The landscaping and buffering regulations provide additional guidance on the development of sites within the city by addressing landscaping and buffering requirements. They are designed to improve the appearance of the community, buffer potentially incompatible land uses from one another, and conserve the value of properties within the city and its extra-territorial jurisdiction. The landscape and buffering provisions are further intended to expedite development approval by including predictable, uniform standards for landscaping.

(Code 1970, § 38-159; Ord. No. 3088, § 2(exh. A), 12-1-2015)

The provisions of this section shall apply to all new development on each lot or site upon application for a building permit, except for the following:

(1)

Reconstruction or replacement of a lawfully existing use or structure following a casualty loss.

(2)

Remodeling, rehabilitation, or improvements to existing uses or structures which do not substantially change the location of structures, parking, or other site improvements.

(3)

Additions or enlargements of existing uses or structures which increase floor area or impervious coverage area by less than 50 percent of the building established on the site on the effective date of the ordinance from which this section derives. Where such cumulative additions or enlargements are 50 percent or greater, these provisions shall apply only to that portion where the new development occurs.

(Code 1970, § 38-160; Ord. No. 3088, § 2(exh. A), 12-1-2015)

Any use within the C-4 downtown mixed-use district is exempt from the landscaping requirements of this section. Any off-street parking facility constructed in the C-4 district after the effective date of the ordinance from which this section derives must comply with the landscaping standards set forth in this section.

(Code 1970, § 38-161; Ord. No. 3088, § 2(exh. A), 12-1-2015)

Landscaping shall be required adjacent to each street property line and shall extend to a minimum depth inward on private property as set forth in the development regulations and summarized in Table 38-911.

Table 38-911. Required Landscape Depth Adjacent of Street Property Lines

(Code 1970, § 38-162; Ord. No. 3088, § 2(exh. A), 12-1-2015)

(a)

Official list of recommended and prohibited plant materials. Plantings shall be used in required landscaped areas or buffer yards consistent with the official list of recommended and prohibited plant materials, provided through the office of the zoning administrator. All plant materials shall conform in size, species, and spacing with this section.

(b)

Use of inorganic landscaping materials. No artificial trees, shrubs, plants or turf shall be used to fulfill the minimum requirements for landscaping. Inorganic materials, such as stone or decorative pavers, may be used provided that such material does not comprise more than 35 percent of the minimum required landscaped area. Other concrete and/or asphalt pavement surfaces may not be used within the minimum required landscaped area, except for driveways and walkways.

(Code 1970, § 38-163; Ord. No. 3088, § 2(exh. A), 12-1-2015)

These provisions apply when a use is established in a more intensive zoning district (District A) that is adjacent to a less intensive zoning district (District B). The owner, developer, or operator of the use within District A shall install and maintain a landscaped buffer yard on his lot or site, as set forth in this section. Buffer yard requirements apply only to those districts indicated in Table 38-913. Buffer yards are not required of single-family, two-family, duplex, or townhouses with four or less units in the more intensive zoning district.

(1)

The buffer yard dimensions set forth in Table 38-913 apply to zoning districts which share a common lot line or are adjacent but separated by an intervening alley.

¹ Buffer requirements do not apply to single-family, duplex, or townhouse residential uses of four or less units established in District A.

(2)

When a street separates adjacent zoning districts requiring a buffer yard, the size of the buffer yard shall be one-half the required buffer yard set forth in Table 38-913.

(3)

Each required buffer yard must be entirely landscaped and free of paved areas, access ways, storage, or other disturbances.

(Code 1970, § 38-164; Ord. No. 3088, § 2(exh. A), 12-1-2015)

(a)

Application. Screening is required between adjacent zoning districts indicated in Table 38-913 when one or more of the following conditions in the more intensive zoning district is directly visible from and faces toward the boundary of the less intensive zoning district:

(1)

Outdoor storage areas or storage tanks, unless otherwise screened.

(2)

Loading docks, refuse collection points, and other service areas.

(3)

Major machinery or areas housing a manufacturing process.

(4)

Major on-site traffic circulation areas or truck and/or trailer parking.

(5)

Sources of glare, noise, or other environmental effects.

(6)

Bailing or stockpiling of cardboard or other shipping or packaging materials.

(7)

Surface parking lots with more than four stalls directly adjacent to less intensive districts.

(b)

Opaque barrier. A six-foot opaque barrier shall be provided which visually screens the conditions listed in subsection (a) of this section from less intensive uses as follows:

(1)

A solid fence or wall at least six feet in height. All fences shall consist of standard quality fence materials such as metal, wood, vinyl, galvanized or wrought iron or similar materials as approved by the city.

(2)

A landscaping screen, using evergreen or deciduous materials, capable of providing a substantially opaque, hedge-like barrier, and attaining a minimum height of six feet within three years of planting.

(3)

A landscaped earth berm with a maximum slope of three to one, rising no less than six feet above the existing grade of the lot line separating the zoning districts.

(4)

Any combination of these methods that achieves a cumulative height of six feet.

(c)

Screening; effect on drainage. Screening shall not adversely affect surface water drainage.

(d)

Permitted interruptions of screening. Screening may be interrupted to provide access drives to service areas or for loading purposes to buildings. Such breaks or interruptions shall not exceed 20 percent of the length of the required screened area.

(Code 1970, § 38-165; Ord. No. 3088, § 2(exh. A), 12-1-2015)

Landscape and buffering requirements. Unless otherwise noted, each unenclosed parking facility consisting of more than four parking spaces shall conform to the following standards:

(1)

Each unenclosed parking facility shall provide a minimum landscaped buffer of ten feet along any street property line.

(2)

Each parking facility that abuts a residential district shall provide a ten-foot landscaped buffer along its common property line with the residential district.

(3)

Any parking facility which abuts property in a residential district shall provide a fence, wall, landscape screen, or earth berm not less than six feet in height for the length of the common boundary. A grade change, terrace, or other site feature which blocks the sight line of headlights into a residential property may satisfy this requirement, subject to the determination of the zoning administrator.

(4)

Each unenclosed parking facility of over 6,000 square feet within any street yard shall provide interior landscaped area equal to no less than five percent of the total paved area of the parking facility. Parking facilities within the I-1 and I-2 districts shall be exempt from this requirement.

(5)

Landscaping or screening installed in any required landscaped area shall not obstruct the view from the off-street parking facility to any driveway approach, street, alley, or sidewalk. Landscaping shall further not obstruct any views among parking spaces and circulation ways, or visibility between vehicles and pedestrians.

(Code 1970, § 38-166; Ord. No. 3088, § 2(exh. A), 12-1-2015)

(a)

In any landscaped area for commercial uses only required by the minimum depth requirements, the buffer yard requirements, or the parking lot interior landscaping requirements, one tree of an approved species with a minimum caliper size of two inches shall be planted and maintained for each 500 square feet of required landscaped area. Existing trees approved for preservation shall be counted toward satisfaction of this requirement.

(b)

Any tree of an approved species planted or maintained with a caliper of three inches or above shall count as 1½ trees toward the satisfaction of the requirements of this section. An approved existing tree with a caliper of eight inches or above preserved on a site shall count as two trees toward the satisfaction of the requirements of this section.

(Code 1970, § 38-167; Ord. No. 3088, § 2(exh. A), 12-1-2015)

(a)

Time of application. The provisions contained in this section shall be applied for each individual lot or site when an application for a building permit on such lot is made. A landscape plan shall be submitted with each application for a building permit. Such plan shall be reviewed by the zoning administrator for compliance with the provisions of this section.

(b)

Maintenance of required landscaping. Upon installation of required landscape materials, each owner shall take appropriate actions to ensure their continued health and maintenance. Required landscaping that does not remain healthy shall be replaced consistent with this section and the approved landscaping plan for the project.

(c)

Earth berm locations. All earth berm locations shall be reviewed by the zoning administrator, or his designee to determine how the berms shall relate to drainage and public utilities.

(d)

Buffer yard and screening exceptions. A development may continue to comply with the buffer yard and screening requirements in effect at the time of issuance of its original permit, regardless of whether an adjacent lot or site is subsequently rezoned to a less intensive district, which would otherwise require compliance with buffer yard or screening provisions.

(Code 1970, § 38-168; Ord. No. 3088, § 2(exh. A), 12-1-2015)