§ 27-512.   Buffer Yards.
Fifty foot buffer yards are required in the PIO, PC, AI and PUD Districts adjacent to the PR, MR and LU Districts and 600 foot buffer yards are required for warehouses or warehousing activities in a PUD District adjacent to the PR or MR Districts. Buffer yards shall comply with the following standards:
      A.   The buffer yard shall be measured from the district boundary line or from the near street line where a street serves as the district boundary line.
      B.   The buffer yard shall be required in the PIO, PC, AI and PUD Districts along the district boundaries between the district and all residential district boundary lines in adjoining municipalities, except where residential uses in a PUD District abut residential uses in an adjoining municipality.
      C.   The buffer yard may be coterminous with required side, or rear yards and in case of conflict, the larger yard requirements shall apply.
      D.   In all buffer yards, the exterior width beyond the fence or planting screen shall be planted with grass seed, sod or ground cover and shall be maintained and kept clean of all debris, rubbish, weeds and grass.
      E.   No structure, manufacturing or processing activity, materials or vehicular parking shall be permitted in the buffer yards.
      F.   All buffer yards shall include buffer strip(s) consisting of a fence and a dense screen planting of trees, shrubs or other plant materials, or both, to the full length of the lot line to serve as a barrier to visibility, air borne particles, glare and noise. Such screen planting shall be in accordance with the following requirements:
      (1)   Plant materials used in the screen planting shall at least consist of such evergreen species and size as will produce, within 3 years, a complete, year round, visual screen of at least 6 feet in height.
      (2)   The fence shall be not less than 6 feet in height and shall be placed no closer than 30 feet from any street or property line unless by special exception.
      (3)   The screen planting shall be maintained permanently and any plant material which does not survive shall be replaced within one year.
      (4)   The screen planting shall be within the 30 feet between the fence and the property line and so placed that at maturity, it will be not closer than 3 feet from any street or property line.
      (5)   Screen planting and fencing shall be located only in accordance with § 27-500, Traffic Visibility at Corners.
      (6)   The screen planting and fence shall be broken only at points of vehicular or pedestrian access.
(Ord. 45, Z-§ 512, 5/12/76; as amended by Ord. 346, 7/17/96; and by Ord. 639, 2/2/22)