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 (2.5) 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 four (4) feet in height from the front building line of the main structure extending to the front lot line, and shall not exceed six (6) feet in height extending behind the front building line of the main structure, excluding porches, stairs, and trees.
(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) The use of a ten (10) foot landscaped buffer area of screen plantings shall remain the preferred method of buffering. However, where a buffer strip is considered to be impracticable or inappropriate, an opaque fence at least six (6) feet in height, in the rear or side yard, or four (4) feet in the front yard so as to restrict a clear view beyond said buffer yard may be substituted in whole or in part for a natural buffer, provided the fence’s specifications are approved by the Zoning Officer.
(2) Landscaped buffer areas must be continually maintained by the landowner. Any plant material that does not survive shall be replaced within six (6) 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) At least fifty (50) percent of the screen planting specimens shall be evergreens, distributed evenly along the length of the barrier.
(5) All species within the screen planting shall be indigenous or otherwise well-suited to the town, except that trees with large leaves which could clog storm drains and trees that are brittle; are disease-prone; have low, spreading branches or shallow root systems; drop large fruit or much sap; or are otherwise messy, shall be avoided.
(6) Hedges shall be kept trimmed so that branches do not extend into public roads, or upon the lands of an adjoining owner more than eighteen (18) inches over the dividing line.
(7) A screen planting 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 (8) feet.
(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 ten (10) feet wide and at least five (5) feet high, subject to height limitations contained within this section.
(f) Parking Lot Screening. A landscaped buffer area of at least ten (10) feet in width shall be required of nonresidential uses between parking areas and abutting residential property lines.
(1) At least one (1) tree for each forty (40) linear feet shall be planted in the landscaping strip in addition to other planting materials.
(2) One interior island shall be provided for every ten (10) spaces. Each interior island shall not be less than five (5) feet in width and eighteen (18) feet long. The location of the interior islands should be staggered to avoid a regimented appearance. At least one (1) tree and shrubs or ground cover must be used to cover the entire area within each interior island.
(3) Landscaped areas shall be protected from the encroachment of vehicles by use of curbing or other approved barriers.
(4) The landscaped areas shall not obstruct sight distances for motorists or pedestrians, nor shall such landscaping create any potential hazard to public safety.
(g) Ground-mounted and Monument Signs. All permanent ground-mounted or monument signs shall be installed with a minimum surround of three (3) feet of regularly maintained floral and shrubbery landscaping in every direction.
(Passed 7-7-22.)