If a building or parking lot permit is applied for and no zoning action is required, an administrative site plan approval will be required.

(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)

   (A)   An application for a building or parking lot permit shall promptly be forwarded to the appropriate officials.

   (B)   Review must be completed within 15 days of the receipt by the county of a complete site plan review application. If, in the judgment of the appropriate officials, the site plan review application does not contain sufficient information to enable the appropriate county officials to properly carry out its responsibilities, the appropriate officials may request additional information from the applicant. In that event, the 15-day period previously referred to shall be suspended, pending the receipt of all information requested by the appropriate officials.

(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)

   (A)   If the appropriate officials approve a site plan, a building or parking permit may then be issued. If the appropriate officials do not approve a site plan, the applicant may appeal the appropriate officials’ decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

   (B)   A notice of appeal must be filed with the appropriate official no later than 15 days after receipt by the applicant of the decision of the appropriate officials.

(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)

   (A)   One- and two-family residences are exempt from county-wide site plan review requirements.

   (B)   In addition, site plans shall not be required for renovation or expansion of an existing structure or use unless access points would be changed or a substantial increase in traffic to the site would be generated.

(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)

   (A)   Permits for off-street parking lots. No person shall expand an existing parking lot or construct a new parking lot of five spaces or more without having first obtained a written permit, issued by the appropriate official, or his or her designee representative. Prior to obtaining a permit for such expansion or new construction, the applicant shall submit to the appropriate official, or his or her designated representative, a landscape/site plan as required in this chapter, and plans showing the construction specifications for all off-street parking lots, and he or she shall provide for proper inspection of construction.

   (B)   Construction. All off-street parking lots required to obtain a permit as identified in the above section shall be laid to the line and grade of, and shall conform to surface thickness and other specifications of the appropriate county official, or his or her designated representative.

   (C)   Landscaping and screening requirements for off-street parking lots. The provisions of this section for the installation and maintenance of landscaping and screening requirements are intended to protect the character and stability of residential, commercial, industrial, and conservation areas, and to enhance the aesthetic and visual image of the county.

      (1)   (a)   Parking lots of five or more spaces shall be set back ten feet from the front property line(s). Landscaping requirements with the front yard(s) include that the yard be seeded or sodded with lawn. Rock cover may be used, but may not exceed 20% of the landscaped front yard setback. In addition, one canopy tree for every five parking spaces and a minimum of 5% ground cover landscape coverage of shrubs and evergreens/conifers shall be required.

         (b)   The ten-foot front yard setback may be reduced to five feet if there is a continuous 26-inch solid wall/fence or shrubbery hedge provided. Sodding, rock ground cover, canopy tree, and ground cover landscape coverage requirements will still be applied if a solid wall/fence is provided. Sodding and/or rock ground requirements will still be applied if a shrubbery fence is provided.

      (2)   (a)   Parking lots of five or more spaces shall be set back five feet from side and rear property lines. Landscaping requirements within the side and rear yards include that the yard be seeded or sodded with lawn. Rock ground cover may be used, but may not exceed 20% of the landscaped side and rear yard setback. In addition, one canopy tree for every five parking spaces and a minimum of 5% ground landscape coverage of shrubs and evergreens/conifers shall be required.

         (b)   1.   When a side and/or rear yard is adjacent to a residential use, a continuous four foot solid wall/fence or shrubbery hedge shall also be provided with the five-foot setback yard.

            2.   If a four-foot shrubbery hedge is provided, canopy tree and ground landscape coverage shall not be required.

      (3)   Wherever landscaping and screening requirements may interfere with traffic vision, the height and placement shall be determined by the County Engineer.

      (4)   Trees and other landscaping shall be of a species which are hardy to the area and have measured diameters of such identified in the minimum standards for plantings of § 154.595. Prohibited trees are identified in the section so identified in § 154.597.

      (5)   Subject to the approval of the appropriate official, alternate landscaping plans may be substituted for consideration.

      (6)   A landscape/site plan will be required to be submitted for staff review prior to issuing a parking lot development permit for parking lots of five spaces or more. The following basic standards should be set:

         (a)   Drawn to scale;

         (b)   Identify location of landscaping or other features;

         (c)   Specify nature of materials (for example, species, variety, and the like); and

         (d)   Specify number of plants, shrubs, trees, and the like, by species.

      (7)   Landscaping and screening must be maintained in good condition, free of refuse and debris, and provide a healthy, neat, and orderly appearance at least equal to the original installation. It shall be the owner’s responsibility to see that the landscaping is maintained.

   (D)   Appeal process. If the appropriate officials approve a site plan, a parking lot permit may then be issued. If the appropriate officials do not approve a site plan, the applicant may appeal the appropriate officials’ decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals. A notice of appeal must be filed with the appropriate official no later than 15 days after receipt by the applicant of the decision of the appropriate officials.

(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)

   (A)   Intent. The provisions of this section are to provide specific landscape screening and bufferyard requirements to reduce the incompatibility between zoning districts of different intensity and type. These bufferyards will lessen the adverse impact of more intense land uses upon residential areas and/or other areas of less intense use by reducing noise, visual, and other environmental impacts.

   (B)   Requirements.

      (1)   In addition to landscaping and screening requirements for off-street parking areas, bufferyard standards will also apply for site plans requiring a zoning change, special use permit, and non-exempt site plan review requirements.

      (2)   The bufferyard requirement is determined by the difference between the zoning district of the subject property and the zoning district of adjacent properties. The specific requirements are identified in the following sections and the accompanying table in § 154.599. Landscaping and screening requirements for off-street parking areas apply to the side of the property abutting a public street right-of-way. A list of prohibited trees is provided in § 154.597.

   (C)   Description of bufferyards A through D.

      (1)   Type A buffer.

         (a)   The standard buffer within Type A is eight feet wide and contains the following number of required plants per 100 feet:

            1.   One canopy tree;

            2.   One understory tree;

            3.   Six shrubs; and

            4.   One evergreen/conifer.

         (b)   Depending on the space available, the applicant may choose one of several alternative buffer widths to provide a Type A buffer, each with a different amount of required plantings reflected as a multiplier of the required plant units per 100 feet. The alternatives include the following:

            1.   Twenty-foot wide buffer with 50% of the required plant units per 100 feet;

            2.   Sixteen-foot wide buffer with 60% of the required plant units per 100 feet;

            3.   Twelve-foot wide buffer with 80% of the required plan units per 100 feet; and

            4.   Four-foot wide buffer with 90% of the required plant units and a continuous hedge setback three feet from the property line or fence.

      (2)   Type B buffer.

         (a)   The standard buffer within Type B is ten feet wide and contains the following number of required plant per 100 feet:

            1.   Two canopy trees;

            2.   Two understory trees;

            3.   Six shrubs; and

            4.   Two evergreens/conifers.

         (b)   Depending on the space available, the applicant may choose one of several alternative buffer widths to provide a Type B buffer, each with a different amount of required plantings. Type B buffer alternatives range from a 25-foot wide buffer with 50% of the required plantings to a five-foot wide buffer with 90% of the required plantings and a continuous hedge or fence.

      (3)   Type C buffer.

         (a)   The standard buffer within Type C is 15 feet wide and contains the following number of required plantings per 100 feet:

            1.   Three canopy trees;

            2.   Two understory trees;

            3.   Nine shrubs; and

            4.   Three evergreens/conifers.

         (b)   1.   Depending on the space available, the applicant may choose one of several alternative buffer widths to provide a Type C buffer, each with a different amount of required plantings.

            2.   Type C buffer alternatives range from a 25-foot wide buffer with 60% of the required plantings to a six-foot wide buffer with 90% of the required plantings and a continuous fence.

      (4)   Type D buffer.

         (a)   The standard buffer within Type D is 15 feet wide and contains the following number of required plants per 100 feet:

            1.   Three canopy trees;

            2.   Two understory trees;

            3.   Fifteen shrubs; and

            4.   Five evergreens/conifers.

         (b)   Depending on the space available, the applicant may choose one of several alternative buffer widths to provide a Type D buffer, each with a different amount of required plantings. Type D buffer alternatives range from a 25-foot wide buffer with 60% of the required plantings to an eight-foot wide buffer with 90% of the required plantings and a continuous fence.

(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)

   (A)   Canopy trees. Two inches diameter, six inches above ground level, and ten feet in height when planted.

   (B)   Understory tree. One inch diameter, six inches above ground level, and six feet in height when planted.

   (C)   Shrubs. Twenty-four inches in height when planted; 40% or more must reach a mature height of six feet or more.

   (D)   Evergreens/conifers. Two inches in diameter, six inches above ground level, and six feet in height when planted. Twenty feet minimum height at maturity.

(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)

   The following weak-wooded trees and generally undesirable trees for urban conditions shall be prohibited for use in meeting any of the landscaping/screening requirements for off-street parking areas and/or bufferyard requirements:

   (A)   Ailanthus (tree of heaven);

   (B)   Box elder;

   (C)   European mountain ash;

   (D)   European white birch;

   (E)   Poplar;

   (F)   Siberian elm;

   (G)   Silver maple;

   (H)   Willow;

   (I)   Cottonwood;

   (J)   All fruit bearing including crab apple, Bradford pear, purple-leaf plum, mulberry, and Russian olive;

   (K)   Sweet gum;

   (L)   Hawthorne;

   (M)   Pin oak; and

   (N)   Gingko.

(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)

   (A)   Bufferyard landscaping and screening must be maintained in good condition, free of refuse and debris, and provide a healthy, neat, and orderly appearance at least equal to the original installation.

   (B)   It shall be the owner’s responsibility to see that the landscaping is maintained.

(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)

 

   (A)   Approximate bufferyard requirement found in the table above is as follows:

      (1)   A, which is eight feet in width;

      (2)   B, which is ten feet in width;

      (3)   C, which is 15 feet in width;

      (4)   D, which is 15 feet in width; and

      (5)   N, which is no buffer required.

   (B)   Position of property abutting a public right-of-way is governed by landscaping for parking lot requirements.

(Ord. passed 5-16-2023)