(A) Screening.
(1) All commercial or industrial principal and accessory buildings which are situated adjacent to a residential zoning district shall be screened from that district by a wooden wall or fence of not less than 100% opacity and not less than eight feet in height above the level of the residential district property at its boundary. This wall or fence shall be set back from the property line at least five feet. In the setback area shall be planted a combination of coniferous and deciduous plants and, possibly, vines in order to soften the appearance of the fence or wall from the affected residential area.
(2) Walls or fences of lesser heights or planting screens may be permitted by the City Council if there is a finding that the nature or extent of the use being screened is such that a lesser degree of screening will as adequately promote and protect the use and enjoyment of the properties within the adjacent residential district, or there is a finding that a screening of the type required by this code would interfere with the provision of adequate amounts of light and air to the residential properties.
(3) All required screening devices shall be designed so that they are architecturally harmonious with the principal structures on the site and they shall be properly maintained so as to not become unsightly, hazardous or less opaque than when originally constructed.
(B) Landscaping.
(1) All exposed ground areas surrounding or within a principal or accessory use including street boulevards which are not devoted to drives, sidewalks, patios or other such uses shall be landscaped. All landscaped areas shall be kept neat, clean and uncluttered. No landscaped area shall be used for the parking of vehicles or the storage or display of materials, supplies or merchandise.
(2) Landscape requirements.
(a) Purpose. Commercial/industrial landscaping requirements are established to foster aesthetically pleasing developments that protect and preserve the appearance, character, health, safety, and welfare of the community. In addition, these requirements are intended to increase the compatibility of adjacent land uses by minimizing the harmful impact of noise, dust, debris, motor vehicle headlight glare, other artificial light intrusions, and other objectionable activities or impacts conducted on or created by the development or adjoining or nearby land uses.
(b) General requirements. In addition to required landscaping standards, all commercial/industrial development sites shall meet the following requirements.
1. As part of a site plan review, conditional use or other development proposal, a landscaping plan is required, prepared by a qualified landscape designer or landscape architect, which demonstrates compliance with provisions herein. Landscape designs shall address:
a. Planting schedule, indicating symbols, common and botanical names, sizes of plant material and special planting instructions. Trees proposed shall be on the city's approved species list, or be approved in advance of submitting the design;
b. Location, type and size of all existing trees over six inches diameter that are to be removed or preserved. A reasonable attempt shall be made to preserve as many existing trees as practical and to incorporate them into the site plan;
c. Planting detail showing all species to scale at their normal mature crown diameter or spread for the local hardiness zone;
d. Typical sections with details of fences, tie walls, berms and other site amenities;
e. Typical sections with details of landscape islands, planter beds and foundation plantings with identifications of materials to be used;
f. Notes indicating how disturbed soil areas will be restored through the use of seeding, sodding, or other techniques;
g. Delineation of areas that will be sodded, hydro-seeded, seeded, or areas where ground cover is to be established by other means; and
h. Where landscape materials are used to provide screening from adjacent and neighboring properties, a cross-through section shall be provided indicating the perspective from the neighboring property at the property line elevation and any existing or proposed conditions that could potentially affect landscaping for screening of the site.
2. Finished sites. All managed landscaped areas shall be brought to finished grade and planted in sod, turf grass, native grasses, or other appropriate ground covers. Undisturbed areas containing existing viable natural vegetation may be left in their natural state, provided they are kept free of litter, debris and noxious and/or unsightly weeds.
3. Sodding/seeding requirements. Sod or hydro-seeding shall be utilized on all public rights-of-way. Seeding or other acceptable ground cover establishment methods may be permitted in other areas of the site.
(c) Required landscaping.
1. For all commercial and industrial areas, at least 20% of the lot area shall be managed landscaped area. The landscaping shall be concentrated between the principal structure and any adjacent street right-of-way or other areas of the lot which are visible from a street or adjacent residentially zoned property.
2. The composition and locations of managed landscaped areas shall complement the scale of the development and its surroundings. In general, larger, well-placed contiguous planting areas are preferable to smaller, disconnected areas. Managed landscaped areas of the site shall be landscaped as follows:
a. In areas where trees are used, not less than one tree, as follows:
i. One shade tree for each 1,500 square feet of managed landscaped area, or fraction thereof;
ii. One evergreen tree for each 700 square feet of managed landscaped area, or fraction thereof; and/or
iii. One ornamental tree for each 450 square feet of managed landscaped area, or fraction thereof.
b. The remainder of landscaped areas shall be covered with turf grass, native grasses, or other perennial flowering plants, vines, shrubs or trees.
(d) Exceptions to landscaping requirements. Substitution or reduction of landscaped plant materials, managed landscaped areas, or other landscaping standards may be approved by the city.
(e) Plant material standards. Landscape species shall be indigenous or be proven adaptable to the climate, but shall not be invasive to native species. Plant materials shall comply with American Standard for Nursery Stock and the following standards:
a. Minimum plant size:
Plant type | Minimum size |
Deciduous shade tree | 1½-inch diameter |
Deciduous ornamental tree | 1½-inch diameter |
Coniferous/evergreen tree | 6-feet in height |
b. Trees and landscape plants shall be tolerant of specific site conditions, including but not limited to heat, cold, drought and salt.
(f) Installation and maintenance of landscape materials. All landscape materials installed shall comply with the following:
a. Areas to be landscaped shall be prepared and improved as specified by current Minnesota Department of Transportation standards for soil preparation and drainage.
b. All landscape materials shall be installed to current industry standards.
c. Maintenance and replacement of landscape materials shall be the responsibility of the applicant/property owner.
d. All landscaping shall be subject to inspection within one growing season by the city. Landscaping not installed, maintained or replaced, as needed to comply with provisions herein, shall be considered in violation. Property owners shall receive notice of violation in accordance with city code enforcement requirements.
(C) Outdoor storage and displays.
(1) Open storage in industrial or commercial district buildings shall be allowed only with a conditional use permit. All other storage shall be maintained within an enclosed building or structure.
(2) All materials, by-products, supplies, merchandise or other similar matter not on display for direct sale, rental or lease to the consumer or user shall be stored within a completely enclosed building or within the confines of a 100% opaque wall or fence no less than five feet tall or other buffering approved by the City Council. Merchandise which is offered for sale as described heretofore may be displayed beyond the confines of a building only upon application to the City Council for special temporary permission and only following agreement to all conditions which may be attached to that authorization.
(2004 Code, § 154.115) (Ord. 464, passed 1- -1996; Ord. 16-767, passed 4-11-2017) Penalty, see § 154.999