(a) Proposed and existing parking areas and access driveways shall be improved with asphalt concrete or Portland cement concrete or other impervious surface and shall be so graded and drained into proper inlets so that all water is drained within the lot on which the parking area or driveway is located in such manner that water shall not drain across other public or private property.
(b) Parking areas shall be so arranged and marked as to provide for orderly and safe parking and storage of vehicles in accordance with the design standards in this chapter, and shall be improved, except at entrances and exits with guard rails, curbs or other devices to define parking spaces or limits of paved areas, so as to prevent encroachment of vehicles into adjacent areas or public ways, yards or setbacks required by the Zoning Code, and so as to regulate the flow of traffic within the lot.
(Ord. 84-98. Passed 6-17-85.)
(c) The Planning and Design Commission may require landscape buffering or landscape screening to be provided on the parking area property to insulate the parking areas and driveways from a side or rear lot line of other property in Residential Districts or any other Zoning District with an existing residence thereon. Landscape buffering may include, but shall not be limited to, evergreen trees and bushes, compact hedges, shrubs, earth berms or a combination thereof. Landscape screening shall include plant material or other nonliving durable material, including, but not limited to, walls, berms or substantially solid decorative wood fencing. Where trees and shrubs are used to provide a landscape buffer, such shall provide a year-round state of being substantially impervious to rays of light. It shall be acceptable to incorporate fencing as part of the landscape buffer where noise and lights create a need that such landscape buffer include fencing. Fencing may also be used to provide landscape screening. Whenever used, fences shall be of a decorative style and type. Walls and berms shall be used only in the most unusual cases.
The desired buffering or screening effect shall be achieved not later than twelve months after the initial installation. The Planning and Design Commission may extend this twelve month period of time when a hardship would be created because of expected growth or material shortages, but such extension shall not be for more than two years from the time the initial installation was to have been or has been installed. All buffering and screening requirements imposed under the provisions of this subsection shall be installed and constructed before a certificate of occupancy is issued for a new building or structure. No existing building, structure or vehicular use area adjoining a Residential District or any other Zoning District with an existing residence thereon shall be expanded, altered or modified until the plans are submitted by the owner or developer to the Planning and Design Commission for its determination as to whether the change adversely affects any properties in a Residential District or any other Zoning District with an existing residence thereon. The Commission, after its review, shall require, where necessary, the establishment of a landscape buffering area or the installation of landscape screening, or a revision of a previously established buffered area or screening. The width and height of the landscape buffer or landscape screening shall be determined by the Planning and Design Commission provided, however, that the maximum height of fencing, whether incorporated as part of the landscape buffer or whether used as a landscape screen, which may be permitted shall be seven feet above finished grade. The owner, tenant or developer shall be responsible for the maintenance and replacement, if necessary, of the landscape buffer or landscape screening.
Owners or developers of off-street parking areas shall be required to include a plan for buffering or screening the parking areas and driveways, including a detailed description and sketch of the landscape buffer or landscape screening which visually and verbally outlines the nature and the effect of the proposed landscape buffer or landscape screening. A certificate of occupancy shall not be granted until the buffering or screening requirements have been completed. If completion, in the case of living materials, is delayed because of the growing season, a temporary permit to occupy may be granted by the Building Commissioner. Such delay shall not extend beyond the next growing season following the date upon which the certificate of occupancy is requested.
(Ord. 95-71. Passed 10-16-95.)
(d) In order to carry out the objectives of this Zoning Code and to preserve the use and enjoyment of adjoining property not less than five percent (5%) of an off-street parking area of a lot with twenty or more off-street accessory parking spaces shall have landscaping islands to break up the expanse of pavement. Each landscaping island shall not be less in size than the required area of one off-street parking space, shall be interspersed throughout the entire off-street parking area and shall have trees and such other landscaping as may be required by the Planning and Design Commission. Areas of landscaping surrounded by at least three sides by accessory off-street parking areas or accessories to parking areas may be considered a landscaped island.
(Ord. 98-38. Passed 7-6-98.)