(A) Landscaping, as described herein, shall be required to screen as much of the support structure as possible, the fence surrounding the support structure, and any other ground-level features (such as a building), and in general soften the appearance of the cell site.
(1) The city may permit any combination of existing vegetation, topography, walls, decorative fences, or other features instead of landscaping if they achieve the same degree of screening as the required landscaping.
(2) If the antenna is mounted flush on an existing building, and other equipment is housed inside an existing structure, landscaping shall not be required.
(B) (1) The visual impacts of a tower shall be mitigated through landscaping or other screening materials at the base of the tower and ancillary structures.
(2) The following landscaping and buffering of towers shall be required around the perimeter of the tower and accessory structures, except that the standards may be waived by the city for those sides of the proposed tower that are located adjacent to undevelopable lands and lands not in public view:
(a) Landscaping shall be installed on the outside of fences. Further, existing vegetation shall be preserved to the maximum extent practicable and may be used as a substitute for, or in supplement towards, meeting landscaping requirements.
(b) A row of evergreen trees a minimum of ten feet tall at planting, a maximum of six feet apart, shall be planted around the perimeter of the fence.
(c) A continuous hedge at least 36 inches high at planting capable of growing to at least 48 inches in height within 18 months shall be planted in front of the tree line referenced above.
(Prior Code, § 70.22) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 15-99, passed 12-1-1999)