§ 5.6. Landscaping, screening and buffering.

5.6.1. Purpose of buffers.

Buffers shall be required to separate a proposed development from adjacent major streets and different adjacent land uses or zoning designations in order to minimize potential nuisances such as the transmission of noise, dust, odor, litter, and glare of lights; to reduce the visual impact of unsightly aspects of adjacent development; to provide for the separation of spaces; and to establish a sense of privacy.

5.6.2. Buffers required.

(a)

A buffer is a strip of land together with the screening required thereon. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this appendix, the type of buffer required between a proposed development and adjacent streets, land uses or zoning designations shall be as specified in subsection 5.6.6, Schedule of Required Buffers. Where the proposed development site and the adjacent land are both located within either town center district, no buffer shall be required.

(b)

Where the proposed development site is located in a Residential-Special Standards-Conditional zoning district, no buffer shall be required.

(c)

Where the proposed development site is located in a materials handling (MH) zoning district, a two hundred (200) foot Type "E" landscape buffer shall be required.

(d)

Width and screening specifications for each buffer type shall be detailed and illustrated in the design manual. Screening required within buffers is intended to provide separation of spaces without necessarily eliminating visual contact between the spaces, and may consist of existing vegetation, planted vegetation, a landscaped earth berm, a decorative wall, a wood fence, or a combination of the above. Any of the options specified in the design manual for the required buffer type shall satisfy the buffer requirements of this section.

(e)

Eating/drinking establishments and places of worship shall be separated by either a Type "A" buffer, or a screening device as provided in subsection 5.6.7.

5.6.3. Location of buffers.

Required buffers shall be located along the interior or street lot lines nearest the adjacent streets, land uses, or zoning designations except where such lot lines are intersected by crossing accessways or utility easements, or by a joint parking area. Buffers shall not be located on any portion of an existing or proposed street right-of-way or easement.

5.6.4. Use of buffer.

Provided the required buffer width and screening is maintained, a buffer may contain pedestrian and bicycle paths, utilities that must cross the buffer, and other minor or passive uses compatible with the general separation of land uses.

5.6.5. Responsibility for buffer.

(a)

Where vacant zoning lots are adjacent, the first zoning lot to be developed shall provide the buffer required next to vacant land. At the time it is developed, the second zoning lot shall provide all additional screening and/or land that might be necessary to provide the buffer required between the developed land uses.

(b)

Where a buffer meeting the requirements of this section is provided on an adjacent zoning lot, the screening and/or land within that buffer may be counted as contributing to the total buffer required between the adjacent existing land use and the proposed land use.

5.6.6. Schedule of required buffers.

Specifications for each buffer type are contained in the design manual. The buffer requirement noted in the schedule of required buffers may be reduced by one grade of intensity (e.g., C to a B) if the development is designed such that there is no parking between the buildings located on the site and the adjacent street.

Table 5.6.6-1. Schedule of Required Buffers

	Proposed Principal Use
Adjacent* Existing Principal Use#	Major Subdivision creating lots for single or two-family dwellings or Class A mobile home	Any other principal use in Use Group A, except essential services	Any principal use in Use Group B	Automotive repair, maintenance and/or storage facility, self-storage facility, conditioned, light manufacturing, supply yard	Any principal use in Use Group C other than the above
Dwellings, single-family or two-family, Class A Mobile Home	—	B	C	D	C
Any other principal use in Use Group A, except Essential Services	B	B	C	D	C
Interstate Highway	E	E	E	E	E
Railroad, non-Interstate, Arterial Street	D	D	D	D	D
Collector Street	C	C	C	C	C
Any use in Use Group B	C	C	B	C	B
Automotive Repair, Maintenance and/or Storage Facility, Light Manufacturing, Supply Yard	D	D	C	B	B
Any other use in Use Group C	C	C	B	B	B
Adjacent* Vacant Land Zoning: R-LD5, RT, R-LD1 R-1, R-2, R-3	—	B	C	D	C
R-4, R-5, R-6	B	B	C	D	C
OI-1, OI-2	C	C	B	C	B
I, LI-CZD	D	D	C	B	B
N.C., CC, OI-3, TC-1, TC-2, TC-3	C	C	B	B	B

 

Rules of interpretation for schedule of required buffers:

— No buffer required.

* Adjacent land uses and vacant land uses and lands across a local street from the proposed use.

# Existing uses includes uses approved as part of development for which a Special Use Permit or Zoning Compliance Permit has been issued.

(Ord. No. 2004-02-23/O-2; Ord. No. 2007-02-26/O-5, § 9; Ord. No. 2017-04-05/O-7 , § 14; Ord. No. 2018-11-28/O-1 , § 2)

5.6.7. Other Required Screening.

In addition to the bufferyard screening required above, and the screening required for off-street parking and for refuse storage facilities, all business, service, repair, processing, storage, or merchandise display conducted outside of an enclosed building shall be screened from adjacent streets and properties by means of an effective screening device of a height appropriate to its screening function. Appropriate screening devices may include solid decorative brick walls, wood fences, berms, or tight evergreen hedges which shall reach the necessary height within two (2) years of planting, or a combination of the above.

5.6.8. Alternative Buffers and Screening.

In lieu of compliance with the above bufferyard and screening requirements, a developer may submit to the community design commission for its approval a detailed plan with specifications for landscaping and screening which will afford a degree of buffering and screening equivalent to or exceeding that provided by the above requirements.

5.6.9. Existing Vegetation.

Existing vegetation shall be retained and maintained whenever possible so as to permit such vegetation to contribute to buffer and screening requirements.

5.6.10. Maintenance of Landscaping.

All landscaping and screening providing required buffering and screening shall be maintained so as to continue its effectiveness.