The purpose of these provisions is to establish minimum requirements for the provision and maintenance of functionally adequate, attractive screening and buffering of structures, parking areas, driveways, and other facilities and land uses, while providing standards for the protection of existing and new trees and vegetation and their root zones. These requirements are intended to carry out the following objectives:
10.1.1 To promote and increase design compatibility between different land uses, while ensuring attractive views from streets and adjacent properties;
10.1.2 To assist in delineating separations of spaces, structures, uses, and activities on a site, or between adjacent sites;
10.1.3 To shield adjacent properties from potentially adverse external impacts of development, and development from potential negative impacts of adjacent land uses and activities;
10.1.4 To enhance the streetscape by separating the pedestrian from motor vehicles; abating glare and moderating temperatures of impervious areas; filtering air of fumes and dust; providing shade; attenuating noise; and reducing the visual impact of large expanses of pavement;
10.1.5 To promote the preservation of open space; existing tree canopy and vegetation; and natural diversity, using supplemental plantings when necessary to meet the performance criteria of this Article;
10.1.6 To mitigate adverse grade changes between adjacent properties;
10.1.7 To improve the quality of the built and natural environments through air quality enhancements; energy conservation; reductions in the amount and rate of stormwater runoff and erosion; stormwater runoff quality improvements; and increase in the capacity for groundwater recharge;
10.1.8 To enhance the appearance and value of both residential and nonresidential properties; and
10.1.9 To create a process whereby some properties are required to obtain a tree clearing certificate, recognize some properties are exempted from the requirement to obtain a tree clearing certificate prior to the removal of vegetation, and establish penalties for removal of all or substantially all of the required vegetation within required vegetation protected areas.
(Ord. passed 2-3-2021)