1129.01 Purpose.
1129.02 Screening, buffering and landscaping required.
1129.03 Submission of screening, buffering and landscaping plan.
1129.04 Components of screening, buffer yard and landscaping plan.
1129.05 Specific buffer yards and landscaping requirement.
1129.06 Approval of plan.
1129.07 Required completion time.
1129.08 Fence requirements.
1129.09 Maintenance of screening, buffer yards, landscaping and fences.
1129.10 Obstructing vehicular vision.
1129.11 Retaining walls.
1129.12 Screening of maintenance equipment.
The purpose of the screening, buffer yard and landscaping regulations is to:
(a) Eliminate or minimize conflicts between potentially incompatible, but otherwise permitted land uses on adjoining lots using a suitable combination of setbacks, visual buffers and physical barriers.
(b) Prescribe standards for the development and maintenance of trees, plantings, walls and fences.
(c) Mitigate the adverse effects of noise, blowing dust and debris.
(d) Improve the urban environment by providing trees and plantings that cool the air and land, reduce carbon dioxide in the air, and produce oxygen.
(e) Protect users of parking areas from excessive wind, glare, and temperature extremes.
(f) Promote attractive development and preserve the appearance and character of the surrounding area through the use of landscaping.
(Ord. 34-17. Effective 12-7-17.)
A suitable combination of screening, buffering and landscaping along and proximate to common property lines shall be required for any new development or expansion of an existing development involving more than a 10% increase of gross floor area, which occurs between:
(a) A non-residential zoning district or use and a residential zoning district or use;
(b) Residential subdivisions with different zoning districts; or,
(c) Planned unit development districts with a common measure of density that varies more than 30%.
(Ord. 34-17. Effective 12-7-17.)
(Ord. 34-17. Effective 12-7-17.)
Prior to the issuance of a building permit for any of the uses described above, the applicant shall be required to submit to the Zoning Administrator a plan setting forth the proposed method of screening, buffering and landscaping. The plan shall take into consideration the space required to be screened, buffered and landscaped, the planting area available, the density of the foliage required to adequately protect abutting properties and the height of screening necessary to provide the desired protection.
(Ord. 34-17. Effective 12-7-17.)
The screening, buffering and landscaping plan shall include a site plan, drawn to scale, indicating the specifications and locations of the following screening, buffering and landscaping components, when applicable:
(a) The species and size of all existing trees 1¼ inch caliper or larger, showing those that are proposed for removal and those proposed for retention;
(b) The species and size of all proposed trees 1¼ inch caliper or larger;
(c) The species and size of all other plantings, including shrubs and ground covers, indicating common names, scientific names and varieties, quantities, and sizes for all plant materials proposed;
(d) All proposed man-made barriers such as fences and walls;
(e) Proposed grading, drainage and erosion control measures;
(f) The irrigation system, if any; and
(g) The maintenance plan, if any.
(Ord. 34-17. Effective 12-7-17.)
(a) The buffer yard shall be a landscaped area free of structures, dumpsters, material storage or display, manufacturing or processing activity, loading and unloading areas or vehicle parking or outdoor display. No new driveways or streets shall be permitted in buffer yards except at points of approved approximately perpendicular crossings for ingress or egress.
(b) All areas not covered by plants, shrubs and trees shall be well maintained by an all season vegetative ground cover and shall be kept free of debris and rubbish and not include grass areas higher than eight inches at grade. Grass shall be the default ground cover.
(c) All plantings must be suitable for the City of Fairborn's soils and climatic conditions and the planting's slope exposure, and:
(1) Shall be distributed so as to provide a relatively uniform planting. Where the planting is along a street and some visibility into the development is desired, the plant material may be arranged to provide view corridors.
(2) The landscaped areas shall be entirely pervious except for barrier structures and walks that provide pedestrian access. No more than 25% of the required area may consist of impervious materials such as gravel, stones, or paving.
(3) A mix of hardwood tree species shall be provided.
(4) Native grasses and plants that are pollinator friendly shall be provided.
(d) If an applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Zoning Administrator and City Engineer that an existing healthy tree line, attractive thick vegetation, natural earth berm and/or steep slopes will be preserved and serve the same buffer purposes that would otherwise be required by this Chapter, then such preserved existing buffer shall be permitted to be used, in part or whole, in place of new ground cover, grading and plantings. If this existing natural buffer is removed at any time, the applicant or property owner shall be required to plant a buffer yard that will meet the ground cover, grading and planting requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. 34-17. Effective 12-7-17.)
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