Subject to the following conditions, fences and walls may be erected, and hedges and other plantings may be grown along the boundaries of a lot:
(A) Clear sight triangle. Fences, hedges, other plantings, or walls at street corners shall not interfere with any clear sight triangle. The height of such objects is restricted to two and one-half feet within the clear sight triangle. No fence, hedge, other plantings, or walls shall otherwise impose a threat to the public safety, including by obstructing the view of motorists to oncoming traffic or pedestrians.
(B) Height restrictions. Fences, walls, hedges, and other plantings used for the purpose of screening shall not exceed 42 inches in height from the front building line extending to the front lot line, and shall not exceed six feet in height extending behind the front building line of the main structure, excluding porches in the rear yard.
(C) Fences and walls.
(1) Fences and walls shall be durably constructed and well maintained.
(2) Fences and walls that have deteriorated shall be replaced or removed immediately.
(3) Fence and walls shall not be constructed out of fabric, junk, junk vehicles, appliances, tanks, barrels, razor wire, barbed wire, or electric fencing.
(4) The finished side of the fence shall be oriented towards the front of the lot or the direction of the adjacent property owner, unless the fence is not visible from adjoining property.
(D) Landscaped buffer areas.
(1) Five-foot landscaped buffer areas are the preferred method of buffering. However, where a buffer strip is considered to be impracticable or inappropriate, an opaque fence at least six feet in height, in the rear or side yard, or four feet in height in the front yard so as to restrict a clear view beyond said buffer may be substituted in whole or in part for a natural buffer, provided it is approved by the Zoning Officer.
(2) Landscaped buffer areas shall be continually maintained by the landowner. Any plant material that does not survive shall be replaced within six months. All landscaping shall be kept free of refuse and debris.
(3) Landscaped buffer areas may be required by the Board of Zoning Appeals as a condition of a conditional use permit.
(4) Landscaped buffer areas shall not be required where the lot abuts an area of existing natural vegetation that effectively screens the lot from casual observation to a height of at least eight feet.
(5) At least 50% of the screen planting specimens shall be evergreens, distributed evenly along the length of the barrier.
(6) All species within the screen planting shall be indigenous or otherwise well-suited to the city except that trees with large leaves which could clog storm drains and trees which are brittle, disease-prone, have low, spreading branches or shallow root systems; which drop large fruit or much sap; or which are otherwise messy shall also be avoided.
(7) Hedges shall be kept trimmed so that their branches shall not extend into the public road, or upon the lands of an adjoining owner, more than eighteen inches over the dividing line.
(8) No landscaping, tree, fence, wall or similar item shall obstruct the required clear sight triangle.
(E) Property adjacent to dwellings and zoned or existing single-family residential property. Landscaped buffer areas shall be provided between any new development adjacent to single-family residential property (existing or zoned) or adjacent to any dwelling, which landscaping shall be at least five feet wide and at least five feet high, subject to height limitations contained within this section.
(F) Parking lot screening. The following provisions apply only to new developments and additions or renovations to existing nonresidential or multi-family uses where the addition or renovation equals or exceeds 150% of the gross square feet of the principal structure; provided, that compliance with this section shall be required only to the degree that the minimum parking requirement can still be met.
(1) One interior island shall be provided for every ten spaces or more spaces. No island is required for nine or fewer spaces. Each interior island shall also be not less than five feet in width and extend along the entire length of the space. The location of the interior islands should be staggered to avoid a regimented appearance. At least one tree shall be provided within each interior island.
(2) Peripheral landscaping shall be required along the side of a parking lot, driveway, or loading area that abuts adjoining property that is not a right-of-way. A landscaping strip at least five feet in width shall be located between the parking area and the abutting property lines, except where driveways or other openings may be required. Between property lines, at least one tree for each 30 linear feet shall be planted in the landscaping strip in addition to other planting materials.
(3) The owner and their agencies shall be responsible for providing, protecting and maintaining all landscaping in healthy and growing conditions, replacing it when necessary, and keeping it free from refuse and debris.
(G) Frontage landscaping. Landscaping shall be provided along all property boundaries abutting the right-of-way of any street. A landscaping strip five feet in width shall be located along the right-of-way except where driveway or other openings may be required. One tree shall be planted for each 30 linear feet of the landscaping strip in addition to other planting materials.
(H) Ground-mounted and monument signs. All non-temporary ground-mounted or monument signs shall be installed with a minimum surround of three feet of regularly maintained floral and shrubbery landscaping in every direction.
Landscape Buffer Requirements
(Ord. 301, passed 8-18-2022) Penalty, see § 152.999