Upper Providence Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 1260
Buffer Requirements
1260.01 Purpose; standards.
[Ord. No. 321, passed 12-10-1998]
Buffering serves to soften the outline of buildings, to screen glare and noise, and to create a visual and/or physical barrier between land uses. The extent of buffering required shall be determined by the type of use proposed and the adjacent uses or streets surrounding the proposed development. The mutual impacts of a proposed use and adjoining properties are the basis for establishing buffer standards.
1260.02 General requirements.
[Ord. No. 321, passed 12-10-1998]
A.
Buffers are required between use types and along existing and proposed streets, in accordance with Section 1260.03, "Buffer Class Requirements and Options" and Table C, "Buffer Class".
B.
Plant materials shall be permanently maintained, and any plant material which does not live shall be replaced within one year.
C.
All existing deciduous and coniferous trees larger than two inches in caliper and/or six feet in height may be considered to contribute to the definition of an existing buffer on the property.
1260.03 Buffer class requirements and options.
[Ord. No. 321, passed 12-10-1998]
A.
For each tract boundary, the applicant shall determine the adjacent land use type or road classification. The required buffer class for each tract boundary line shall be specified in Table C, Buffer Class.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Table C: Buffer Class, is included as an attachment to this chapter.
B.
Unless exempted under Section 1260.04, the applicant shall provide planting in accordance with the buffer class options presented below. Plant materials are not required to be aligned on property or right-of-way boundaries, except as specified, and may be staggered or grouped provided that Council determines, upon recommendation from the Planning Commission, that a satisfactory buffer is achieved. Clear sight triangles shall be maintained at all street intersections and at all points where private accessways intersect public streets.
Class | Options | (Choose one within class category) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
A | (1) | 1 canopy tree per 40 feet along future right-of-way or property boundary* | ||
B | (1) | 1 canopy tree per 40 feet along boundary* | ||
+ | 1 flowering tree per 60 feet | |||
+ | 1 evergreen per 60 feet | |||
(2) | 1 canopy tree per 40 feet | |||
+ | 1 hedge along boundary* (3 foot centers) | |||
(3) | 1 canopy tree per 40 feet | |||
+ | 1 evergreen per 30 feet | |||
C | (1) | 1 evergreen per 30 feet | ||
+ | 1 hedge along boundary* (3 foot centers) | |||
(2) | 1 evergreen per 25 feet | |||
+ | 1 berm 4 feet high | |||
(3) | 1 evergreen per 25 feet | |||
+ | 1 shrub (minimum 3 feet high) per 8 feet | |||
(4) | 1 evergreen per 20 feet | |||
+ | 1 shrub (minimum 4 feet high) per 4 feet | |||
* | Planting shall be located three to five feet inside the right-of-way line or boundary line. |
1260.04 Exemptions.
[Ord. No. 321, passed 12-10-1998]
A.
The applicant shall not be required to provide plant materials should existing planting, topography, or man-made structures be deemed acceptable for screening purposes by the Council, upon recommendation from the Planning Commission.
B.
Buffer plant materials shall not be required where the proposed structure, building, use, or parking area is located more than 200 feet from a tract boundary or street right-of-way line, unless the proposed use is a Type 6 Use, in which case screening materials must be provided. (Refer to Table C, "Buffer Class," for identification of Type 6 uses.)
1260.05 Set back buffer.
[Ord. No. 356, passed 12-12-2001]
A.
A set back buffer of 30 feet shall be provided between all residential and all non-residential uses.
B.
The set back buffer will be maintained as open green space but may include the required buffer class pursuant to Section 1260.03(A), Table C.
C.
No improvement, structure, parking lot or driveway may be constructed in the set back buffer.