§ 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 , 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 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 ’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 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 or uses.
      2.   Utilities, screening, sidewalks and , and landscaping may only occupy a buffer area. No , accessways or parking areas shall be allowed in a buffer area except where an accessway has been approved by the .
      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 shall be planted. They shall have a minimum of two inches at four feet in height above for deciduous and a minimum height of five feet high for evergreen at the time of planting. Spacing for shall be as follows:
            1.   Small or narrow-stature , 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 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 , 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 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 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 requirements as set forth in § 17.8.150.
      6.   When the to be screened is downhill from the adjoining zone or , the prescribed heights of required , walls or landscape screening shall be measured from the actual of the adjoining property. In this case, and walls may exceed the permitted six-foot height at the discretion of the as a condition of approval. When the grades are so steep so as to make the installation of walls, or landscaping to the required height impractical, a detailed landscape/screening plan shall be submitted for approval.
      7.    and walls.
         a.    and walls shall be constructed of any materials commonly used in the construction of and walls such as wood, stone, rock or brick, or otherwise acceptable by the ;
         b.   Such or wall construction shall be in compliance with other regulations;
         c.   Walls shall be a minimum of six inches thick; and
         d.   Chain link with slats shall qualify for screening. However, chain link 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 . Screening and landscaping of parking and is required as provided in this article.
      2.   Screening of service facilities. Except for one-family and two-family , any service facilities such as gas meters and air conditioners which would otherwise be visible from a public , customer or resident parking area, any public facility or any residential area shall be screened from view by placement of a solid wood or masonry wall between five and eight feet in height.
      3.   Screening of refuse containers. Except for one- and two-family , any refuse container or refuse collection area which would be visible from a public , parking lot, residential or commercial area, or any public facility such as a or park shall be screened or enclosed from view by placement of a solid wood , 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  .
   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 for an adjustment or 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
  Abutting
Single Units, Detached; Manufactured Units
Attached Single Units and Multi- , 1-5 Units;
Attached Single Units and Multi- , 5+ Units
Commercial and Institutional Zones (NC, CC, INST)
Town Center Zones (TCC, TCT)
Industrial Zones (LI, GI)
Table 8-2: Buffer Matrix Proposed
  Abutting
Single Units, Detached; Manufactured Units
Attached Single Units and Multi- , 1-5 Units;
Attached Single Units and Multi- , 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-, 1-5 Units,
A
--
B
D
C
E
Attached Single Units and Multi-, 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)
(per linear feet of buffer)
Shrubs or Groundcover
Screening
Table 8-3 Buffer Combinations for Landscaping and Screening [1]
Options
Minimum Width (feet)
(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'
3
6
Shrubs
6' wall
D
1
20
10' min/20' max spacing
Shrubs
6' hedge
2
15
Shrubs
6'
3
10
Shrubs
6' wall
E
1
30
10' min/20' max spacing
Shrubs
6' hedge or
2
25
Shrubs
5' earthen or wall
[1] Buffers are not required between abutting uses that are not of a different type when the uses are separated by a . 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)