SECTION 2310 WALLS AND BUFFER STRIPS BETWEEN LAND USES.

In those instances where the following conditions occur, the need for the wall or berm or similar type of landscaped buffer strip shall be determined by the Planning Commission , City Council or the Building and Zoning Administrator , as appropriate.

   a.   For those Use Districts and use s listed below, there shall be provided and maintained on those sides abutting or adjacent to a residential district an obscuring wall as required below (except as otherwise required).

	Use	Requirements
1.	P-1 Vehicular Parking District	5 foot high wall
2.	Off-street Parking area (other than P-1 Districts)	5 foot high wall
3.	B-1, B-2, B-3 and OS-1 Districts	5 foot high wall
4.	I-1, I-2 and R-P Districts - open storage areas, loading or unloading areas, service areas	5 foot to 8 foot high wall or fence plus buffer strip
5.	Auto Wash, Drive-in Restaurants	6 foot high wall
6.	Hospital - ambulance and delivery areas	6 foot high wall
7.	Utility buildings, stations and/or substations	6 foot high wall

 

   b.   Required walls shall be located on the lot line except where underground utilities interfere and except in instances where this Ordinance requires conformance with front yard  setback lines in abutting Residential Districts where there is an established wall height and material acceptable to the City, the wall shall be continued on the subject site.

   c.   Such walls and screening barrier shall have no openings for vehicular traffic or other purposes, except as otherwise provided in this Ordinance and except such openings as may be approved by the Zoning and Building Administrator. All walls herein required shall be constructed of materials approved by the Building and Zoning Administrator to be durable, weather resistant, rustproof and easily maintained; and, wood or wood products shall be specifically excluded.

Masonry walls may be constructed with openings which do not in any square section (height and width) exceed twenty (20%) percent of the surface. Where walls are so pierced, the openings shall be so spaced as to maintain the obscuring character required, and shall not reduce the minimum height requirement. The arrangement of the openings shall be reviewed and approved by the Building and Zoning Administrator .

   d.   The City may approve a three (3) to four (4) foot high heavily landscaped berm as an alternative to a wall upon finding the landscaped berm will provide a similar screening effect.