Burlington City Zoning Code
§ 207-87
Buffer and landscaping requirements.
A.
A buffer yard is required where the following districts adjoin a residential district. The buffer yard shall be parallel to and adjacent with the district boundary and shall be completely covered with a vegetative ground cover. These buffer yards shall be included in the minimum yard dimensions required.
(1)
In the HC-1 and HC-2 Highway Commercial Districts and the I-1 Industrial District, a buffer yard of not less than 20 feet shall be provided. The ten-foot portion of the buffer yard nearest the residential district shall be planted.
(2)
In the IP Industrial Park District, a buffer yard of not less than 40 feet in width shall be provided, except that in cases where the height of any building situated on the subject lot exceeds 16 feet, the minimum distance between the residence district boundary line and such a building shall be not less than 2 1/2 times the height of the building. The twenty-foot portion of the buffer yard nearest the residence district shall be planted.
(3)
A sight- and sound-obscuring evergreen planting shall be placed the full length of the boundary.
(4)
All plantings shall be at least five feet in height when planted and shall reach a height of at least six feet at maturity.
(5)
All plantings and vegetative ground cover shall be maintained. Any plant material which does not live shall be replaced within one year.
(6)
Buffer yards shall not be used for parking, loading, storage or structures. All except side buffer yards of interior lots may be crossed by access driveways and utility easements, provided such are not more than 25 feet in width at the point of intersection.
B.
Landscaping shall be provided as part of the overall site plan design and integrated into building arrangements, topography, parking and buffering requirements. Where the landscaping requirement conflicts with or duplicates the buffer requirements, the buffer requirements shall take precedence. Landscaping shall include coniferous and deciduous trees, shrubs, ground cover, perennials, annuals, plants, sculpture, art and the use of building and paving materials in an imaginative manner.
(1)
In the HC-1 and HC-2 Highway Commercial Districts and the W-1 Waterfront District a landscaped area of at least 10 feet in depth from the right-of-way shall be provided and maintained. Along each side and rear property line, a landscaped area at least five feet in width shall be provided and maintained.
(2)
In the IP and I-1 Industrial Districts along each street line a landscaped area of at least 25 feet in depth from the right-of-way shall be provided and maintained. Along each side property line a landscaped area of at least 10 feet in width shall be provided. Such landscaping area shall extend from the street line along the portion of the lot which is used for any purpose (building, parking or storage). Along each rear property line a landscaped area at least 10 feet in depth shall be established, provided that this requirement may be modified or waived by the Land Use Board where the length and use of the lot, and the nature of adjoining uses, makes this requirement not practicable or not necessary to protect adjoining uses. All portions of the property not utilized by buildings of paved surfaces shall be landscaped, utilizing combinations such as landscaped fencing, shrubbery, lawn area, ground cover, mounding, existing trees, in order to either maintain or reestablish the tone of the vegetation in the area and lessen the visual impact of the structures and paved area. The established grades on any site shall be planned for both aesthetic and drainage purposes.