Existing natural landforms that could separate parking from abutting properties, divide pedestrians from vehicular traffic or otherwise enhance the safety or aesthetics of a site may be incorporated within required landscaping and shall be considered as positive attributes in connection with requests from variances from this section.
A. Parking Lot Setbacks: A ten foot (10') parking lot setback is required where a parking lot of four (4) parking spaces or more abuts a public right of way. The setback shall be landscaped according to the following:
1. Nonresidential Landscaped Buffers: Where nonresidential properties are across the right of way from property zoned or planned for residential use, landscaping the ten foot (10') setback shall consist of a minimum of three foot (3') high barrier using berms, if feasible, and shrubs or trees (with a minimum diameter of 2 inches) distributed across one hundred percent (100%) of the entire frontage of the site (excluding driveways) in a design satisfactory to the community development director, or his designee. The three foot (3') height shall be measured from the crown of the road or the edge of the right of way, whichever is less.
2. Nonresidential Across From Nonresidential: Where nonresidential properties are across the right of way from property zoned for nonresidential use, landscaping of the ten foot (10') setback shall consist of three foot (3') high barrier, using berms, if feasible, and shrubs or trees (with a minimum diameter of 2 inches) distributed across fifty percent (50%) of the entire frontage of the site (excluding driveways) in a design satisfactory to the community development director, or his designee. The three feet (3') shall be measured from the crown of the road or the edge of the right of way, whichever is less.
B. Parking Areas And Abutting Properties: Specific landscaping buffer requirements to separate parking areas from abutting properties are as follows:
1. Nonresidential Abutting Residential: Along with entire portion of the property line, where nonresidential properties abut property zoned or planned for residential use, a landscaping buffer of at least ten feet (10') in width shall be provided on said nonresidential property. The ground cover of the landscaped buffer shall consist of at least fifty percent (50%) live landscaping. In addition, a six foot (6') high fence, in a design approved by the community development director, or his designee, shall be provided along the perimeter of that portion of the "vehicular use area" (as hereinafter defined) abutting residential property, provided that if the vehicular use area extends beyond the residential property's building line (as hypothetically extended) along a right of way abutting both residential and nonresidential property, then the fence shall be extended only so far as such building line and a three foot (3') barrier of solid shrubs or berms shall be installed along their perimeter of that portion of the vehicular use area which is beyond such building line. The fence shall be installed prior to issuance of an occupancy permit.
2. Nonresidential Abutting Nonresidential: Where nonresidential property abuts a nonresidential property, a landscaped area or areas shall have a minimum width of ten feet (10') and an aggregate minimum depth equal to twenty percent (20%) of the building setback distance. The ground cover of the landscaped areas shall consist of at least fifty percent (50%) live landscaping. (Ord. 2009-34, 12-3-2009, eff. 1-1-2010)