The purpose of this Chapter is to provide minimum standards involving the development of land to provide attractive views from roads and adjacent properties; to screen from view visually undesirable uses; to require screening between incompatible land uses and to protect the health, safety and welfare of the community through the reduction of noise, air and visual pollution, and headlight glare.

(Ord. 2013-04-CD. Passed 4-2-13.)

   This Section shall apply to new property development and any collective substantial expansion of existing structures, except for individual single family dwellings and two family dwellings (duplexes) and parking lots of five (5) spaces or smaller. Substantial expansion of existing structures shall be defined as an increase of the existing structure by twenty-five (25) percent or more.

(Ord. 2013-04-CD. Passed 4-2-13.)

   Any property to which this Section applies shall submit a bufferyard plan to the Planning Commission as part of the Site Plan Review process required in Section 1151.07. Bufferyard plans shall be prepared by a nursery and/or certified by a design professional practicing within their areas of competence. The site plan shall contain the following information:

   (a)   Plans must be at a reasonable scale to indicate all types of proposed landscaping improvements at a minimum of 1" = 40' and shall include the following minimum information:

      (1)   North arrow and scale.

      (2)   The name of applicant/owner.

      (3)   The name, address and phone number of the person or firm responsible for the preparation of the buffering plans.

      (4)   The dates the plans are submitted or revised.

      (5)   All existing and proposed buildings and other structures, paved areas, planted areas, utility poles, fire hydrants, light standards, signs, fences and other permanent features to be added and/or retained on the site.

      (6)   All existing plant material to be removed or retained and all new landscaping materials to be installed.

      (7)   All existing and proposed streets, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, railroad tracks, drainage ditches and other public or semi-public improvements within and immediately adjacent to the site.

      (8)   All property lines and easements.

      (9)   Any other information which is deemed appropriate by the Zoning Official.

   (b)   Details shall be shown for the planting of the types of trees, shrubs and ground cover within the bufferyard or landscaped area.   

(Ord. 2013-04-CD. Passed 4-3-12; Ord. 2020-04-CD. Passed 12-8-20.)

   (a)   No site or development plan required under this Zoning Code shall receive final approval unless a landscaping plan has been submitted and approved.

   (b)   No Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued unless the following criteria are fully satisfied with regard to the approved landscape plan:

      (1)   Such plan has been fully implemented on the site; or

      (2)   Such plan, because of seasonal conditions, cannot be implemented immediately, but has been guaranteed by a postponed improvement agreement between the developer and the Village or if an appropriate performance bond in the amount of the unfinished work is filed with the Building and Zoning Official.

         (Ord. 2013-04-CD. Passed 4-3-12.)

   (a)   Maintenance of Landscaping and Bufferyards. All landscaping materials shall be installed and maintained according to accepted nursery industry procedures. The owner of the property shall be responsible for the continued property maintenance of all landscaping materials, and shall keep them in a proper, neat and orderly appearance, free from refuse and debris at all times. All unhealthy or dead plant material shall be replaced within one year, or by the next planting period, whichever comes first. Violation of these installation and maintenance provisions shall be grounds for the Zoning Official to refuse a building occupancy permit, require replacement of the landscape material or institute legal proceedings to enforce the provisions of this Section.

   (b)   Bufferyard Establishment. Once a bufferyard has been approved by the Planning Commission and established by the owner, it may not be used, disturbed or altered for any purpose.

   (c)   Quality and Installation.  

      (1)   All specifications for the quality and installation of trees and shrubs shall be in accordance with the most recent edition of "American Standards for Nursery Stock" published by the American Association of Nurserymen.

      (2)   All plant material shall be free from disease and damage.

      (3)   All plant material shall be planted in a manner that is not intrusive to utilities, pavement, pedestrian traffic or vehicular traffic.

      (4)   All required plant material shall be planted within one year or by the next planting season, as outlined in the latest edition of "American Standards for Nursery Stock", after all construction activity in the area of the new planting has ceased.

   (d)   Size.

      (1)   Canopy Trees shall be deciduous trees with a minimum of twelve feet (12') overall height or a minimum caliper of 2 ½ inches when installed, and have an expected height of at least thirty-five (35') feet at maturity.

      (2)   Evergreen Trees shall be a minimum of five feet (5') in height when installed.

      (3)   Understory Trees shall be a minimum of five feet (5') in height in clump form or 1 ½ inch caliper in single stem form when installed.

      (4)   Shrubs shall be at least eighteen inches (18") in height or twenty-four inches (24") in spread when installed.

   (e)   Screens. The objective of providing a screen is to visually hide whatever is behind the screen. The screen shall be 100% opaque. The following standards for each screening material shall be required.

      (1)   Plant Material Height Requirements. When plant material is used as screening it shall meet all height requirements in accordance with this Chapter. Height requirements will be considered met when plants are selected whose height at maturity as certified by a licensed Landscape Architect or Certified Horticulturist complies with the requirements of this Chapter.

      (2)   Planting Requirements. To be counted towards screening requirements, evergreen trees and evergreen shrubs shall be planted close enough to fulfill the objective as defined in this Section. Recommended spacing to achieve this is as follows:

         A.   Spreading evergreen trees should be planted eight feet (8') on center. Narrow evergreen trees should be planted four feet (4') on center. Designations of evergreen trees as spreading or narrow shall be certified by a licensed Landscape Architect or certified Horticulturist.

         B.   Evergreen shrubs should be planted at a maximum of 4' on center.

      (3)   Combination of Materials. Plant material may be used in conjunction with fences, walls and berms but the overall effect shall be a continuous 100% opaque screen at maturity. Plants may be planted in rows or be staggered, but the overall effect shall be a 100% opaque screen.

      (4)   Fences. Fences should be used where appropriate to create an effective screen between incompatible uses. Fences to be used as screens should be approved by the Planning Commission during review of the landscape plan and shall be in conformance with regulations as established in Section 1125.12 .

(Ord. 2013-04-CD. Passed 4-2-13; Ord. 2020-04-CD. Passed 12-8-20.)

   In order to provide protective screening and buffers for residential areas adjacent to nonresidential areas, the Planning Commission shall require a wall, fence or greenbelt to be provided by the nonresidential property owner in accordance with the following:

   (a)   Screening areas shall be provided for the purpose of minimizing the friction between incompatible land uses and improving the aesthetic and functional quality of new development.

   (b)   Where vegetative and/or topographic conditions that provide a natural screening and buffer exist prior to development of properties in question, every effort shall be made to retain such conditions. In such cases, additional screening may not be required, provided that provision is made for maintenance of such areas.

   (c)   The Board of Zoning Appeals (or the Planning Commission, as part of the Site Plan Review process), may waive the requirement for a wall, fence or greenbelt if equivalent screening is provided by existing or planned parks, parkways, recreation areas or by topography or other natural conditions.

      (Ord. 2013-04-CD. Passed 4-2-13.)

 

 

(Ord. 2013-04-CD. Passed 4-2-13.)

   The Planning Commission shall have the authority to modify any of the aforementioned requirements in this Chapter. In considering an individual site with respect to changes in elevation, environmental impact, durability of plant material, aesthetic appeal, and any other factor that will develop a compatible buffer or screen with the surrounding neighborhood at the time of application.

 

 

1.   1.5 understory trees or 1 evergreen tree may be substituted for 1 canopy tree for up to 50% of the required canopy trees.

2.   One canopy tree may substitute for 3 shrubs up to 50% of the shrub requirements.

3.   A berm with a minimum height of 3 ft. may be used in lieu of the shrub requirements.

4.   A fence or wall, in compliance with Section 1125.12, may be used and can be substituted for 50% of the shrub requirements.

5.   All landscape material required for the buffer shall be confined to within the required boundary buffer landscape strip.

 

 

1.   1.5 understory trees or 1 evergreen tree may be substituted for 1 canopy tree for up to 50% of the required canopy trees.

2.   One canopy tree may substitute for 3 shrubs up to 50% of the shrub requirements.

3.   A berm with a minimum height of 3 ft. may be used in lieu of the shrub requirements.

4.   A fence or wall, in compliance with Section 1125.11, may be used and can be substituted for 50% of the shrub requirements.

5.   All landscape material required for the buffer shall be confined to within the required streetscape buffer landscape strip.

(Ord. 2013-04-CD. Passed 4-2-13.)