It is the purpose of this section to safeguard the health, property, and welfare of the citizens of the City of Troy, and to promote a high quality visual environment by regulating and controlling the design, location, and use of buffer strips to reduce the level of light and noise emanating from certain zoning districts within the City of Troy:
(a) Standards for Buffer Strips. The landscaping materials used in a buffer strip shall be a combination of shrubs, trees, grass and/or other ground cover. The primary landscaping materials used shall be of shrubbery and hedges. Shrubbery and hedges shall be a minimum of four (4) feet in height and spaced to prevent vehicle lights originating in parking areas from shining onto adjacent property. Trees and other planting materials shall be used to compliment the shrubbery and hedges. The maximum spacing between trees shall be forty (40) feet and shall be eight (8) to ten (10) feet in minimum overall height upon planting and which provide shade or are capable of providing shade at maturity. Other materials, earthen berms, topography, or fencing may be considered or required on the merits of the particular project.
(b) Plans Required for Buffer Strips. A copy of a landscape plan for the buffer strip shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator at the time of submittal of the application for the zoning permit. The plan shall be drawn to scale, locating the landscaping materials, and providing any other information deemed necessary under this Zoning Code. The Zoning Administrator may request a review of the landscape plan by other City Departments. Approval shall be given only if such landscaping carries out the purposes and standards of this Zoning Code. Modifications to approved plans shall be resubmitted for approval.
(c) Maintenance of Buffer Strips. The property owners and lessee are responsible for the maintenance of all buffer strips.