1)

Parking areas shall be planted with trees a minimum of two inches in caliper measured six inches above ground level, so that there is at least one tree per ten parking spaces within the parking lot. Such trees shall be adequately staked and protected by curbing against damage by vehicles. A minimum planting area, equivalent to 18 square feet per tree shall be provided.

2)

Parking areas shall have a landscaped island at each end of each row of vehicle spaces and an intermediate island for every 15 vehicle spaces. Such planting islands shall be not less than nine feet wide in the direction parallel to the row and not less than 20 feet long in the direction perpendicular to the row. Each such island shall have a suitable curb of stone or poured-in-place concrete, and shall be planted with grass or ground cover. All hydrants shall be located in such islands.

Nonresidential vehicular areas shall be set back at least 25 feet from any property line abutting land used for residential purposes or located in a residential zone. Such setback areas shall be provided with screening along each side of the property line abutting such residential zone or use. Such screening shall be in the form of evergreen trees, a minimum of eight feet high planted not more than ten feet apart, along the extent of the vehicular area facing a residential zone or use.

Significant trees shall be clearly marked for preservation on the site plan and in the field. Such trees shall be protected during construction by cribbing. Cribbing shall consist of six-foot high snow fence which shall surround the tree trunk at a distance not closer than three feet from it, and which shall be braced and held in position by four-by-four inch wood posts set into the ground. Damaged trees shall be repaired by a reputable tree surgeon. Any tree marked for preservation which is removed or damaged beyond satisfactory repair shall be replaced with the same of similar species, six inches in caliper as measured at six inches above ground level, which shall be balled, burlapped, and platformed.

When the proposed site plan includes the installation of security fences necessary for the operation and maintenance of permissible uses, the Planning Board may require that such fences be adequately screened from public view.

This article shall apply to all service areas which detract from the appearance of the community, including, but not limited to, garbage collection sites; exposed non-power utility fixtures (excluding transmission poles); power utility substations; and exposed metal cabinets over five feet in height. This section shall not be construed to deny access by vehicles and equipment to service areas nor shall it be construed to apply to utility equipment improvements.

1)

Areas:

A)

Screening of refuse collection facilities shall provide secure, safe, and sanitary facilities for the storage and pickup of refuse. Such facilities shall be convenient to collection and shall be appropriate to the type and size of use being served. All refuse storage facilities shall be screened on three sides by a solid wooden fence or masonry wall and a tight evergreen hedge. The fourth side shall be angled to minimize the view of the refuse collection facility or shall be screened by an opaque gate made of durable materials. The screening shall be of sufficient height and design to effectively screen the facility from the view of nearby residential uses, streets, adjacent properties, and recreational facilities.

B)

Non-power utility fixtures (excluding transmission poles), substations, and exposed metal cabinets above five feet in height, shall be screened from public roads and adjoining developed, non-industrial property except as required for proper equipment operation, security, code compliance, access and maintenance.

2)

All service areas affected by this article shall be provided with a visual screen consisting of fences, landscaped berms or landscaping, or a combination of these meeting or exceeding the following minimum standards:

A)

The screening shall be at least one foot higher than the item to be screened, and shall extend along the entire perimeter of the service area, exclusive of accessways.

1)

Purpose and applicability.

a.

Purpose. The intent of this section is to improve safety and preserve the quality of life in the Town of Fort Mill by achieving the following objectives with respect to lighting: to minimize light pollution, glare, and light trespass on to neighboring properties; to conserve energy and resources while maintaining night-time safety and utility; and to curtail the degradation of the night-time visual environment.

b.

Applicability. This section shall apply to all new development in the Town of Fort Mill subject to the town's zoning codes, unless otherwise specified. When a building, structure, or lighting fixture is extended, enlarged, or reconstructed after the effective date of this chapter, the applicable lighting standards shall apply with respect to such.

2)

General standards.

a.

Unless exempted by the provisions of this section, the following standards shall apply to lighting fixtures in all zoning categories and applications.

1.

Lighting fixture heights are measured from ground level to the top of the fixture.

2.

All lighting fixtures shall be full-cutoff certified.

3.

All lighting fixtures shall have internal visors/panels or external visors that control offsite light spill and glare.

4.

The orientation of all lighting shall be downward; provided, however, churches, temples, mosques, and other such places of worship may orient some lights upward onto specific architectural components of the structure (such as steeples or domes).

5.

Accent lighting for sculptures, statues, trees, landscaping features, flags, signs, and entrances may orient light upward, provided that the directed light shall be substantially confined to the object intended to be illuminated to minimize glare, sky glow, and light trespass. Accent lighting shall not shine directly into the window of a neighboring structure or directly onto a roadway.

6.

To control light spill and glare, lighting fixtures shall be properly aimed when installed, and proper aiming shall be maintained at all times.

7.

The following types of lighting features shall be prohibited: search lights, strobe lights, laser source lights, or any similar high-intensity or flashing light, except in emergencies by police and fire personnel or at their direction.

3)

Maximum lighting fixture height in nonresidential zoning districts.

a.

Except as provided below, lighting fixtures in nonresidential zoning districts shall not exceed the following height:

1.

Eighteen feet in the local commercial (LC) zoning district.

2.

Twenty-eight feet in the light industrial (LI), general industrial (GI), and highway commercial (HC) zoning districts, as well as non-residential uses within mixed use (MXU) zoning districts.

b.

The planning director may approve lighting fixtures up to 35 feet in height if the following conditions are met:

1.

The area of development is at least five acres in size; and

2.

The property is located within the following zoning districts: Light industrial (LI), general industrial (GI), and highway commercial (HC). Property located within the mixed use (MXU) zoning district may be approved if the proposed use is non-residential; and

3.

The total square footage of any building or buildings to be constructed on the property shall be at least 50,000 square feet; and

4.

The applicant shall submit a lighting plan, certified by a licensed lighting engineer, demonstrating that lighting levels shall not exceed 0.5 foot-candles along any public right-of-way or any shared property line.

4)

Maximum lighting fixture height in residential zoning districts.

a.

Except as provided below, lighting fixtures in any residential zoning district, including residential uses within the mixed use (MXU) zoning district, shall not exceed 16 feet in height.

b.

Lighting fixtures mounted on any building in a residential zoning district may not be mounted above the 1st floor of the building; however, this restriction shall not apply to any single-family residence.

5)

Decorative or aesthetic lighting fixtures.

a.

The planning director may approve decorative or aesthetic lighting fixtures, including those that do not orient all light downward, if the following conditions are met:

1.

The fixtures shall not exceed the maximum height as outlined in this section;

2.

The fixtures shall offer a design element that is complimentary to the architectural style of the adjacent building(s); and

3.

The fixtures shall not negatively impact neighboring residential properties or any public right-of-way.

6)

Lighting exempt from these standards.

a.

The following types of lighting shall be exempt from the standards set forth in this section:

1.

Lighting within swimming pools or other water features that are governed by South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control regulations;

2.

Exit signs, stairs, ramps, and other illumination required by building codes;

3.

Emergency room entrances;

4.

Airport lighting;

5.

Lighting of the American flag; and

6.

Any lighting fixture that is exempt from the provisions of this section by state and/or federal law.

(Ord. No. 2010-05, § I, 3-8-10)

To provide safe pedestrian access, sidewalks, and walkpaths shall be constructed in locations as may be required by the planning board. When required, sidewalks shall be four feet wide and walkpaths shall be three feet wide.

The Planning Board shall retain the right to require additional screening, landscaping, or buffering as deemed necessary to protect adjacent land uses from glare.

Prior to the issuance of a building permit, a developer shall present to the Fort Mill Planning Commission a plan demonstrating significant trees and the plan for protection of such trees and installation of proper landscaping measures as required by this ordinance. Failure to present adequate information or the presentation of knowingly false information shall be grounds for denial of a building permit.