(A) Buffering of off-street parking and loading areas.
(1) Whenever a parking area for five or more vehicles or an off-street loading space is located in, or adjacent to a residential district, or is adjacent to a religious place of worship, school, or other institution located on an adjoining lot, it shall be effectively screened on all sides which adjoin or face any property used for these purposes on adjacent lots. Screening shall be as follows:
(a) Screening shall be by an acceptably designed wall, fence, or planting screen that is approved by the Building Commissioner.
(b) Such fence, wall, or opaque planting shall not be less than three feet nor more than five feet in height for off-street parking areas and six feet in height for off-street loading areas. Such fence, wall or opaque planting shall be maintained in good condition.
(c) 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, hardy shrubs, or evergreen ground cover, and maintained in good condition.
(d) The finished face of the fence or wall shall face the adjoining property.
(2) 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 Building Commissioner may allow an exception, so that no such fence, wall, or planting screen and landscaping shall be required.
(B) Interior landscaping of off-street parking areas. Off-street parking areas containing more than 6,000 square feet of area or 20 or more vehicular parking spaces, whichever is less, shall provide interior landscaping of the peninsular or island types of uncompacted, well-drained soil as well as perimeter landscaping. For each 100 square feet or fraction thereof of vehicular use area, at least five square feet of landscape area shall be provided.
(1) Interior landscape requirements. Interior landscaping shall be dispersed throughout the parking area. Landscaping shall be situated such that large, unbroken areas of pavement are avoided.
(a) Minimum area. The minimum landscape area permitted shall be 180 square feet, excluding curbs, with a four foot minimum dimension to all trees from edge of pavement where vehicles overhang.
(b) Maximum contiguous area. In order to encourage the required landscape areas to be properly dispersed, no individual landscape area shall be larger than 400 square feet in size. The smallest distance to a tree in an interior landscaped area from the edge of pavement where vehicles overhang shall be four feet.
(2) Minimum tree specifications.
(a) In addition to any tree requirements required by the city, a two inch diameter tree (as measured six inches above ground) shall be planted for each 3,000 square feet of impervious surface.
(b) To retain visibility within the parking area, trees shall have a clear trunk of at least five feet above the ground. The remaining area shall be landscaped with shrubs, and/or ground cover, not to exceed three feet in height.
(C) Vehicle overhang. Parked vehicles may hang over the interior landscaped area no more than two and one-half feet. Concrete or other wheel stops shall be provided to ensure no greater overhang or penetration in the landscaped area.
(D) Grass and ground cover. Grass or ground cover shall be planted on all portions of the landscaped areas not occupied by other landscaped material.
(Ord. 2003-51, passed 5-20-03)