The following shall be required of all new commercial and residential developments and redevelopments, and one-family dwellings.
(a) Landscaping and Screening Design Standards.
(1) The proposed site shall demonstrate consideration toward placing structures and off-street parking areas to avoid the destruction of heavily wooded areas, outstanding trees species and riparian areas.
(2) Every effort shall be made during construction to preserve existing healthy trees and shrubs on the site. Preservation of trees and vegetation of special significance due to size, age, habitat, or historical significance is highly encouraged. A mature tree, tree mass, or woodland should remain on the site providing it does not pose any undue threat to the health, safety and welfare by its location with respect to any proposed improvements to the site.
(3) Development within riparian areas shall include review comments from the Chagrin River Watershed Partners (CRWP), and/or others as designated by the Planning Commission, and include recommendations for stream bank protection and flood mitigation measures.
(4) Landscape materials shall be arranged to create varied and attractive views and complement the architectural features of the principal structure on the site.
(5) In areas where general planting will not prosper, other materials such as fences, walls, pavings of wood, brick, stone, gravel and cobbles shall be used. Carefully selected plants shall be combined with such materials where possible.
(6) Suggested plantings, hardscapes, site furnishings and other site accessories shall be submitted as part of the development plan review and as described within the City’s Planning and Zoning Code.
(b) Accessory Structures. Vending machines, trash areas, and other site accessories shall be integrated into the overall design of the plan. Vending machines shall be prohibited outside of the building. Trash dumpsters shall be enclosed, as required by the City’s Planning and Zoning Code.
(c) Lighting.
(1) Exterior lighting of buildings and/or parking areas shall be positioned so as not to emit light onto neighboring properties or road right-of-ways, but shall shine directly onto buildings, or be directed downward onto parking areas, access drives and pedestrian walkways.
(2) Light pollution control measures shall be taken to avoid negative impact of misdirected light. Businesses that utilize canopy lighting shall use recessed ceiling fixtures with the bottom of the lenses flush with the canopy in addition to meeting other lighting guidelines. Building mounted light fixtures and free standing light fixtures should be in proportion with the building and shall not exceed the building height.
(3) Light Trespass. Light trespass over a commercial or industrial property line when adjoining residential properties shall be prohibited. Fully shielded light sources (full cut off) shall be used. These are shielded so that light emitted from a fixture, directly or indirectly, is projected below a horizontal plane through the lowest point of the fixture where light is emitted.
(4) Exterior lighting shall be LED or other energy efficient fixtures utilizing 3,000K (Kelvin) or lower temperature lamps.
(Ord. 2020-21. Passed 2-18-20; Ord. 2021-40. Passed 5-4-21.)