§ 159.186 LANDSCAPE BUFFER YARDS.
   (A)   Applicability. The regulations of this section shall establish the dimensions and improvement requirements of landscape buffer yards as required for transitions between uses and along the city's corridors.
   (B)   Changes in Landscape Buffer Yards for Planned Developments. Landscape buffer yards may be established, increased, or decreased by the Plan Commission and Common Council as part of the zoning approval of any planned development.
   (C)   General Restrictions. Landscape buffers around an entire land use shall be reserved for the planting of material and installation of other buffering materials as required within this section. No parking, sidewalks, stormwater detention facilities, regulated drains, fences, walls, accessory buildings, structures, easements or other impervious surfaces shall be permitted to be located inside any required landscape buffer yard. Allowable encroachments include landscaping and earthen berms. Consideration may be given to driveways and sidewalks needed to service a use or building and can be administratively approved by the Director of Planning and Development, or decorative walls/fences approved by the Plan Commission and Council for a planned development. All landscape buffer yards shall include a variety of landscape plants per development. Buffering requirements, when applicable, shall be used to supplement all other required landscaping and shall not be used in lieu of other required landscaping, unless otherwise stated in this subchapter.
   (D)   Maintenance of Landscape Buffer Yards. Landscape buffer yards are designated as Common Area/Landscape Buffer Yard and shall be maintained by the homeowner's association and/or developer as per the declaration of covenants for the subdivision and/or planned development. Other acceptable recordable documentation for the maintenance of the landscape buffer yards may be approved by the Director of Planning and Development on a case-by-case basis.
   (E)   Size and Improvement of Landscape Buffer Yards. The size and improvement of the landscape buffer yards for various situations shall be as per the table below.
Table 12.0.7.E.
LANDSCAPE BUFFER YARD REQUIREMENTS
Proposed Use or Zoning District
Landscape Buffer Yard Width
Required Trees (per 100 linear feet)
Required Shrubs (per 100 linear feet) (Minimum 24-inches at the time of planting)
Other Requirements
Table 12.0.7.E.
LANDSCAPE BUFFER YARD REQUIREMENTS
Proposed Use or Zoning District
Landscape Buffer Yard Width
Required Trees (per 100 linear feet)
Required Shrubs (per 100 linear feet) (Minimum 24-inches at the time of planting)
Other Requirements
Downtown as per adopted map per Appendix G
Exempt
Exempt
Exempt
Exempt
GB, PB, LB, VC
Adjacent to or abutting a residential use/zone
30 feet
2 staggered evergreen canopy trees and 1 deciduous canopy tree
33 staggered deciduous or evergreen shrubs
Fences or walls may be used in combination with landscaping. A berm may be used to supplement the required landscaping.
I1, I2, I3
Adjacent to or abutting a residential use/zone
40 feet
2 staggered evergreen canopy trees and 1 deciduous canopy tree
33 staggered deciduous or evergreen shrubs
Fences or walls may be used in combination with landscaping. A berm may be used to supplement the required landscaping.
Park, Recreation, Institution al Uses Adjacent to or abutting a residential use/zone
25 feet
2 staggered canopy trees
16 staggered deciduous or evergreen shrubs
Fences or walls may be used in combination with the required landscaping. {A berm may be used to supplement the required landscaping. }
R5, RMH, ZLL, Land Use Variance
Adjacent to or abutting a residential use/zone
15 feet
2 staggered evergreen under-story trees and 1 deciduous under-story tree
16 staggered deciduous or evergreen shrubs
Fences or walls may be used in combination with the required landscaping. {A berm may be used to supplement the required landscaping. }
Downtown as per adopted map per Appendix G
Exempt
Exempt
Exempt
Exempt
GB, PB, LB, VC
Adjacent to or abutting a residentia l use/zone
30 feet
2 staggered evergreen canopy trees and 1 deciduous canopy tree
33 staggered deciduous or evergreen shrubs
Fences or walls may be used in combination with landscaping. A berm may be used to supplement the required landscaping.
I1, I2, I3
Adjacent to or abutting a residentia l use/zone
40 feet
2 staggered evergreen canopy trees and 1 deciduous canopy tree
33 staggered deciduous or evergreen shrubs
Fences or walls may be used in combination with landscaping. A berm may be used to supplement the required landscaping.
Park, Recreation , Institutio nal Uses
Adjacent to or abutting a residentia l use/zone
25 feet
2 staggered canopy trees
16 staggered deciduous or evergreen shrubs
Fences or walls may be used in combination with the required landscaping. A berm may be used to supplement the required landscaping.
R5, RMH, ZLL, Land Use Variance
Adjacent to or abutting a residentia l use/zone
15 feet
2 staggered evergreen understory trees and 1 deciduous understory tree
16 staggered deciduous or evergreen shrubs
Fences or walls may be used in combination with the required landscaping. A berm may be used to supplement the required landscaping.
Adjacent to or abutting an Arterial or Expressway
40 feet
3 staggered canopy trees of a minimum 3.5- inches caliper
33 staggered deciduous or evergreen shrubs
Fences or walls may be used in combination with landscaping. A berm may be used to supplement the required landscaping.
CCPD
See § 159.109(G), landscaping requirements
See § 159.109G), landscaping requirements
See § 159.109(G), landscaping requirements
See § 159.109(G), landscaping requirements
Planned Development s
50 feet
3 staggered canopy trees or evergreen trees
33 total staggered deciduous and evergreen shrubs
Fences or walls may be used in combination with landscaping. A berm may be used to supplement the required landscaping.
Adjacent to or abutting an Arterial or Expressway
40 feet
3 staggered canopy trees of a minimum 3.5-inches caliper
33 staggered deciduous or evergreen shrubs
Fences or walls may be used in combination with landscaping. A berm may be used to supplement the required landscaping.
CCPD
See § 159.107(F)(8)(b)6. Perimeter Site Buffering. For specifics not addressed in this noted section, refer to “Planned Developments” (see below).
Planned Development s
50 feet
3 staggered canopy trees or evergreen trees
33 total staggered deciduous and evergreen shrubs
Fences or walls may be used in combination with landscaping. A berm may be used to supplement the required landscaping.
 
1.   Areas not planted with trees or shrubs shall be maintained as turf or other groundcover approved by the Director of Planning and Development.
2.   Ornamental grass may be substituted for shrubs up to a maximum of 20%.
3.   For calculation purposes, plant quantities are rounded up to the nearest whole number when the calculation is 0.5 or greater.
4.   Refer to tree and shrub staggering diagrams.
(Ord. 64-11-08, passed 12-9-08; Am. Ord. 23-06-10, passed 7-13-10; Am. Ord. 25-7-10, passed 8-24-10; Am. Ord. 32-10-11, passed 11-15-11; Am. Ord. 31-09-13, passed 9-24-13; Am. Ord. 12-04-17, passed 4-25-17)