§ 17.8.425 BUFFERING AND SCREENING STANDARDS.

   A.   General provisions.

      1.   It is the intent that these requirements shall provide for privacy and protection and reduce or eliminate the adverse impacts of visual or noise pollution at a development site , without unduly interfering with the view from neighboring properties or jeopardizing the safety of pedestrians and vehicles;

      2.   Buffering and screening is required to reduce the impacts on adjacent uses which are of a different type in accordance with the matrices in this chapter (Tables 8-2, 8-3 and 8-4). The owner of each proposed development is responsible for the installation and effective maintenance of buffering and screening.

      3.   In lieu of these standards, a detailed buffer area landscaping and screening plan may be submitted for the Director ’s approval as an alternative to the standards, provided it affords the same degree of buffering and screening as required by this Code.

   B.   Buffering and screening requirements.

      1.   A buffer consists of an area within a required setback adjacent to a property line and having a depth equal to the amount specified in the buffering and screening matrix and containing a length equal to the length of the property line of the abutting use or uses.

      2.   Utilities, screening, sidewalks and bikeways , and landscaping may only occupy a buffer area. No buildings , accessways or parking areas shall be allowed in a buffer area except where an accessway has been approved by the city .

      3.   The minimum improvements within a buffer area shall consist of combinations for landscaping and screening as specified in Tables 8-2, 8-3 and 8-4. In addition, improvements shall meet the following specifications:

         a.   At least one row of trees shall be planted. They shall have a minimum caliper of two inches at four feet in height above grade for deciduous trees and a minimum height of five feet high for evergreen trees at the time of planting. Spacing for trees shall be as follows:

            1.   Small or narrow-stature trees , less than 25 feet tall or less than 16 feet wide at maturity shall be spaced no further than 20 feet apart;

            2.   Medium-sized trees between 25 to 40 feet tall and with 16 to 35 feet wide branching at maturity shall be spaced no greater than 30 feet apart; and

            3.   Large trees , over 40 feet tall and with more than 35 feet wide branching at maturity, shall be spaced no greater than 40 feet apart.

         b.   In addition, at least ten five-gallon shrubs or 20 one-gallon shrubs shall be planted for each 1,000 square feet of required buffer area; and

         c.   The remaining area shall be planted in lawn or other living ground cover.

      4.   Where screening is required the following standards shall apply in addition to those required for buffering:

         a.   A hedge of narrow or broad leaf evergreen shrubs shall be planted which will form a four-foot continuous screen of the height specified in Table 8-3 within two years of planting;

         b.   An earthen berm planted with evergreen plant materials shall be provided which will form a continuous screen of the height specified in Table 8-3 within two years; or

         c.   A fence or wall of the height specified in Table 8-3 shall be constructed to provide a continuous sight-obscuring screen.

      5.   Buffering and screening provisions shall be superseded by the clear vision area requirements as set forth in § 17.8.150.

      6.   When the use to be screened is downhill from the adjoining zone or use , the prescribed heights of required fences , walls or landscape screening shall be measured from the actual grade of the adjoining property. In this case, fences and walls may exceed the permitted six-foot height at the discretion of the Director as a condition of approval. When the grades are so steep so as to make the installation of walls, fences or landscaping to the required height impractical, a detailed landscape/screening plan shall be submitted for approval.

      7.   Fences and walls.

         a.   Fences and walls shall be constructed of any materials commonly used in the construction of fences and walls such as wood, stone, rock or brick, or otherwise acceptable by the Director ;

         b.   Such fence or wall construction shall be in compliance with other city regulations;

         c.   Walls shall be a minimum of six inches thick; and

         d.   Chain link fences with slats shall qualify for screening. However, chain link fences without slats shall require the planting of a continuous evergreen hedge to be considered screening.

   C.   Screening: special provisions.

      1.   Screening and landscaping of parking and loading areas . Screening and landscaping of parking and loading areas is required as provided in this article.

      2.   Screening of service facilities. Except for one-family and two-family dwellings , any service facilities such as gas meters and air conditioners which would otherwise be visible from a public street , customer or resident parking area, any public facility or any residential area shall be screened from view by placement of a solid wood fence or masonry wall between five and eight feet in height.

      3.   Screening of refuse containers. Except for one- and two-family dwellings , any refuse container or refuse collection area which would be visible from a public street , parking lot, residential or commercial area, or any public facility such as a school or park shall be screened or enclosed from view by placement of a solid wood fence , masonry wall or evergreen hedge. All refuse shall be contained within the screened area.

      4.   Screening of swimming pools. All swimming pools shall be enclosed as required by the City of Forest Grove  Building Code .

   D.   Buffer Matrix.

      1.   The Buffer Matrices contained in Table 8-2 shall be used in calculating widths of buffering/screening and required improvements to be installed between proposed uses and abutting uses or zoning districts.

      2.   An application for an adjustment or variance to the standards required in Tables 8-2 and 8-3 shall be processed as a Type I, II or III procedure, as regulated by Article 2 provisions for Adjustments and Variances.

Table 8-2: Buffer Matrix Proposed Use
Development Site   Abutting Use	Single Units, Detached; Manufactured Units	Attached Single Units and Multi- family , 1-5 Units; Duplexes	Attached Single Units and Multi- family , 5+ Units	Commercial and Institutional Zones (NC, CC, INST)	Town Center Zones (TCC, TCT)	Industrial Zones (LI, GI)
Detached Single Units; Manu- factured Units	--	A	C	D	C	E
Attached Single Units and Multi-family , 1-5 Units, Duplexes	A	--	B	D	C	E
Attached Single Units and Multi-family , 5+ Units	A	A	--	D	C	E
Commercial Zones (NC, CC)	C	C	C	--	--	D
Town Center Zones (TCC, TCT)	C	C	C	--	--	D
Industrial Zones (LI, GI)	D	D	D	B	--	--
Note: See Table 8-3 for alternative combinations for meeting these screening requirements.

 

Table 8-3 Buffer Combinations for Landscaping and Screening [1]
	Options	Minimum Width (feet)	Trees (per linear feet of buffer)	Shrubs or Groundcover	Screening
A	--	10	--	Lawn/living groundcover	--
B	--	10	20' min/30' max spacing	Lawn/living groundcover	--
C	1	10	15' min/30' max spacing	Shrubs	4' hedges
	2	8		Shrubs	5' fence
	3	6		Shrubs	6' wall
D	1	20	10' min/20' max spacing	Shrubs	6' hedge
	2	15		Shrubs	6' fence
	3	10		Shrubs	6' wall
E	1	30	10' min/20' max spacing	Shrubs	6' hedge or fence
	2	25		Shrubs	5' earthen berm or wall
[1] Buffers are not required between abutting uses that are not of a different type when the uses are separated by a street . Adjustments from these requirements can be obtained; see Article 2.

 

Figure 8-8: Buffer Example – Between Single-Family and Multi-Family

Figure 8-9 Buffer Combinations for Landscaping and Screening

(Ord. 2009-01, passed 3-9-2009; Ord. 2013-3, passed 5-22-2013)