(a) Environmental Treatment. The following guidelines set development standards for the State Route 256 corridor. These standards apply to the developer, to any contiguous landowners and to governmental agencies involved in modifications along this section of the corridor. The appropriateness of materials will vary with the type of development that occurs along this corridor.
(b) Lighting.
(1) Street lighting. Street lighting along State Route 256 should utilize similar fixtures along the entire corridor to promote identity and continuity, as well as provide a sufficient level of light.
(2) Parking lot lighting.
A. Retail. The light source should be concealed and cut off in design. Fixtures should be twelve feet to thirty feet in height with dark poles. (See Appendix I following the text of this chapter.)
B. Multi-family. The light source should be decorative in style and provide natural color. Fixtures should be twelve feet to thirty feet in height with dark poles. (See Appendix I following the text of this chapter.)
(c) Signage. The following sign standards shall apply within the corridor: Signage should help to unify the corridor. The design, format and materials shall be consistent with the architecture and shall conform to Municipal standards.
(d) Screening for Parking and Roadway. Parking areas should be screened from State Route 256 and intersecting roads to minimize the visual impact of large paved areas and parked automobiles. This allows the landscape and the architecture to dominate and will also prevent distraction from automobile headlights. The following methods may be used to achieve this:
(1) Earth berms. Earth berms shall be approximately three feet to five feet in height, shall have a maximum slope of 2:1 and shall be seeded or sodded with a good quality grass which can be mowed or planted with ground cover or plantings. (See Appendix II following the text of this chapter.)
(2) Landscaping.
A. Plant material shall be a mixture of deciduous shade trees, evergreen trees and smaller ornamental trees. Plants shall be grouped in like clusters to provide a desirable visual effect. Evergreen and ornamental trees shall be used to screen views, and shade trees shall be used for filtered views.
B. Where space is restricted, a hedge-type plant is preferred. Mature height shall approximate forty inches and plants shall be spaced tightly enough to provide a dense screen. (See Appendix II following the text of this chapter.) All modification by governmental agencies along and within this corridor shall provide landscape and environmental treatment consistent with that of the development standards, as outlined herein.
(3) Fencing. Fencing provides an "edge" to a site and promotes continuity when used properly. Fencing shall be limited to the rail or picket type and shall be in scale with the development. (See Appendix II following the text of this chapter.)
(4) Combination. A combination of earth berm and landscaping is preferred for the entire corridor except for the area north of the north branch of Hunter's Run Creek, where a combination of hedge and/or fencing may be utilized.
(e) Viewing Triangles. A triangular area with the approximate dimensions of thirty feet by fifty feet by sixty feet (as measured from the edge of pavement) should remain open and unplanted to allow adequate visibility for automobiles entering and exiting the site. This applies to all private curb cuts and public streets. (See Appendix I following the text of this chapter.)
(f) Landscaping. Within rights-of-way.
(1) In general. All unpaved areas within the public rights-of-way must be seeded (or sodded) with a grass seed mixture containing fifty-five percent Kentucky Bluegrass, thirty percent Red Fescue and fifteen percent Perennial Rye Grass. These lawn areas must be mowed regularly and should be re-seeded as needed to prevent large, bare dirt areas. If trees are planted in these areas, they must be maintained in a good healthy condition. Dead or diseased trees must be removed promptly at or below the soil level.
(2) Proposed median on State Route 256. When the dimensions of a median exceed six feet in width (from the face of the curb), it shall not be paved, but should be planted with lawn and/or landscaping instead.
(Ord. 2014-27. Passed 8-5-14.)