(a) General Requirements. In addition to the other forms of required landscaping, screening shall be required to conceal specific areas of high visual or auditory impact or hazardous areas from adjacent, less intense uses and from views from public rights-of-way. Such areas shall be screened at all times, unless otherwise specified, regardless of adjacent uses, districts, or other proximate landscaping material.
(b) Screened Items. The following areas shall be screened in accordance with this section:
(1) Off-street loading areas;
(2) Pipes, conduit, and cables associated with the building or use;
(3) Outdoor service area that is necessary to support common business operations (e.g., outdoor freezer or refrigeration units, storage units, etc.);
(4) Ground-level or façade-mounted mechanical equipment and utility structures; and
(5) Roof top equipment that is not otherwise hidden by the roofline, parapet wall, or other similar feature.
(c) Exemption. Screening shall not be required if any of the above items are not visible from adjacent rights-of-way or from adjacent residential lots.
(d) Screening Methods.
(1) The following items are permitted for use as screening materials, and more than one method may be used on a lot or site.
A. Vegetative materials that provide a fully opaque screen to the minimum height necessary to fully screen the facility from off-site views );
B. An opaque fence or wall six (6) in height; or
C. Integration into the building design (e.g., false walls).
(e) Configuration of Vegetative Materials.
(1) In cases where vegetative materials are used for screening in accordance with this subsection, the vegetative materials shall:
A. Be planted around the perimeter of the site feature to be screened in a manner that screens the site feature from all off-site views;
B. Be configured in two (2) staggered rows or other arrangement that provides maximum screening;
C. Be upright, large evergreen shrubs or hedge sand capable of reaching at least six (6) feet in height within three (3) years of planting; and
D. Be spaced no farther than three (3) feet on-center.
(2) All sides of the feature shall be screened with the exception that one (1) side of the feature may be screened with a gate or other similar feature to allow access while screening the feature when access is not necessary.
(Ord. 30-22. Passed 12-12-22.)