The objectives of the screening, landscaping and buffering requirements are threefold. The first objective is to develop a commercial area which is attractive; the second is to buffer adjacent residential areas from the effects of neighboring commercial uses; and the third is to ensure the compliance with the critical areas ordinance adopted for the protection of property and life from damages resulting from locating too close to a critical area, while providing for protection from human encroachment for endangered and local wildlife species. Prior to or as part of applying for a building permit to expand existing or to construct a new building in the C-2 commercial zone, the following screening, landscaping and buffering requirements shall be met:
A. General Requirements. The following types of landscaping shall be required of all uses in the C-2 commercial zone:
1. A site plan with detailed landscaping and screening must be submitted for city review for consideration of the following requirements:
a. If the distance from the curb to the property line is eight feet or more, a street tree may be planted on each street frontage and one additional tree may be planted for every 50 lineal feet of street frontage.
b. A perimeter hedge or landscaped berm or landscaped areas at least three feet deep shall be installed and maintained adjacent to each property line, except where a permanent structure, driveway or sidewalk is in this area. The landscaping must conform with the street visibility standards contained in CRMC §
17.48.020.
B. Landscaping of Surface Parking and Loading Areas. In addition to the general required landscaping, the following screening and landscaping is required on surface parking areas:
1. Additional interior landscaping of two percent or more of the site area shall be required when the site, exclusive of building areas, is 5,000 or more square feet. The interior landscaping shall be placed within a parking area in a way which visually reduces the barren effect of the open surfaced area. Berms and other landscaped areas provided to meet screening requirements may not be counted as part of this additional interior landscaped area.
2. One tree or medium sized (four feet tall or larger) evergreen shrub shall be planted and maintained for every 20 parking spaces. Each tree or shrub shall be three feet away from any curb of a landscaped area or edge of the parking area.
C. Screening of Surface Parking Areas and Other Outdoor Use Areas Abutting a Residential Area.
1. Surface parking areas, outdoor sales area or outdoor display of rental equipment or drive-in businesses, including gas stations, abutting a residentially zoned lot, shall provide six-foot-high screening and a five-foot-deep landscaped area adjacent to the screening along the abutting lot line of residentially zoned property. Where there are uses located across an alley from a residential zoned property, a six-foot-high screening is required along the property line adjacent to the alley. Where these uses are across the street from a residential zoned site, a five-foot-deep landscaped area is required along the property line adjacent to the street.
2. Outdoor storage shall be screened with six-foot-high screening between the storage area and all property lines. A five-foot-deep landscaped area shall be provided between the property line and the screening on all street fronts and all property lines abutting residential zoned lots.
D. Screening of Blank Facades. A five-foot-deep landscaped area with trees or medium sized (four feet tall or larger) evergreen shrubs shall be planted and maintained between street property lines and a blank building facade which exceeds 50 feet in width.
E. Permitted Breaks in Landscaping or Screening. Pedestrian walkways and vehicular driveways through required landscaping or screening are permitted. Breaks in required landscaping or screening for vehicular access shall not exceed the width of permitted curbcuts.
F. Screening. Wherever six-foot-high screening is required, it may be either:
1. A fence or wall six feet in height; or
2. A landscaped berm at least four feet in height or a hedge which will achieve a height of five feet within three years of planting and is at least two feet high at the time of planting.
G. Grade Separation Exceptions. Where grade difference of 10 or more feet occurs within 10 feet of the lot line, the required screen may be replaced with a landscaped area five feet deep or 150 percent of the required landscaped area, whichever is more.
H. Required Planting. Areas or berms required to be landscaped shall be planted with trees, shrubs and evergreen ground cover, in a manner which covers the required setback, excluding driveways, within three years of the date of the issuance of the permit. Features such as walkways, decorative paving, sculptures or foundations may cover a maximum of 30 percent of each required landscaped area or berm. Trees shall be selected from the city's recommended list for tree planting.
I. Buffering Requirements Adjacent to Critical Areas. Prior to or as part of applying for a building permit to expand existing or to construct a new building in the C-2 commercial zone adjacent to any identified critical area, an approved critical area permit must be submitted which clearly shows that adequate buffering has been (or soon will be) provided in accordance with Chapter
18.10 CRMC, Critical Areas, as applicable to the subject site.
(Ord. 2018-02 § 2 (Exh. A), 2018)