(a) Parking areas for five (5) or more vehicles shall be screened from all adjacent public rights-of-way by the following:
(1) A four-foot high solid masonry or stone wall; or
(2) A four-foot high decorative metal tube or solid metal bar fence with a minimum three foot wide landscaped area along the parking area side of the fence. The landscaped area shall be planted with six evergreen shrubs and one deciduous shade tree per thirty linear feet. Trees and shrubs shall be maintained in good condition, dead material shall be replaced.
(b) A parking area for five (5) or more vehicles which is located in, or adjacent to a residential district, or which is adjacent to a church, school, hospital or other institution located on an adjoining lot shall be effectively screened on all sides which adjoin or face any property used for these purposes, by an acceptably designed wall, fence or planting screen. Such fence or wall shall be not less than four feet nor more than six (6) feet in height and shall be maintained in good condition. The space between such fence, wall or planting screen, and the lot line of the adjoining premises in any residential district shall be landscaped with grass, one shrub/tree with a minimum height of four feet planted every four linear feet and one deciduous shade tree planted every thirty linear feet and maintained in good condition. In the event that terrain or other natural features are such that the erection of such fence, wall or planting screen will not serve the intended purpose, then the Chief Building Official or authorized staff delegate may allow an exception, so that no such fence, wall or planting screen and landscaping shall be required.
(c) Where shared parking is provided, no landscaping is required along the rear or side property line.
(d) Parking areas containing more than fifteen (15) parking spaces shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Islands shall be located at the end of each parking row and no more than fifteen spaces shall be located in a continuous row without being interrupted by a landscaped island.
(2) Landscape islands shall have a minimum width of nine (9) feet at the narrowest dimension and a minimum size of one hundred and thirty-five (135) square feet for single loaded parking rows, and a minimum size of two hundred and seventy (270) square feet for double loaded rows.
(3) Landscaped medians with a minimum width of ten (10) feet shall be located to separate every four (4) parallel rows of cars and shall run the full length of the parking row.
(4) The landscaped island should be designed to maximum extent feasible to accommodate stormwater runoff. The use of porous pavement and/or specially designed brick or block is encouraged to increase the on site water detention for plant material and ground water supplies and to reduce the problems associated with runoff.
(5) Each individual landscaped island shall include a minimum of one (1) deciduous tree and two (2) shrubs and two trees (2) and four (4) shrubs per fifteen (15) parking spaces or fraction thereof. The area not covered by the canopy of the tree shall be covered with shrubs grass, ground cover, or mulch
(6) The trees and shrubs shall be distributed throughout the parking lot islands to decrease the appearance of a single expanse of pavement and to create a canopy effect. The trees shall be of a variety to provide the shade canopy and have an unobstructed cross visibility between two and six (6) feet. The use of native and drought resistant plantings is encouraged.
(e) An irrigation system shall be provided for all landscaping required for parking areas and buffers. An irrigation system is not required if there is an operable outdoor water spigot within one hundred (100) feet from the furthest extent of the landscaping areas. In addition the use of approved drought resistant plantings within the landscaped area shall also be exempt from the irrigation requirement.
(Ord. 8-2013. Passed 2-26-13; Ord. 50-2022. Passed 11-8-22.)