Bernardsville City Zoning Code
§ LD-12-12.21
Landscaping and Screening.
[Added 10-13-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-1852]
a.
Intent. Downtown areas often feature more hardscaped areas than landscaped areas. Landscaping on private property in downtowns is generally used to screen equipment and refuse storage that detract from the streetscape and to soften the impact of paved areas in surface parking lots. It is the intent to provide standards that enhance the pedestrian experience. Refer to § 12-24, Frontages, for guidance on landscaping within the public right-of-way.
b.
There shall be planted one shade tree for every six vehicles and at least 65% of the required trees shall be provided within the interior of surface parking spaces. The ends of interior parking bays with a minimum of 12 spaces must be bordered with landscape islands. The ends of perimeter parking bays shall be bordered by landscape peninsulas. Each landscape island should contain a minimum of one three-inch caliper shade tree and have sufficient space for tree growth and irrigation.
c.
Required parking lot screening must be a minimum of three feet in height as measured from the adjacent finished surface of the parking area. Parking lot screening, at a minimum, must consist of:
1.
A compact hedge of evergreen shrubs, at least two feet tall at planting, spaced to ensure closure into a solid hedge at maturity and canopy trees at a maximum of 30 feet on center;
2.
An architecturally compatible opaque wall or fence;
3.
A seat wall at seating height; or
4.
A combination of the above.
d.
Retaining walls shall be constructed of or clad in brick, stone, or stucco.
e.
Decorative walls and fences shall be of a material similar to the facade material of the principal building on the lot.
f.
All dumpsters, trash receptacles, and refuse storage containers shall be located within an enclosure providing screening, unless located adjacent to a loading dock at the rear of the building. Enclosure shall meet one of the following standards:
1.
A decorative masonry wall with a minimum height of six feet on three sides and a gate on the fourth side. The gate shall be constructed with an opaque, non-masonry material. The construction materials of the wall shall match materials used on the principal building located on the same lot; or
2.
Medium-sized evergreen shrubs shall be arranged, planted a maximum of six feet on-center, around the perimeter of the pad area except the side where access is located. This landscaping requirement does not apply when the enclosure is an architectural extension of a principal building.
g.
When technically feasible, outdoor equipment shall be placed underground. All proposed ground-mounted equipment (i.e., transformers, air conditioner units, etc.) within view from a street shall be screened by evergreen shrubs. Medium-sized evergreen shrubs shall be arranged around the boundary of the equipment and planted a maximum of four feet on-center. Mechanical equipment on the roof shall be screened from abutting streets with parapets or other types of visual screening. In no case shall mechanical equipment be allowed along street frontage(s).
h.
Plant materials should be native, drought-tolerant species. Invasive plant species are prohibited.
i.
Where possible, provision shall be made for snow removal within the parking areas so as to minimize damage to landscaped areas.