(1)   Any new use of land development of a structure shall provide and maintain landscaping and screening in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter.

      (2)   A change in the character of a use shall require that landscaping and screening in accordance with this subchapter shall be provided and maintained. A change in the character of a use shall include:

         (a)   Any expansion of the use onto additional property that is not part of the lot which the use is situated prior to the expansion.

         (b)   Any expansion of the structure which the use is situated in by more than 25%.

      (3)   Each applicant for a special use, planned development, provisional use, or building permit which requires landscaping, shall include as part of the application a landscaping plan demonstrating compliance with this subchapter.

      (4)   When a parking lot is enlarged, the added area shall comply with the requirements of this subchapter for parking lots. When a parking lot is enlarged by more than 50% in area, both the existing and new portions of the parking lot shall conform with these requirements. The requirement to bring the parking lot into compliance shall not reduce the number of parking spaces below the minimum number of spaces for that use or combination of uses.

      (1)   Existing plantings and vegetation that will remain and that satisfy the planting requirements of this subchapter.

      (2)   The location of trees, shrubs, and ground cover to be planted with appropriate labels as to type of landscaping that correspond with the plant lists.

      (3)   Plant lists with the botanical and common names, and the size of all plant material at the time of planting.

      (4)   Any required walls, fences, or berms being erected or installed to meet the requirements of this subchapter.

(Ord. 2020-O-3, passed 2-18-2020)

      (4)   TYPE D SCREENING. The screen shall consists of a buffer yard at least 15 feet in width. Within the buffer yard, there shall be a continuous planting of evergreen trees or any type of shrubs from the approved list in the village's tree ordinance, of at least medium height. The screen should be expected to reach a height of six feet or greater in three years. The plant material should be three feet in height when planted and there shall be no gap greater than four feet apart when planted. A combination of a berm and small shrubs or evergreen trees may be used to achieve the required minimum six feet for the height of the screen.

      (6)   TYPE F SCREENING. This screening shall consist of a buffer yard at least 25 feet in width. Within the buffer yard, there shall be planting screen equal to Type D screening. There shall be a fence or wall which is a minimum of six feet in height as measured from the elevation at the lot line. The fence or wall shall be a decorative or non-decorative material. The fence shall be 75% or more opaque and the planting shall be located on the lower impact side of the buffer yard.

         (a)   Type A and B screens are intended for buffering between land uses where there is generally a low level of land use conflict. The main purpose is to provide privacy and to create a visual barrier. Type A screens with a fence may be more appropriate for developments with space constraints. The Type B screen relies on landscaping to achieve this effect. Additional yard area is required.

         (b)   Type C, D, and E screens are intended to buffer between residential uses and medium impact uses, such as more intense traffic, noise, litter, and size of development. These screens are necessary not only as a visual barrier but to minimize the negative impacts from the more intense uses. The types of fence and landscaping are taller and wider. Type F screen is for high impact uses. They may also be used for areas with potentially hazardous materials or dangerous equipment. A fence is also required. As long as the planting screen is visible to soften the appearance, the fence does not need to be a decorative type fence.

 

 

         (a)   Retail, office and public facilities greater than 100,000 square feet; manufacturing with outdoor activity; truck terminals; outdoor storage of building supplies, contractor equipment or recycling centers; storage of inoperable autos/major auto repair; power plants, treatment facilities and other similar utilities; concrete batch plants.

         (b)   Note: A fence is not required for high impact retail.

      (1)   Low and medium impact uses. If a parking lot is located in between the street and building for which screening is required, then requirements for parking lot screening shall satisfy requirements for front yard buffers. If there is no parking lot between the street and building for which screening is required, then the required front yard setback shall be equal to the front yard setback of the adjacent residential district with screening in accordance with requirements for parking lot screening along the street side.

      (1)   At least 90% of the buffer yard required by this subchapter shall be kept free of obstructions including, but not limited to, outside storage, accessory structures, active recreational uses, and service areas. There shall be no parking permitted in required buffer yards. No parking or access drives are permitted in the buffer yards. Any encroachment in the buffer yard shall be screened in accordance with requirements for utilitarian areas.

      (2)   Buffer yards shall be required to have a groundcover with a minimum of 75% living grass or other groundcover from the village's tree ordinance. The remaining area may be nonliving, consisting of bark, wood chips, decorative rock or stone, or other similar material.

      (3)   If all or any part of the buffer requirements regarding fence, walls or landscaping is provided on the adjacent property at the time the building permit is approved, the proposed uses must provide only that amount of the buffer which is not provided on the adjacent property regardless of whether the buffer on the adjacent yard is maintained.

      (1)   When the adjacent property is vacant and zoned or designated in the Land Use Plan for a lower impact use, a minimum of only 50% of the required buffer yard shall be required. In no case, however, shall such buffer yard be less than the minimum yard requirements in the underlying zoning district.

      (3)   When a lower impact development is constructed adjacent to an existing higher impact use or to vacant land or designated on the Land Use Plan as a nonresidential use, the required rear or side setback adjoining the nonresidential use shall be no less than 50% of the required buffer yard.

      (1)   If the expansion occurs on an adjacent lot, requirements for buffer yards and new lots shall apply as it would for a new use.

      (2)   If the expansion or change in use occurs on the same lot as the existing building, the buffer yards may be reduced to the setback of the existing building. The type of screen, would be required in accordance with the table in § 154.211(B).

(Ord. 2020-O-3, passed 2-18-2020)

      (1)   The perimeter area of all open parking lots with more 25 and less than 100 parking spaces fronting on a public street, shall have a minimum setback from the property line to the back of curb and shall be screened in accordance with the table in division (A)(5) below. Parking areas with 100 or more spaces shall have a minimum 15-foot setback and be screened in accordance with the table in division (A)(5) below.

      (2)   The shrubs shall have a mature height of at least 36 inches with an overall height not to exceed 42 inches. Small shrubs may be used in combination with a berm to achieve an overall height of 36 inches when the shrubs are at maturity.

      (3)   Trees and shrubs may be clustered in groups, but in no case shall there be a gap between screening materials of more than nine feet.

      (4)   Opaque or closed fences in the parking lot setback must conform to the design standards in this subchapter.

      (5)   (a)   The reference elevation for the base of the required screen shall be the surface of the parking area that is to be screened.

 

 

         (b)   Six-foot planting areas must also submit a plan to indicate proper drainage for plant materials to survive.

      (6)   Setback for accessory lots in residential areas can be found in §§ 154.185 through 154.190.

      (1)   Landscape islands shall be located at the ends of all rows of parking. For rows of parking greater than 30 spaces, there shall be additional islands at a rate of one per 20 spaces. Thirty spaces is along one side of a parking island.

      (2)   Landscape islands shall be 160 square feet, with a minimum interior dimension of nine feet, and shall be protected by a barrier curb.

      (3)   Each island shall contain at least one tree approved for parking lot interiors from the village's tree ordinance.

      (4)   Islands may be evenly spaced in between the two end islands or combined to form one large island. A combined island shall be equal in size and planting material to the total of the individual islands being combined. In no case shall there be more than 60 spaces between landscaped areas.

      (5)   A continuous planting strip between rows may be substituted for the required landscaped islands. The planting strip shall be a minimum of eight feet in width and shall be protected by a barrier curb. There shall be at least one tree planted within the strip for every 20 parking spaces. A minimum of two trees shall be planted in any such strip. The trees shall be evenly spaced and calculated as specified previously in this division (B).

(Ord. 2020-O-3, passed 2-18-2020)

      (1)   To receive a credit for the tree, the tree must be from the list in the village's tree ordinance.

      (2)   No credit will be allowed for any tree if the tree is unhealthy or dead.

      (3)   Appropriate measures to protect the tree during construction shall be indicated on the landscape plan.

      (4)   Credit may only be taken for trees within the area where such trees are required to be planted.

      (5)   A tree must be a minimum of two-inch caliper in order to receive one tree credit. A tree of a minimum of six-inch caliper may receive a credit for two trees. A tree of a minimum of 24-inch caliper may receive a credit for three trees.

      (1)   Screening may be waived by the Zoning Administrator where the view is or will be blocked by a change in grade, by the natural vegetation, or by man-made features.

      (2)   Requirements for screening between uses on the same property may be waived if the property is developed as a planned development that considers the relationship of uses to each other.

      (1)   In the event a property owner wishes to use screening techniques not provided for in this subchapter, they may apply to the Zoning Administrator for approval for an alternative method of compliance. The following findings shall be met for approval of an alternative screening technique:

         (a)   The method of screening achieves the intent behind the screening requirements.

         (b)   The proposal is at least the equivalent of that specifically prescribed by this subchapter in quality, effectiveness, and durability of the screen.

      (2)   The Zoning Administrator shall forward the application and arrange a meeting of the Planning and Zoning Board for review and comment. The

Planning and Zoning Board shall review the

alternative screening technique and approve or deny the application in writing.

(Ord. 2020-O-3, passed 2-18-2020)

      (1)   All trees and shrubs required by this subchapter shall be selected from the list in the village's tree ordinance.

      (2)   Plant material shall be installed prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit or the commencement of a use. If such installation would not coincide with the optimal planting season, planting may be delayed after a conditional occupancy permit is issued conditioned on installation by the following November 1 or June 1, whichever date is first.

      (3)   The required trees and shrubs may be clustered or grouped in a natural arrangement within the buffer area.

      (4)   Tree species in the immediate proximity of overhead utilities shall have mature heights less than the height of the utilities.

      (5)   All trees shall be a minimum diameter of two inches caliper when planted, and all shrubs shall be a minimum container size of three gallons when planted, unless approved, or otherwise specified.

      (6)   Shrubs or fences adjacent to entry drives or where necessary visibility from a vehicle may be obstructed shall have a mature height of not more than 30 inches. Plantings along the street shall not obstruct the site distance of oncoming vehicles.

      (1)   (a)   Decorative fences shall be at least 75% percent opaque and shall consist of:

            1.   Treated wood or naturally resistant wood such as redwood, cypress, or cedar;

            2.   Decorative split face concrete blocks;

            3.   Masonry;

            4,   Recycled material which replicates any of the above materials.

         (b)   All material shall be compatible with the materials and architectural treatment of the building and surrounding neighborhood.

      (2)   Any wall or fence more than 40 feet in length shall have a shrub or vine every 20 feet. A masonry or concrete wall shall have a significant design variation every 20 feet.

      (3)   Braces, supports or posts shall be located on the side of the property providing the screening.

      (4)   Fences shall not exceed ten feet in height.

      (1)   Planting areas shall be kept free of trash, litter, and weeds.

      (2)   The owner shall maintain all trees adjacent to pedestrian and vehicular spaces. Trees shall be maintained so that the mature branching occurs a minimum of seven feet from the ground.

      (3)   The owner shall maintain all plant materials in such a manner as to preserve their functional and aesthetic integrity. The owner shall replace all plant materials that have died within one year.

      (4)   The owner shall keep fences in good repair. The owner shall replace rotting or missing fence panels or walls and all graffiti shall be removed. Such maintenance shall be conducted within one month of the occurrence causing the repair.

      (5)   In the event the owner fails to install or maintain a required landscaped or screening area, the Zoning Administrator shall notify the owner of action necessary to meet the requirements of this subchapter and a date when such action should be completed. If the owner has not complied by said date, the village shall have the right to go onto said property and maintain said buffer.

(Ord. 2020-O-3, passed 2-18-2020)