A. Intent: The provisions of this section are to provide specific landscape screening and buffer yard requirements to reduce the incompatibility between zoning districts of different intensity and type. These buffer yards will lessen the adverse impact of more intense land uses upon residential areas and/or other areas of less intense use by reducing noise, visual and other environmental impacts.
B. Requirements: In addition to landscaping and screening requirements for off street parking areas, buffer yard standards will also apply for site plans requiring a zoning change, special use permit and nonexempt site plan review requirements. The buffer yard requirement is determined by the difference between the zoning district of the subject property and the zoning district of adjacent properties. The specific requirements are identified in the following subsections and the table in section 11-22-7, "Schedule Of Buffer Yard Requirements", of this chapter. Landscaping and screening requirements for off street parking areas apply to the side of the property abutting a public street right of way. A list of prohibited trees is provided in section 11-22-5 of this chapter.
C. Types Of Buffer Yards; Description:
1. Type A Buffer:
a. The standard buffer within type A is eight feet (8') wide and contains the following number of required plants per one hundred feet (100'):
1 canopy tree
1 understory tree
6 shrubs
1 evergreen/conifer
b. Depending on the space available, the applicant may choose one of several alternative buffer widths to provide a type A buffer, each with a different amount of required plantings reflected as a multiplier of the required plant units per one hundred feet (100'). The alternatives include the following:
(1) Twenty foot (20') wide buffer with fifty percent (50%) of the required plant units per one hundred feet (100').
(2) Sixteen foot (16') wide buffer with sixty percent (60%) of the required plant units per one hundred feet (100').
(3) Twelve foot (12') wide buffer with eighty percent (80%) of the required plan units per one hundred feet (100').
(4) Four foot (4') wide buffer with ninety percent (90%) of the required plant units and a continuous hedge set back three feet (3') from the property line or fence.
2. Type B Buffer:
a. The standard buffer with type B is ten feet (10') wide and contains the following number of required plants per one hundred feet (100'):
2 canopy trees
2 understory trees
6 shrubs
2 evergreens/conifers
b. Depending on the space available, the applicant may choose one of several alternative buffer widths to provide a type B buffer, each with a different amount of required plantings. Type B buffer alternatives range from a twenty five foot (25') wide buffer with fifty percent (50%) of the required plantings to a five foot (5') wide buffer with ninety percent (90%) of the required plantings and a continuous hedge or fence.
3. Type C Buffer:
a. The standard buffer within type C is fifteen feet (15') wide and contains the following number of required plantings per one hundred feet (100'):
3 canopy trees
2 understory trees
9 shrubs
3 evergreens/conifers
b. Depending on the space available, the applicant may choose one of several alternative buffer widths to provide a type C buffer, each with a different amount of required plantings. Type C buffer alternatives range from a twenty five foot (25') wide buffer with sixty percent (60%) of the required plantings to a six foot (6') wide buffer with ninety percent (90%) of the required plantings and a continuous fence.
4. Type D Buffer:
a. The standard buffer within type D is fifteen feet (15') wide and contains the following number of required plants per one hundred feet (100'):
3 canopy trees
2 understory trees
15 shrubs
5 evergreens/conifers
b. Depending on the space available, the applicant may choose one of several alternative buffer widths to provide a type D buffer, each with a different amount of required plantings. Type D buffer alternatives range from a twenty five foot (25') wide buffer with sixty percent (60%) of the required plantings to an eight foot (8') wide buffer with ninety percent (90%) of the required plantings and a continuous fence. (Ord. 1301, 3-15-2004)