1.   Open Space Planting. Whenever property is required to include open space pursuant to the provisions of Section 165.06, such open space shall be unencumbered by any structure or off-street parking area. Such open space, except for the portion used as pedestrian walks or courts, shall be landscaped and maintained with grass or other acceptable ground cover and shall include trees and shrubs in the proportions hereinafter set forth. Trees and shrubbery shall be provided at a minimum ratio of two trees and six shrubs per 3,000 square feet of required open space; provided, however, there shall be a minimum requirement of two trees and six shrubs. Required plantings shall be installed prior to issuance of an occupancy permit. The required number of trees and shrubs shall be determined as follows:

      A.   3,000 square feet or less of open space = two trees, six shrubs

      B.   More than 3,000 square feet of open space:

         (1)   Trees: (square feet of open space divided by 3,000) x 2 = No. of trees required

         (2)   Shrubs: (square feet of open space divided by 3,000) x 6 = No. of shrubs required

   1.   The plantings required hereunder are in addition to and not in substitution of any planting requirements otherwise set forth in this Code of Ordinances. Existing trees and shrubs on site and retained as part of the development may be used to meet the requirements of this section.

   2.   Parking Area Landscaping. Parking areas required in R-3, R-4, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, M-1, and M-2 zoning districts shall provide areas of natural shading, accomplished through the planting of trees, in an amount equal to 20 percent of the total square feet of drives and parking (Vehicle Pavement Area). Trees used for this purpose shall be presumed to shade a circular area having 700 square feet. New trees planted to meet the requirements of this section shall be located so that each is surrounded by at least 190 square feet of unpaved area. New and existing trees shall be protected from damage by vehicles and shall be promptly replaced if destroyed. Plantings required hereunder shall be installed prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit for the site. The number of trees required hereunder shall be determined as follows:

      A.   Vehicle Pavement Area x 20 percent = Plant Square Footage

      B.   Plant Square Footage divided by 700 = No. of trees required.

   1.   The plantings required under this section are in addition to and not in substitution of any open space or parking lot plantings or screening otherwise required under this Code of Ordinances. Existing trees on a site which are retained as a part of development, and which provide shade to parking areas may be used to meet the requirements of this section.

   3.   Approved Trees. Any trees planted to meet the requirements of this chapter shall be trees of a type included on the approved tree list of the City as determined by the Tree Board.

   4.   Screens. The intent of the screening regulations hereinafter set forth is to lessen the transmission from one property to another of noise, dust and glare; to lessen visual pollution by creating the impression of separation of spaces or entirely shielding one land use from another; and/or establishing a sense of privacy from visual or physical intrusion. The Council specifically finds that the provisions of this chapter are necessary to safeguard the public health, safety and welfare.

      A.   General Screening Standard. Every development shall provide sufficient screening so that neighboring properties are shielded from any adverse external effects of that development; and the development is shielded from the negative impacts of adjacent uses including streets and railroads.

      B.   Compliance with General Standard. The following “Table of Screening Requirements” (the “Table”), in conjunction with the explanations set forth in Subsection 4D concerning types of screens, establishes screening requirements that presumptively satisfy the general standard established in Subsection 4A.

      C.   “Burdened Zoning District” means the zoning classification of the property on which screening must be installed. “Benefited Zoning Classification/Use” means the zoning classification of the property which is benefited or protected by the required screening. The letter designations “A”, “B” and “C” refer to types of screening required and which are described and defined in Subsection 4D.

   The designation “ – ” means there are no presumptively required screening requirements for abutting properties to which such designation applies under the Table. Where screening is required under the Table, the owner of the property in the burdened district is responsible for the installation of the required screening prior to issuance of an occupancy permit. The burdened zoning district shall be interpreted to mean the zoning district permitting more intensive uses unless otherwise determined by City Council upon recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

 

      D.   Description of Screens. The following three basic types of screens are hereby established and are designated “A”, “B” and “C” (corresponding to the designations included in the Table):

         (1)   Broken screen, type “A”, means a screen composed of intermittent visual obstructions from the ground to a height of at least 20 feet. The broken screen is intended to create the impression of a separation of spaces without necessarily eliminating visual contact between the spaces. It may be composed of a wall, fence, landscaped earth berm, planted vegetation, or existing vegetation. Compliance by use of planted vegetative screens or natural vegetation will be judged on the basis of the average mature height and density of foliage of the subject species, or field observation of existing vegetation. The screen may contain deciduous plants. A type “A” screen shall be located within a buffer easement of sufficient width to accommodate the required broken screen as shown on an approved Site Plan, but in no case shall it be less than 20 feet wide unless specifically waived by Council on an approved Site Plan. Said easement will be exclusive of parking areas and accessory structures except approved fences or walls.

         (2)   Semi-opaque screen, Type “B”, means a screen that is opaque from the ground to a height of three feet, with intermittent visual obstruction from above the opaque portion to a height of at least 20 feet. The semi-opaque screen is intended to partially block visual contact between uses and to create a strong impression of the separation of spaces. The semi-opaque screen may be composed of a wall, fence, landscaped earth berm, planted vegetation, or existing vegetation. Compliance by use of planted vegetative screens or nature vegetation will be judged on the basis of the average mature height and density of foliage of the subject species, or field observation of existing vegetation. At maturity, the portion of intermittent visual obstructions should not contain any completely unobstructed openings more than 10 feet wide. The zone of intermittent visual obstruction may contain deciduous plants. A type “B” screen shall be located within a buffer easement of sufficient width to accommodate the required semi-opaque screen as shown on an approved Site Plan, but in no case shall it be less than 30 feet wide unless specifically waived by Council on an approved Site Plan. Said easement will be exclusive of parking areas and accessory structures except approved fences or walls.

         (3)   Opaque screen, Type “C”, means a screen that is opaque from the ground to a height of a least six feet, with intermittent visual obstructions from the opaque portion to a height of at least 20 feet. An opaque screen is intended to exclude all visual contact between uses and to create a strong impression of spatial separation. The opaque screen may be composed of a wall, fence, landscaped earth berm, planted vegetation, or existing vegetation. Compliance by use of planted vegetative screens or natural vegetation will be judged on the basis of the average mature height and density of foliage of the subject species, or field observation of existing vegetation. The opaque portion of the screen must be opaque in all seasons of the year. At maturity, the portion of intermittent visual obstructions should not contain any completely unobstructed openings more than 10 feet wide. The portion of intermittent visual obstructions may contain deciduous plants. A type “C” screen shall be located within a buffer easement of sufficient width to accommodate the required opaque screen as shown on an approved Site Plan, but in no case shall it be less than 50 feet wide unless specifically waived by Council on an approved Site Plan. Said easement will be exclusive of parking areas and accessory structures except approved fences or walls.

      E.   Where commercial and/or industrial uses abut residential uses, the developer of the commercial and/or industrial property shall construct all required screens adjacent to said residential properties as part of the initial phase of development of their property.

   5.   Buffer Easements Adjacent to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Land. Parcels of land being developed that abut land owned by the United States of America shall provide a 35 feet wide buffer easement across the developer’s property adjacent to said public lands prior to approval of a Final Plat or Site Plan for the developer’s property. The buffer easement shall prohibit construction of principal or accessory structures within said easement, except approved fences or walls. The buffer easement shall also restrict construction of streets within said easement except where it is deemed necessary to cross said easement to maintain continuity of the street system. The buffer easement shall not restrict construction of trails.

   6.   Storage Areas. The outdoor storage of materials, equipment or supplies, when permitted in any commercial or industrial district, shall be located or screened, fenced or landscaped so as to effectively prevent visibility of such storage from all abutting residential zoning districts or abutting existing residential uses. Such screening shall be sufficient if it prevents visibility of such storage area by persons traveling on public rights-of-way or standing at level on the side or rear lot lines of such property. Such screening shall comply with the standard for an opaque screen Type C.