Buffer standards are stated in terms of the width of the buffer and the number of plant units required per one hundred (100) linear feet. The width of each buffer shall, at a minimum, meet the standard buffer width. The City Council, with recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission, may allow the described narrower buffer widths. The “plant unit multiplier” is a factor by which the basic number of plant materials required for a given buffer is determined given a change in width of that yard. The number of plant materials required shall be rounded up when a fraction is calculated. The type and quantity of plant materials required by each buffer, and each buffer option, are specified in this section. These standards are minimum requirements. More plantings, wider buffers, or higher structures may be provided.
1. Buffer 1: The standard buffer shall be a thirty (30) foot wide landscaped buffer. A three (3) foot berm is required.
Required planting per 100 linear feet of buffer:
2 Canopy Trees
2 Understory Trees
5 Evergreen Trees
16 Shrubs
Buffer 1 Plant Multiplier Table | |
Buffer Width | Planting Multiplier |
Buffer 1 Plant Multiplier Table | |
Buffer Width | Planting Multiplier |
0 feet* | Buffer Wall |
15 feet* | 1.4 |
20 feet* | 1.2 |
30 feet | 1.0 |
40 feet | 0.8 |
50 feet | 0.6 |
*P & Z and Council approval needed. | |
2. Buffer 2: The standard buffer shall be a fifty (50) wide foot landscaped buffer. A three (3) foot berm is required.
Required planting per 100 linear feet of buffer:
4 Canopy Trees
3 Understory Trees
4 Evergreen Trees
24 Shrubs
Buffer 2 Plant Multiplier Table | |
Buffer Width | Planting Multiplier |
0 feet* | Buffer Wall |
30 feet* | 1.4 |
40 feet* | 1.2 |
50 feet | 1.0 |
60 feet | 0.8 |
70 feet | 0.6 |
*P & Z and Council approval needed. | |
3. Buffer 3: The standard buffer shall be a fifty (50) wide foot landscaped buffer. A three (3) foot berm is required.
Required planting per 100 linear feet of buffer:
5 Canopy Trees
4 Understory Trees
5 Evergreen Trees
34 Shrubs
Buffer 3 Plant Multiplier Table | |
Buffer Width | Planting Multiplier |
0 feet* | Buffer Wall |
30 feet* | 1.4 |
40 feet* | 1.2 |
50 feet | 1.0 |
60 feet | 0.8 |
70 feet | 0.6 |
*P & Z and Council approval needed. | |
4. Buffer 4: The standard buffer shall be a seventy-five (75) wide foot landscaped buffer. A six (6) berm is required or a six (6) foot solid masonry/brick wall shall be provided along the property line.
Required planting per 100 linear feet of buffer:
6 Canopy Trees
5 Understory Trees
6 Evergreen Trees
38 Shrubs
Buffer 4 Plant Multiplier Table | |
Buffer Width | Planting Multiplier |
50 feet* | 1.5 |
75 feet | 1.0 |
125 feet | 0.75 |
*P & Z and Council approval needed. | |