A. Intent. The intent of this section is to:
1. Screen undesirable views of permitted industrial uses from fronting streets and surrounding residential area;
2. Increase soil water retention through landscape requirements;
3. Protect and preserve the appearance, privacy and property values of residential uses from any adverse influences of adjoining industrial use; and
4. Adequately shield adjoining residential uses from noise, dust and objectionable views.
B. Planting Requirements.
1. A minimum of 15% of the total site area shall be allocated to landscape improvements.
2. All improved landscaped areas shall be serviced by an irrigation system. Plans for such irrigation system shall be reviewed by and subject to the recommendations of the Planning and Design Commission as to irrigation sufficiency.
3. Plant material shall conform to the standards found in the American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1-2014) published by AmericanHort and conform to the minimum plant sizes at time of planting listed in Table 1145.04-1, unless a greater requirement is specified elsewhere in this ordinance. Larger sizes may be required by the reviewing authority, if determined to be necessary to maintain a natural appearance and achieve the intended purpose of the buffer, street lawn or screen based on the size of the development, its location and/or the character of the surrounding area.
C. Street Lawns (Front Yards). Street lawns shall be provided along any frontage abutting a public right-of-way to improve the appearance of Limited Industry Districts in the community. Except for necessary driveways or walkways, a street lawn shall extend the full length of the lot line at the depths required in Table 1145.03-1. Landscaping shall meet the following requirements.
1. At a minimum, a required street lawn along a road shall be landscaped with at least one (1) canopy tree plus one (1) additional canopy or ornamental tree for each 50 feet, or fraction thereof, of road frontage.
2. Existing trees located within the required street lawn that are of a species provided in Appendix A shall be counted toward meeting the minimum requirements of this section provided that they are in a healthy condition as determined by the City. Other existing trees within the required street lawn may be counted toward the minimum requirements of this section if approved by the reviewing authority.
3. Healthy and viable existing trees within a proposed street lawn shall be preserved unless existing site characteristics, necessary grading, location of future site improvements, species of tree (see list of prohibited species in Appendix A) or other similar conditions make their preservation unreasonable or undesirable.
4. If berms are appropriately incorporated into the street lawn, the reviewing authority may reduce the required quantities of plant material.
5. If existing conditions are such that a lot cannot accommodate the street lawn standards, the reviewing authority may modify the landscape requirements where it is determined that the purpose of the street lawn will still be achieved.
D. Buffer Zones (Side and Rear Yards). Landscaping and screening shall be provided to buffer the negative impacts between incompatible land uses, to minimize the adverse effects of certain activities upon their surroundings and to improve the appearance of Limited Industry Districts within the community.
1. Landscaping. Landscaping shall be provided within required side and rear yards where the subject property abuts another zoning district so as to provide a dense visual screen without obstructing necessary lines of sight required for safe pedestrian and vehicular movement. Buffer zones shall meet the minimum specifications defined in Table 1145.04-2.
2. Exceptions. A buffer zone is not required between two Limited Industry District parcels. A buffer zone shall not apply where the reviewing authority determines that existing natural conditions are such that a lot cannot reasonably accommodate a required buffer or where existing natural conditions on the lot act as a buffer. Alternately, where the reviewing authority determines that a vegetative buffer is inappropriate for a lot, they may approve the installation of a fence or wall to meet the buffer requirements.
E. Fencing and Screening.
1. Fencing Required. Along any side or rear property line that abuts a residential district, a six (6) foot high solid fence shall be provided within ten (10) feet and parallel to the district boundary. The fence shall extend the full length of the district boundary and to within 50 feet of a street line.
2. Screening. Screening in the form of a solid, sight obscuring fence or wall shall be provided around all trash dumpsters, heating and cooling units, and any loading areas visible from the public right-of-way. If approved by the reviewing authority, the required screen may be comprised of berms or plant material, in combination with or as a substitute for a fence or wall when it is determined that the alternate solution will provide the same degree or better of opacity and screening required by this section.
F. Applicability. All provisions of this section shall be applicable to both new development and the expansion, alteration or modification of existing development, including such expansion, alteration or modification that may be limited solely to parking and/or access.
G. Compliance. Effective buffering or screening may be required prior to other site development in order to reduce objectionable views, noise or dust associated with construction and development of the site. If not necessary and required prior to site development, all buffers and screens shall be in place prior to a Certificate of Occupancy being issued. (Ord. 2017-76. Passed 2-20-18.)