A. Office, commercial and industrial zoning lots which abut, or, in the absence of an alley, would abut any residential zoning lot or district shall be required to provide a transitional buffer yard (TBY) unless otherwise provided for in this chapter. Multi- family zoning lots which abut, or in the absence of an alley, would abut any single-family, or duplex zoning lot or district, are also required to provide a TBY.
1. Depth: Depth of yard shall meet size as required by title 10 of this code.
2. Prohibited Materials In TBY: Any TBY required pursuant to this chapter shall be maintained as a planted or landscaped area only. No driveways, refuse containers, storage, aisleways, vehicular maneuvering area, mechanical equipment, sidewalks materials other than landscaping, or structures of any form shall be located within any required TBY. However, if any emergency exit into the TBY area is required by a code, a concrete pad of no more than twenty three (23) square feet may be placed at grade level immediately outside of the required exit.
3. Utility Structures: Utility structures may be permitted in a TBY on a case by case basis and only through the alternative compliance provisions of this chapter.
4. Plant Material: Plant material for TBY shall meet the following:
a. The number of points that must be achieved through landscaping in a TBY shall be based on the overall length of the TBY as measured along the TBY property line. For example, if the property line running the length of the TBY is one hundred eighty feet (180') long, then one hundred eighty (180) points must be achieved through landscaping.
b. One-half (1/2) of the points for TBY landscaping must be achieved by utilizing plants from the tree classification and one-half (1/2) must be from the shrub or ground cover classification.
c. One-half (1/2) of the total points for TBY landscaping must also be evergreen or broadleaf evergreen plantings.
d. All shade trees in a TBY must be one and three-fourths inches (13/4") caliper size or larger. (Ord. 2011-8A, 5-17-2011)