8-1.1 Buffer required.

A.

It is recognized that the location of commercial or industrial land uses directly adjacent to single-family residence uses can create an incompatible situation. Accordingly, in commercial and industrial districts, when a principal structure is expanded or modified, a planted screening buffer shall be provided along all side and rear property lines contiguous with a residential district. The city council may require a similar buffer strip between other districts and land uses deemed to be incompatible.

8-1.2 General provisions for buffer areas.

A.

A planted buffer strip is required to protect residential land uses from excessive heat, dust, wind, light, spill, unsightly views, odors, and other characteristics commonly associated with commercial and industrial land uses and related vehicular and pedestrian traffic, which can adversely impact the quality of residential life. The required buffer shall provide necessary visual and acoustical privacy for the conduct of residential lifestyles in an undisturbed environment, and shall provide for the protection and preservation of property values in residential districts.

B.

Required buffers shall be established and maintained by the owner of the incompatible land use. The required buffer must:

1.

Be depicted in detail (the type and location of natural and planted vegetation are to be illustrated) on each site plan or plat prior to approval, and shall be designated as a permanent easement.

2.

Not be disturbed by grading, property improvements or construction activities except where necessary to prevent a nuisance, or to thin such natural growth, where too dense to permit normal growth, or to remove diseased, misshapen, or dangerous and decayed timbers. Any contemplated disturbance shall first be brought to the attention of the planning commission and formal approval secured prior to initiating activity within required buffer area.

3.

Utilize existing vegetation where it has been determined that existing vegetation is appropriate for inclusion within the buffer strip, or when required be supplemented with approved, additional plantings.

4.

Retain the natural topography of the land, except when a portion must be cleared and graded as required by law to prevent soil erosion or sedimentation.

5.

Be completely installed in accordance with the approved plan prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

6.

Not be used for temporary or permanent parking or loading, other than for provision of drainage improvements as mandated by law or for a structure other than a fence.

7.

Attain a height of not less than six feet within three years of the planting date.

(Ord. No. 2020-06, Pt. I, 7-7-20)

8-2.1 Buffer widths.

A.

The following specifications for buffer strip widths will be used by the planning commission and city council to determine buffer strip requirements:

1.

Where a commercial or industrial district is contiguous with a single-family residential district, the width of the required buffer strip shall not be less than 40 feet, nor more than 75 feet.

2.

In other instances, where an incompatible situation is determined, the width of the buffer strip shall be recommended by the planning commission, but shall not be less than 15 feet, nor more than 75 feet. The buffer strip required can include the minimum yard area as specified in the appropriate zoning district.

8-2.2 Buffer composition.

A.

In those instances where the natural vegetation and topography are insufficient to achieve the desired level of screening as determined by this ordinance, a planted buffer shall be provided and shall consist of plant material of such growth characteristics as will provide an acoustical and visual screen. The following plants are approved for use as part of the screening buffer, provided they are 2.5" in caliper size at breast height:

1.

Trees:

Loblolly Pine

White Pine

Virginia Pine

Yaupon Holly

American Holly

Eastern Red Cedar

Laurel Cherry

Weeping Cherry

Flowering Cherry

Red Maple

Walnut

American Chestnut

Red Bud

Flowering Dogwood

Arizona Cypress Redbay

2.

Shrubs:

Forsythia

Indian Hawthorne

Burning Bush

Loripetalum

Laurel

Cleyera

Euonymus

Southern Waxmyrtle

Northern Bayberry

Pittosporum

Japan Yew

Trident Maple

Tea Olive

3.

Ground cover:

Short Juniper

Periwinkle

Lippia

Evergreen Candytuft

Elysum

Lenton Rose

B.

Other evergreen plant materials having the same growth characteristics as the aforementioned may be substituted, subject to approval by the planning commission prior to installation.

8-2.3 Buffer maintenance.

A.

The screening buffer planting and any required landscaped open space planting shall be guaranteed for two years and maintained for the life of the commercial, industrial or residential development. Necessary trimming and maintenance shall be performed by the installing property owner to maintain the health of the plant materials, to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance, and to assure that the buffer actually serves the purpose for which it is intended.

(Ord. No. 2020-06, Pt. I, 7-7-20)

8-3.1 Screening requirements.

A.

Certain uses such as junk or salvage yard operations and other commercial and industrial operations requiring the storage of inoperative equipment or vehicles for prolonged periods of time could present unsightly views or health hazards. To preclude this from occurring, such properties must be completely enclosed by an opiate fence to completely obscures views of the property from adjacent sidewalks and streets, built to a height greater than that of the height of the highest piece of equipment or vehicle stored on the property; however, the minimum height of any fence shall be eight feet. Construction of cyclone fencing which utilizes metal inserts as screening shall be prohibited.