The preservation of existing trees and vegetation, as well as the planting of new trees and vegetation, can significantly add to the quality of the physical environment in the City of Fairlawn. The regulations contained below are designed to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the City by:
(a) Promoting the proper utilization of landscaping and screening as a buffer between certain land uses to minimize the possibility of nuisances including potential noise, glare, and the visual clutter associated with parking areas;
(b) Providing interruption of large expanses of vehicular use areas and reduction of reflected heat and glare through the implementation of interior and perimeter vehicular use area landscaping;
(c) Improving the appearance of off-street parking areas and vehicular use areas and properties abutting public rights-of-way;
(d) Providing areas of permeable surfaces in order to:
(1) Allow the infiltration of surface water into groundwater resources;
(2) Reduce the quantity of storm water discharge, which helps to reduce the hazards of flooding and aids in the control of erosion and storm water runoff;
(3) Preserve air quality through the preservation and replacement of trees and significant vegetation removed in the course of development; and,
(4) Improve the quality of storm water discharge;
(e) Establishing minimum standards for the consistent appearance of plant material in the community landscape;
(f) Providing physiologically, psychologically, sociologically, and aesthetically necessary counterpoints to the man-made environment; and,
(g) Protecting, preserving, and promoting the aesthetic character valued by the residents of the City of Fairlawn.
(Ord. 2010-059. Passed 3-7-11; Ord. 2017-061. Passed 11-20-17.)