In order to reduce the impacts of a use of land on adjacent uses which are of a significantly different type of use, buffers and screening shall be required in accordance with the following provisions of this section.
(A) Buffers required. A buffer consists of a horizontal distance from a property line which may only be occupied by screening, utilities, access ways, and landscaping materials. The required buffering distance between land uses on adjoining zoning lots is set forth in the matrix shown below. Such buffer shall be provided unless the abutting use has already provided a buffer in compliance with the provisions of this section.
BUFFER MATRIX
Proposed Use | Abutting Use | |||||
Proposed Use | Abutting Use | |||||
Use Groups | A | B | C | D | E | |
A | 0 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 15 | |
B | 5 | 0 | 10 | 20 | 15 | |
C | 10 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 10 | |
D | 20 | 20 | 15 | 0 | 5 | |
E | 15 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | |
USE GROUPS | |||
USE GROUPS | |||
Use Group A: | Single-family or two-family detached dwellings | ||
Use Group B: | Multi-family dwellings | ||
Use Group C: | Accessory use customarily incidental to a permitted Group C principal use Business, Office Child day care Church Clinic Clubs Funeral home Group care | Hospital Hotel or motel Public cultural Public use Residence hall Rooming house School Tourist Home | |
Use Group D: | Automotive repairs, maintenance, or storage facility, light manufacturing, and supply yards | ||
Use Group E: | Accessory use customarily incidental to a permitted Group C principal use Automotive, trailer, and farm implement sales or rental Bank Business, convenience Business, general Extraction of earth products Gasoline or filling station Hangar, medical aircraft Kennel Landfill | Parking, off-street Personal services Public service facility Publishing or printing Radio or television transmitting or receiving facility Recreation facility, non-profit Recreation facility, commercial Supply yard Temporary portable building Veterinary hospital or clinic Vocational school | |
(B) Screening required.
(1) Within buffers, screening is required and shall consist of at least the following:
(a) A row of deciduous or evergreen trees which are not less than fifteen (15) feet high at the time of planting and are spaced not more than fifteen (15) feet apart;
(b) A row of evergreen shrubs spaced not more than five (5) feet apart which will grow to form a continuous hedge at least six (6) feet in height within two (2) years of planting; and
(c) Lawn, low-growing evergreen shrubs, evergreen ground cover, or vegetable or rock mulch covering the balance of the buffer.
(2) All business, service, repair, processing, storage, or merchandise display conducted outside of an enclosed building shall be screened from adjacent streets and properties by means of an effective screening device of a height appropriate to its screening function. Appropriate screening devices may include solid decorative brick walls, wood fences, berms, tight evergreen hedges which shall reach the necessary height within two (2) years of planting, or combination of the above.
(C) Alternative buffers and screening. In lieu of compliance with the above buffer and screening requirements, a developer may submit to the Planning Commission for its approval a detailed plan and specifications for landscaping and screening which will afford a degree of buffering and screening equivalent to or exceeding that provided by the above requirements.
(D) Existing vegetation. The retention of existing vegetation shall be maximized to the extent practical wherever such vegetation contributes to required buffering and screening or to the preservation of significant trees.
(E) Maintenance of landscaping. All landscaping and screening providing required buffering and screening shall be maintained so as to continue their effectiveness.
(Ord. passed 1-27-87) Penalty, see § 156.999