prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for any building on the subject property.
(H) Maintenance of Screens. The continued maintenance of all required screening shall be the responsibility of the owner of the property on which said materials are required. All plant materials placed to meet the requirements of this section shall be maintained as living vegetation and shall be promptly replaced if the plant material has died. Planting areas shall be kept free of trash, litter, and weeds at all times. Fences and walls should be kept in good repair and shall be promptly repaired or replaced to the original required state when necessary.
(Ord. 8612, passed 12-2-08)