(1) This section establishes the minimum standards by which parking areas will be screened from adjacent public streets or from adjacent properties. In addition, this section delineates standards for landscaping within the interior of parking areas.
(2) Whenever required screening is adjacent to parking areas or driveways, such screening shall be protected by bumper blocks, posts or curbing (see § 154.10(C)(5)(g)) to avoid damage by vehicles.
(3) Perimeter Parking Area Landscaping Required
(a) The perimeter parking area landscaping requirements of this section shall apply to all off-street parking adjacent to a public street or to a lot line where the parking area is larger than 2,000 square feet or 10 parking spaces, whichever is less.
(b) Areas Adjacent to Public Streets
(i) Parking areas adjacent to public streets shall be separated from the edge of the right-of-way by a perimeter landscape strip no less than 6 feet in width.
(ii) The landscape strip shall be planted with 1 tree for each 50 linear feet or fraction thereof and shall include a hedge, wall, or other opaque durable landscape barrier of at least 2 feet in height shall be along the entire length of the landscape strip. See Figure 154.09-A.
(iii) If the above 2-foot landscape barrier is constructed of non-living materials, 1 shrub or vine shall be planted every 10 feet along the barrier.
(iv) The remainder of the required landscaped areas shall be landscaped with grass, ground cover or other landscape treatment.
(v) Any public right-of-way or areas reserved for future rights-of-way in compliance with the adopted thoroughfare plan shall not be used to satisfy the requirements of this section.
(vi) Perimeter landscape strips shall be continuous and unbroken except for driveways or sidewalks required to access the parking area.
(c) Areas Adjacent to Lot Lines
Where a buffer is not required pursuant to § 154.09(E), a perimeter landscaping strip shall be provided between a parking area and any adjacent residential use. Such landscape strip shall comply with the following:
(i) The landscaping strip shall have a minimum width of 5 feet.
(ii) The landscape strip shall be planted with 1 tree and 2 shrubs for each 50 linear feet or fraction thereof.
(iii) The remainder of the required landscaped areas shall be landscaped with grass, ground cover or other landscape treatment.
(iv) Perimeter landscape strips shall be continuous and unbroken except for driveways or sidewalks required to access the parking area.
(4) Interior Parking Area Landscaping Required
(a) The interior parking area landscaping requirements of this section shall apply to all off-street parking areas where the parking area is larger than 2,000 square feet or 10 parking spaces, whichever is less.
(b) There shall be a minimum of 10 square feet of interior landscaping areas for every parking space. The applicant shall not be required to count the parking spaces abutting a required landscaping area along the perimeter of the parking area.
(c) The interior landscaping shall be located within landscaped islands completed separated from the perimeter parking area and shall be scattered throughout the parking area to break up large areas of pavement. See Figure 154.09-B.
(d) Landscape islands shall have a minimum size of 100 square feet within a minimum dimension of 5 feet in any direction to provide a suitable living environment for the landscaping.
(e) A minimum of 1 canopy tree and 3 shrubs is required for every 100 square feet of required interior landscaping area. There shall be at least 1 tree and 3 shrubs in each landscaped island.
(f) If an existing tree is be used to meet the requirements of this subsection, the landscape island shall be equal in size to the tree's drip line area to protect the root system of the existing tree.
(Ord. 5-14, passed 3-17-2014)