In order to provide adequate protective screening for residential areas adjacent to or near nonresidential areas, the following regulations shall apply:
(a) Where a Business or Industrial District abuts directly upon a Residential District, a landscaped greenbelt meeting the requirements of Section 1296.03, Landscaping Standards, shall be provided and maintained along its entire length by the users of the business or industrially zoned property.
In addition, such Business or Industrial District shall be screened from such contiguous, residentially zoned district by either a building housing a permitted use or by a solid masonry wall, ornamental on both sides, and not less than six (6) feet in height above grade, between the required greenbelt area and the commercial or industrial use. Such walls shall be constructed of the same materials as that of the main or principal building, and be faced with either brick, decorative block, or pre-cast concrete formed into a decorative pattern and painted in the same color scheme as that of the principal building.
Such greenbelt area shall meet the requirements of Section 1296.03, Landscaping Standards, and be a strip of land not less than fifteen (15) feet in width, planted and maintained with evergreens such as spruce, pines or firs, at least five (5) feet in height, so as to create a permanent buffer within one (1) year following approval of the development by the City.
If, in the opinion of the Planning Commission, the greenbelt would serve no good purpose, the Commission may waive such requirement and provide only the wall between the residential use and the business or industrial use.
The remainder of the landscaped area which is not planted with evergreens as provided in this subsection shall meet the requirements of Section 1296.03, Landscaping Standards, and be in well kept lawns. All landscaping shall be maintained in a healthy growing condition, neat and orderly in appearance. All planting plans shall be first submitted to the Planning Commission for approval as to suitability of planting materials and arrangements thereof in accordance with this subsection and said Section 1296.03.
When vehicles, open air displays, waste receptacles, or other features generally exceed a six (6) foot height, the wall shall be increased to a height adequate to completely screen such features, not exceeding ten (10) feet. All such walls shall be of uniform height around the premises and the design of such wall shall be first approved by the Commission.
(b) Where required walls are provided on the business side of public alleys, wall requirements may be waived to provide necessary entrance to or exit from required off-street parking and loading areas, provided the parking area is in mid-block with no possibility for street ingress or egress, and provided, further, that such opening, if approved by the Police Department, the Traffic Division, and the Commission, shall be stepped down to a three (3)-foot level for a minimum of ten (10) feet on each side of the opening.
(Res. 98-340A. Passed 9-21-98.)