(A) Purpose. Landscaping requirements are an essential element in mitigating potential land use conflicts and enhancing the visual appeal of the county. The purpose of this appendix is to assure that the landscaped buffers required by these regulations effectively accomplish those goals.
(B) Minimum buffer requirements.
(1) The width of required buffers shall vary with the nature of the uses being separated, the height of the buildings being separated, and the construction of the buffer, as shown in the Table H-1. The basic buffer width given in that table is the width required where the buffer consists of the following:
(a) A level or gently sloping area of sod or ground cover;
(b) At least five major trees per hundred lineal feet of buffer, where the drip line of mature trees will touch or just overlap; or
(c) At least ten shrubs per hundred lineal feet of buffer. Shrubs are to have mature height of 36 inches or more. Ground cover has a mature height of 35 inches or less.
(2) The table also shows where a security fence and/or a solid fence, wall, or berm is required as part of a buffer.
(C) Height adjustment. The basic buffer width shall be increased by the height adjustment factor, where one is established. The height adjustment factor is a ratio expressing the number of feet that must be added to the basic buffer width for each foot in height over 25 feet of the building being buffered.
(D) Buffer width reduction: berms, walls, and fences. The basic buffer width requirements may be reduced where a berm is included in the buffer. The width reduction shall be twice the height of the berm, but the maximum permitted reduction shall be ten feet. No berm shall have a slope of more than three to one except where a retaining wall is incorporated into the berm on the side opposite the use or public way being buffered. Berms, walls, or fences may be required in cases where the potential nuisances being mitigated are noise or dust/debris.
(E) Buffer width reduction: additional plantings. The basic width requirements may be reduced where a greater density and diversity of plantings is included in the buffer. The buffer width reductions permitted in this section are cumulative and may result in a total reduction of up to 30%. The buffer width reductions permitted are also cumulative with those permitted here.
(1) Major trees. The required buffer width shall be reduced by 10% where six or more major trees per hundred lineal feet are planted or retained.
(2) Shrubs. The required buffer width shall be reduced by 10% where 20 or more shrubs per hundred lineal feet are planted or retained.
(F) Minimum buffer width. No required buffer shall be less than half the basic buffer width or less than ten feet in width, regardless of any reductions permitted.
(G) Buffer crossings/inclusions. Buffers may be crossed by access driveways, utility lines, sidewalks, and pedestrian trails. A sidewalk or pedestrian trail may also run along the length of a buffer, with its width, up to a maximum five feet, being included in the required buffer width. Buffers may also include permitted signs.
(H) Plant materials specifications. Plant materials installed in required buffers shall be warranted for one year and meet the following specifications.
(1) All trees shall be containerized or bagged and bur lapped stock in good condition with a caliper of at least one and one-half inch, measured one foot above grade, for deciduous trees, and a height of at least six feet for coniferous trees.
(2) All shrubs shall be a minimum one gallon containerized stock in good condition with a mature height of 36 inches or more.
(3) Ground covers shall have a mature height of 35 inches or less.
(I) Maintenance. Perpetual maintenance of buffers is required. If the use of the development lot changes, the buffer requirements may change also. This will be handled on a case by case basis.
Table H.1 - Buffering Requirements
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Type of Development | Development Type of Area | Basic Buffer Width | Height Adjustment | Headlight Buffer | Security Fence Required | Berm, Wall, or Fence Required (Noise, Dust, and Debris Mitigation) |
Table H.1 - Buffering Requirements
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Type of Development | Development Type of Area | Basic Buffer Width | Height Adjustment | Headlight Buffer | Security Fence Required | Berm, Wall, or Fence Required (Noise, Dust, and Debris Mitigation) |
Commercial | Residential, platted residential lots | 20 | .75:1 | For parking | Yes | Yes |
Commercial outdoor material storage, handling, or sales areas over 10,000 SF | Residential, platted residential lots | 50 | None | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Commercial outdoor materials storage, handling, or sales areas, any size | Any public way | 12 | None | No | Yes | Yes |
Higher density residential | Lower density residential, platted residential lots | 20 | .80:1 | For parking | No | Yes |
Industrial | Residential, platted residential lots | 50 | 1:1 | For parking | Yes | Yes |
Industrial | Any public way | 12 | None | No | Yes | Yes |
Industrial or commercial | Adjoining visually sensitive area | 50 | 1:1 | No | No | Yes |
Recreational | Any | 30 | .75:1 | For parking | No | Yes |
Residential | Visually sensitive area | 20 | None | None | No | No |
(Ord. 2007-8-13, passed 3-11-2019)