Section 151.15.006 Buffering and Screening Requirements
A.   General Provisions. To reduce the impacts on adjacent uses which are different type buffers and screening will be required. The property owner is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of screening in accordance with the requirements of this Section unless the abutting use has already provided said buffering in compliance with the standards of this Section.
B.   Buffering/Screening Requirements.
   1.   In lieu of the shown standards, and at the owner’s option, the owner may prepare a detailed plan and specifications for landscaping and screening including plantings, fences, walls, walks, and other features designed to afford the degree of desired buffering. Such plan and specifications shall be submitted to the City for review.
   2.   A buffer consists of a horizontal distance from the main building(s) of proposed use to the property line of an adjacent district which may be occupied by screening, utilities, and landscaping materials. The required buffering distance between various land uses and adjacent districts is identified in Table 151.15-5.
   3.   The yard setback requirements of each district may be included in the buffer distance.
   4.   Within the buffer areas, screening may be required and may consist of any of the following:
At least one row of deciduous or evergreen trees or a mixture of each and spaced between 15 and 20 feet (on center), dependent on species, and at least one row of evergreen shrubs spaced not more than 4 feet apart (on center) which will grow to form a continuous hedge at least 5 feet in height within three years of planting. The balance of the buffer area shall consist of low growing evergreen shrubs, evergreen ground cover or vegetable or rock mulch.
   5.   For those buffer distances which are 40 feet or greater, 25 percent of the required distance immediately adjacent to the affected use shall be landscaped and screened as herein provided. The remainder of the buffer distances may be occupied by additional landscaping or screening, utilities, and parking facilities, but not by main or accessory buildings, except that carports may occupy a portion of this buffer distance. In no case shall the carports be located closer than 20 feet from the adjacent use.
C.   The planting of plant types which are considered allergenic is discouraged.
(Ord. 743, passed 4-10-86; Am. Ord. 834, passed 3-9-89; Am. Ord. 854, passed 1-25-90; Am. Ord. 875, passed 1-10-91; Am. Ord. 1049, passed 11-13-97; Am. Ord. 1100, passed 10-28-99; Am. Ord. 2003-021, passed 11-25-03)
Table 151.15-5
MINIMUM BUFFER DISTANCES1
(The more intense use provides the buffer)
Abutting Zoning Districts or Conforming Use
Right-of-Way
Zoning District of Proposed Use
OS/PF
UR- SFR
MRF-1
MHR
RV
NC
LC
OP
GC
IP
AI
LI
HI
Arterial Street
Collector Street
Abutting Zoning Districts or Conforming Use
Right-of-Way
Zoning District of Proposed Use
OS/PF
UR- SFR
MRF-1
MHR
RV
NC
LC
OP
GC
IP
AI
LI
HI
Arterial Street
Collector Street
Open Space and Public Facilities (OS/PF)
0
60
60
60
60
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
40
40
Single Family Residential (UR-SFR)
04
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
100
3
100
300
30
25
Mobile Home Residential Subdivision (MHR)
04
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
30
25
Multi-Family Residential (MFR)
04
25
0
25
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
30
25
Recreational Vehicle or Mobile Home Park (RV)
04
252
40
40
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
3
3
30
25
Neighborhood Convenience (NC)
604
40
40
40
40
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
0
0
Limited Commercial (LC)
604
40
40
40
40
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
0
0
Office Professional (OP)
604
40
40
40
40
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
0
0
General Commercial (GC)
604
60
60
60
60
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
0
0
Industrial Park (IP)
604
100
100
100
100
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
30
20
Airport Industrial (AI)
1004
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
30
20
Light Industrial (LI)
1004
100
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
30
20
Heavy Industrial (HI)
1004
300
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
30
20
1   All distances are given in feet and are measured from the main building of a proposed use to the property line of the adjacent district. The distances are the minimum required and a greater distance may be required by the pertinent section of the code.
2   The MFR-2 proposed development is to be setback 40 feet from any SFR zoning district.
3   Buffer to be determined based on Council Approved Agreement with the developer.
4   Buffer adjacent to wash will be based on the Surface Water Plan and floodplain considerations.