(a) Non-Residential Uses. All trees with a caliper of six (6) inches or more shall be maintained and preserved as part of all non-residential development. The location of all driveways, off-street parking and loading areas, and all other improvements, including grading, shall be designed to avoid the destruction of any such existing tree defined herein. As part of an approved landscaping plan, any such tree may be replaced by a tree of a species approved by the Planning and Zoning Administrator with a caliper not less than 1.5 inches only under the following conditions:
(1) An existing tree will be replaced within a public right-of-way or easement.
(2) An existing tree is located within the area to be covered by a proposed structure or within twenty-five (25) feet from the perimeter of such structure(s) and such structure(s) cannot be located in a manner to avoid removal of an existing tree at the same time permitting desirable, logical, and appropriate development of the lot.
(3) An existing tree will be located within a proposed driveway, off-street parking area or other improvement and relocation of such improvement would not permit desirable, logical, and appropriate development of the lot.
(4) An existing tree is damaged or diseased.
In addition to the requirements for off-street parking areas, all non-residential uses shall provide twenty (20) square feet of landscaped area for every five hundred (500) square feet of building ground coverage area, or fraction thereof, and a one and one-half (1 ½) inch in caliper tree for every five hundred (500) square feet of building ground coverage. All areas of a lot not covered by buildings, structures, paving, or the landscaping required herein shall be covered by natural turf at a minimum. Tree planting requirements may be waived by the Planning Commission if the quantity of existing trees and their aggregate trunk sizes meet or exceed these requirements and are evenly distributed throughout the subject site.
(b) Multi-Family Perimeter Treatment. For all multi-family residential uses a fifteen (15) foot landscaped perimeter shall be provided where such development is adjacent to or abuts a residential zoning district or public right-of-way, excluding on-site access drives. Such landscaping shall include a combination of trees, shrubs, hedges, earth mounds, and other natural features. No more than fifty (50) percent of natural landscaping material shall consist of turf.
(c) Off-Street Parking Areas. Off-street parking areas for more than five (5) vehicles shall be effectively screened on each side which abuts a residential zoning district or public right- of- way by a masonry wall, solid wood or vinyl fence. Such wall or fence shall be no higher than seven (7) feet and shall be maintained in good condition. Landscaping provided in lieu of such wall or fence shall consist of a strip of land not less than fifteen (15) feet in width planted with an evergreen hedge or dense planting of evergreen shrubs not less than four (4) feet in height. This subsection shall apply to bed and breakfast inns regardless of the size of off-street parking area.
(1) All off-street parking areas shall provide one (1) tree of a 2" caliper for every six (6) parking spaces. All trees shall be balled and burlapped when planted. Planting beds for parking lot trees shall be constructed so as to minimize damage to trunks and roots of the trees from vehicles, pedestrians and parking lot maintenance through the use of adequate soil planting area and curbing or parking blocks. Planting soil area per tree shall be a minimum of sixteen (16) square feet. The minimum dimension for the planting areas shall be four (4) feet on one side. All trees shall be maintained in a healthy condition.
(2) Relative to landscaping within off-street parking areas and screening of parking area perimeters, for off-street parking areas equal to or larger than twenty-five hundred (2,500) square feet in total area or ten (10) or more parking spaces, whichever is greater, minimum landscaping areas within the interior of the parking area shall be provided at the rate of ten (10) square feet for every 1,000 square feet of parking area. No more than fifty (50) percent of natural landscaping material shall consist of turf.
(d) Signage. In addition to requirements of subsections (a), (b), and (c) herein, a landscaped area totaling a minimum of fifty (50) square feet shall be provided centered on the base of all freestanding signs and should be comprised of a variety of natural materials, such as turf, ground cover, shrubs, and hedges. No more than fifty (50) percent of natural landscaping material shall consist of turf. Low maintenance plant materials should be utilized. A sketch plan drawn to scale and indicating plant material by type, size and quantity shall be provided to the Planning and Zoning Administrator.
(e) Screening of Service Courts and Loading Dock Areas. All areas used for service, loading and unloading activities shall be screened along the entire lot line if adjacent to or abutting a residential zoning district or public right-of-way. The requirements of Section 1149.03(f) shall apply.
(f) Screening of Trash Container Receptacles. For all non-single family residential uses requiring trash container receptacles, such as dumpsters, all such containers or receptacles shall be enclosed on all sides by walls or fences with an opacity of one hundred (100) percent and a minimum height of six (6) feet. Such containers or receptacles when located adjacent to or abutting a residential zoning district shall in addition be landscaped on all sides visible from such districts by shrubs and hedges with an opacity of seventy-five (75) percent. Trash containers and receptacles shall be located behind the building line and shall be located to the rear of non- residential uses. Trash containers and receptacles shall conform to side and rear yard setback requirements and for non-residential uses adjacent to a residential zoning district such containers and receptacles shall be located no closer than twenty-five (25) feet to any property line.
(g) Significant Trees. All significant trees as defined herein shall be protected and preserved to ensure that the value provided to St. Clairsville and its citizens by the cultural, historical, biological, or horticultural significance of any tree is continued into the future.