Screening and buffering along the entire length of a common boundary shall be provided in accordance with the following regulations and shall be approved as part of the site plan review process.
(a) Screening and buffering shall be required according to the following:
(1) When a lot in any non-residential district abuts a residential district;
(2) When a lot in a PR district or RNC district abuts a residential district; and
(3) When a lot in a residential district is devoted to a non-residential conditional use.
(b) Width of Buffer Yard. Each required buffer yard shall have a minimum width equal tosixteen (16) feet.
(c) Screening. When the natural vegetation within the required buffer yard does not form asolid, continuous, visual screen or does not have a minimum height of six (6) feet alongthe entire length of the common boundary, screening shall be installed in compliance with the following:
(1) Screening materials. Screening within the buffer yard shall consist of one or more of the following:
A. A dense vegetative planting incorporating trees and/or shrubs of a variety which shall be equally effective in winter and summer with a minimum opaqueness of 50% at the time of planting. Trees and/or shrubs shall be adequately spaced to form a solid, continuous visual screen within three (3) years after the initial installation.
B. Non-living opaque structures such as a solid brick or stone wall or a solid wood fence that is compatible with the principal structure.
C. A fence with openings through which light and air may pass together with a landscaped area at least ten (10) feet wide. A chain link fence shall not be permitted.
D. A landscaped mound or berm at least five (5) feet wide, with no more than a 3:1slope.
(2) Location. The location of the wall, fence, or vegetation shall be placed within the buffer yard to maximize the screening effect, as determined by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
(3) Height of screening. The height of screening shall be in accordance with the following:
A. Visual screening by walls, fences, or mounds in combination with vegetation, fences or walls shall be a minimum of six (6) feet high measured from the natural grade, except as set forth in subsection B. below.
B. Whenever the required screening is located within a front yard or within fifty (50) feet of a parking lot, drive, or driveway entrance, the required screening shall not exceed a height of three (3) feet.
C. When used alone, vegetation shall be a minimum of six (6) feet high, as measured from the natural grade, in order to accomplish the desired screening effect. The required height shall be achieved no later than two (2) years after the initial installation.