(a) For new Developments and new uses in existing Developments, an opaque buffer and screen from the ground to a minimum height of six (6) feet, shall be provided between all adjoining residential and non-residential uses.
(b) Opaque Screening to a minimum height of six (6) feet and a minimum width of five (5) feet shall be required around the perimeter of all mini-storage warehousing facilities, Recreational and commercial vehicle parking areas, and loading areas, and also between single-family detached and multi-family, and where elsewhere specified in this Ordinance.
(c) Opaque Screening to a minimum height of six (6) feet shall be required around the perimeter of all exterior trash dumpsters; material, product and equipment storage areas; tanks, and similar facilities. Dumpster Screening shall consist of a solid wall at least six (6) feet tall and landscape area along all sides (except the area where the door is located). The walls shall be of the same general character and compatible with the materials used for the principle Building and shall not be sheet metal. The gate at the entrance to the dumpster shall be on a metal frame. The landscape area around the dumpster Screening shall be at least five (5) feet in depth and be planted with shrubs and/or trees.
(d) A twenty-five (25) foot opaque buffer and screen composed of intermittent visual obstructions from the ground to a minimum height of ten (10) feet is required along existing or planned primary Streets and state-maintained Roads where new residential Developments about them. For new mixed-use Developments, residential Structures shall be buffered from commercial Structures and adjoining parking Lots by use of vegetation, Landscaping, fencing, walls, Berms or other similar methods which are deemed under the circumstances to create effective and aesthetically pleasing screens or buffers between such diverse land uses. At least fifty percent (50%) of any vegetative material shall be coniferous or other non-deciduous plant material.
(e) Buffering shall consist of a land area not less than twenty (20) feet in width for Developments between all adjoining residential and non-residential uses, except as provided below.
(f) The twenty (20) foot Screening shall be in conformance with Appendix C – Buffering Standard Detail and planted according to the species’ planting requirements. All natural Screening shall be intended to reduce visibility, pollution, and noise.
(g) Buffer width may be reduced to ten (10) feet, provided that an opaque Screening is provided, such as a fence, Berm, Landscaping or a combination thereof. The ten (10) foot buffer and Screening shall be in conformance with Appendix C – Buffering Standard Detail and planted according to the species’ planting requirements. All natural Screening shall be intended to reduce visibility, pollution, and noise.
(h) Opaque Screening shall consist of a wall, fence, landscaped earth Berm, planted vegetation, existing vegetation, or a combination thereof and shall be intended to prevent visibility and reduce noise. Compliance of planted vegetative screens or natural vegetation will be judged on the basis of the average mature height and density of foliage of the subject species, or field observation of existing vegetation.
(i) The requirements of Section 1307.12
Landscaping Standards shall be in addition to the requirements of this Section. However, where duplication of plant material would occur, plantings from Section 1307.12
is not required. Duplication in this Subsection shall mean excessive crowding, based on anticipated full growth at maturity of the selected plant material, that would result in premature mortality. (Ord. 2022-13. Passed 11-10-22.)