The following three basic types of screens are hereby established and are used as the basis for the table of screening requirements as set forth in § 153.234.
(A) Opaque screen, type A. A screen that is opaque from the ground to a height of at least six feet, with intermittent visual obstructions from the opaque portion to a height of at least 20 feet. An opaque screen is intended to exclude completely all visual contact between uses and to create a strong impression of spatial separation. The opaque screen may be composed of a wall, fence, planted earth berm, planted vegetation, existing vegetation or any combination thereof. For every linear 100 feet, or fraction thereof, the screen shall consist of an average of three canopy type trees, each with a minimum caliper of two inches. Said trees in five years shall reach a height of at least 20 feet and shall have an average canopy spread of 15 feet. The opaque portion of the screen must be opaque in all seasons of the year. If shrubbery is used, said shrubbery shall be evergreen plant materials and be spaced to provide a solid screen in two years. If fences or walls are used, said fences or walls shall be masonry, wood, metal or other suitable materials (not to include chain-link fencing) and shall have architectural character and be of substantial materials. A graphic illustration of the sample planting pattern is included in §§ 153.285 through 153.290.
(B) Semi-opaque screen, type B. A screen that is opaque from the ground to a height of three feet, with intermittent visual obstruction from above the opaque portion to a height of at least 20 feet. The semi-opaque screen is intended to partially block visual contact between uses and to create a strong impression of the separation of spaces. The semi-opaque screen may be composed of a wall, fence, planted earth berm, planted vegetation, existing vegetation or any combination thereof. For every linear 100 feet, or fraction thereof, the screen shall consist of an average of two canopy type trees, each with a minimum caliper of two inches. Said trees in five years shall reach a height of at least 20 feet and shall have an average canopy spread of 15 feet. The opaque portion of the screen must be opaque in all seasons of the year. If shrubbery is used, said shrubbery shall be evergreen plant materials and be spaced to provide a solid screen in two years. If fences or walls are used, said fences or walls shall be masonry, wood, metal or other suitable materials (not to include chain-link fencing) and shall have architectural character and be of substantial materials. A graphic illustration of a sample planting pattern is included in §§ 153.285 through 153.290.
(C) Broken screen, type C. A screen composed of intermittent visual obstructions from the ground to a height of at least 20 feet. The broken screen is intended to create the impression of a separation of spaces without necessarily eliminating visual contact between the spaces. It may be composed of a wall, fence, planted earth berm, planted vegetation, existing vegetation or any combination thereof. For every linear 100 feet, or fraction thereof, the screen may consist of a combination of at least two canopy or ornamental type trees, each having a minimum caliper of at least two inches, and shrubbery three feet in height that covers an average of 20% of the screen area, or five canopy or ornamental type trees, each having a minimum caliper of two inches. A graphic illustration of a sample planting pattern is included in §§ 153.285 through 153.290.
(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)