(A) Lighting. All lighting upon any premises, regardless of zone, shall be so arranged that such lighting does not produce any glare that is a nuisance or annoyance to residents or occupants of adjoining premises or to the traveling public or public highways.
(B) Screening. A buffer yard shall be provided wherever a business, commercial, or industrial use abuts a residential district or use. The purpose of buffer yards is to buffer incompatible use, moderate harsh or unpleasant sounds, remove air pollutants, reduce the glare from vehicle headlights, or otherwise lessen conflicts between uses.
(1) The buffer yard requirements of this section shall apply to all new construction, and all expansions, renovations, or alterations that increase the size of an existing structure or building.
(2) Buffer yards shall be located within a minimum required building setback.
(3) The requirements of this section are the minimum requirements for buffer yards. The requirements are as follows:
(a) A buffer yard shall be a minimum of ten feet wide.
(b) For each 20 linear feet abutting the adjacent property, one tree shall be planted within the buffer yard. Trees shall be a mixture of evergreen, canopy, and ornamental trees. Two shrubs shall be planted for each tree and each shrub shall be a minimum of 30 inches at planting and reach a minimum height of five feet at maturity. All plantings shall meet the following requirements:
1. Plant materials shall not be placed closer than eight feet to a fence line or property line.
2. Evergreen trees shall be planted not more than 20 feet on center and shall be not less than four feet in height at planting.
3. Ornamental trees or tree-like shrubs shall be planted not more than ten feet on center and shall not be less than four feet in height at planting.
4. Deciduous shrubs shall be planted not more than four feet on center and shall not be less than 30 inches in height at planting.
5. Deciduous trees shall be planted not more than 25 feet on center and shall not be less than two inches in caliper measured at breast height at planting.
6. All landscaping shall be hardy plant materials and maintained thereafter in a neat, healthy, and orderly manner. Withered and/or dead plant materials shall be replaced within a reasonable period of time but no longer than one growing season.
(c) If a berm three to six feet in height is used for all or part of the greenbelt, required plant material quantities may be reduced by 25%. The berm shall not exceed six feet in height. All plant materials shall be placed along the top and exterior side slope of the berm. The greenbelt width shall be increased as needed to accommodate maximum berm side slopes of one foot vertical rise to three feet horizontal.
(d) A screen wall or solid fence may be used for all or part of the greenbelt. If a solid fence or screen wall is used, the following regulations shall apply.
1. Required quantities of plant materials may be reduced by 50% for that area abutting the fence or wall.
2. The fence or wall shall be of sufficient density or compactness to screen the structures and activities of the business from the view of occupants of adjoining premises, not less than five feet in height and maintained in a neat and attractive manner, commensurate with the adjoining residential district. No such wall or fence shall terminate closer than ten feet from any adjoining street right-of-way line.
3. The fence or wall shall comply with the applicable regulations of this chapter.
(4) The Planning Commission is hereby given the authority to increase, decrease or otherwise modify the screening requirements of this section. In so doing, the Planning Commission shall consider the following criteria:
(a) The amount of space on the site available for landscaping;
(b) Existing landscaping on the site and on adjacent properties;
(c) The type of use on the site and size of the development;
(d) Existing and proposed adjacent land uses;
(e) The effect the required landscaping would have on the operation of the existing proposed land use; and
(f) Whether additional landscaping is necessary to mitigate the adverse effects of the proposed use or adjoining land uses, to reduce headlight glare, reduce noise and to otherwise achieve the objectives of this section.
(C) Fences.
(1) Unless specifically provided for elsewhere in this chapter, a front yard fence in a residential zone may not exceed a height of four feet and shall not be more than 50% solid.
(2) It is unlawful to construct any private fence or barrier within a public right-of-way.
(3) In all districts, the frontage for corner lots shall follow the same limitations as provided for residential front yard screening.
(4) Barbed wire fences are prohibited only within the R-1 and R-2 Zoning Districts on land that has been platted or made part of a site condominium. Notwithstanding the above, barbed wire fence may be used to enclose schools, public buildings and structures, and utility and essential service buildings and structures.
(5) Above ground electrical fences are prohibited only within R-1 and R-2 Zoning Districts on land that has been platted or made part of a site condominium. Notwithstanding the above, electrical fences may be used to enclose schools, public buildings and structures, and utility and essential service buildings and structures.
(Ord. passed 7-12-2012, § 4.23; Ord. 23-7, passed 9-14-2023, § 1) Penalty, see § 154.999