Shall not be more than four feet in height.

Shall be of an open design, such as ornamental iron, split rail or picket where the ratio between space and fence material is at least 1:1, except as otherwise restricted below.

Shall not be located less than five feet from a neighbor's driveway or a shared driveway.

A landscape plan is required as part of every site plan review application.

Landscaping is required to minimize negative impacts from development by creating visual and noise buffers between adjoining property uses and promoting harmonious streetscapes. The intent of these standards is also to replace trees lost due to development and to establish incentives for the preservation of existing trees.

These standards will also provide direction to the applicants where buffer zones are required.

A tree planting schedule shall be included on each landscape plan. No one species of trees may take up more than 15% of the total amount of the proposed tree plantings.

Trees from the list provided below shall be referenced in developing the landscape plan. Tree diameter shall be measured four feet from the base of the tree (diameter at breast height or DBH). The developer/owner shall make every effort to preserve and protect existing significant trees over 12 inches in diameter.

Tree removal or planting in the City right-of-way shall be in accordance with Chapter 287 of the Code of the City of Watertown.

Landscaping must be permanently maintained in a healthy growing condition at all times. The property owner is responsible for replacing any trees or landscaping approved as part of site plan or special use permit approval that dies after planting.

The property owner is responsible for regular weeding, mowing of grass, irrigating, fertilizing, pruning, and other permanent maintenance of all plantings as needed.

A landscaped strip shall be provided adjacent to all public and private rights-of-way and streets in the Commercial (C), Neighborhood Mixed Use (NMU), Urban Mixed Use (UMU), Downtown (D), Industrial (I), Parks and Open Space (P&OS), Planned Development District (PDD), Waterfront Overlay District (WFO), City Center Overlay (CCO), and Planned Campus (PC) Districts regardless of setback distance. It shall be a minimum of 15 feet wide exclusive of the street right-of-way. Where the setback is less than 15 feet wide, a landscape strip shall be provided within the setback area. Within the landscaped strip, one large deciduous tree (two inches DBH minimum) shall be provided every 40 linear feet or one small to medium deciduous tree (1.5 inches DBH minimum) shall be provided every 20 linear feet. Planting beds with shrubs, perennials, annuals, native or ornamental grasses are recommended in between the trees.

Where parking lots and/or driveways abut the landscaped strip along the street right-of-way, shrubs shall be used for screening in addition to the shade trees. The screening shall be a plant species that grows to a minimum of three feet high and extends along the entire street frontage of the parking lot, exclusive of driveways and visibility setbacks. A landscaped berm may also be utilized to screen the parking lots and driveways. If used, the berm shall be a minimum of 30 inches above the average grade of the street and parking lot curbs with a slope not to exceed 3:1. If a parking lot is located 50 feet or more from the street right-of-way, no screening shrubs or berm are required.

Street level landscaping shall not interfere with visibility of drivers entering or exiting or driving by the property. All landscaping (trees, shrubs, and planted beds) shall be a distance of 10 feet from any driveway or street intersections.

A side and rear yard landscaped strip shall be provided that is at least 10 feet wide. Within the landscaped strip, a minimum of one large deciduous tree (two inches DBH minimum) shall be provided every 40 linear feet or one small to medium deciduous tree (1.5 inches DBH minimum) should be provided every 20 linear feet. Planting beds with shrubs, perennials, and/or annuals or (native/ornamental) grass areas are recommended in between the trees. Where parking lots and driveways abut the landscaped strip, shrubs shall be considered for screening in addition to the shade trees. The screening shall be a plant species that grows to a minimum of three feet high and extends along the entire street frontage of the parking lot, exclusive of driveways and visibility setbacks. A landscaped berm may also be utilized to screen the parking lots and driveways. If used, the berm shall be a minimum of 30 inches above the average grade of the street and parking lot curbs with a slope not to exceed 3:1. If a parking lot is located 50 feet or more from the street right-of-way, no screening shrubs or berm will be required.

Interior parking lot trees and landscaping is required in addition to the landscaped strip. Trees shall be provided in each parking lot at a minimum average density of one large deciduous tree (two-inch DBH) for each 15 parking spaces, or any fraction thereof.

The interior parking lot trees and landscaping shall be evenly distributed throughout the parking lot.

Landscaped islands within parking lot areas shall be a minimum of nine feet by 18 feet in dimension.

A buffer zone between residential and nonresidential and districts is required. The purpose of the buffer zone(s) is to separate land uses and offer visual screening between uses that may not be compatible.

The required buffer areas within each listed zoning district shall contain the following landscaping:

The Planning Commission encourages the preservation of quality and mature trees by providing credits toward the required landscaping. Trees intended to be preserved shall be indicated with a special symbol on the landscape plan and shall be protected during the construction through use of a fence around the dripline. To obtain credit, the preserved trees shall be of a high quality and at least 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Trees to be preserved shall be counted for credit only if they are located on the developed portion of the site as determined by the Planning Commission. The credit for preserved trees shall be as follows:

Credit for preserving existing trees may not be utilized in lieu of trees in the landscaped strip along street rights-of-way or the required buffer zone. Credit may be applied only to required interior or exterior parking lot tree planting. Any preserved trees receiving credit which are lost within three years after construction completion shall be replaced by the landowner with trees otherwise required.

The following list of trees is recommended for use in fulfilling the requirements of these standards. The list is not meant to be exclusive but rather a guideline to indicate types of trees that have been found to grow well in the Watertown area in urban soils.

Applicants should coordinate with the City Planning and Community Development Department to review the proposed planting plan to determine appropriate species for the project.

All outdoor lights and illuminated signs shall be designed in such manner as to prevent objectionable light at and across the property lines, and to prevent direct glare at any location on or off the property.

Light trespass. Light trespass shall not exceed 0.25 footcandle at the property line of properties with residential uses. Light trespass shall not exceed 0.5 footcandle at the property line for all other uses.

Electrical feeds. Electrical feeds to lighting standards shall be run underground, not overhead.

Time controls. All nonessential lighting shall be time controlled. "Nonessential" can apply to display, aesthetic, parking and sign lighting.

Shielding. All outdoor fixtures shall be fully shielded and installed in such a way that no light is emitted above a horizontal plane running through the lowest part of the fixture. The lighting shall also be shielded to prevent direct glare and/or light trespass, and shall be, as much as physically practical, contained to the target area.

Prohibitions. The following is prohibited:

Not be allowed in front yard setback.

Not operate a generator between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Have proof of adequate water, sewer, and electric provisions.

The granting of the temporary permit shall be in writing and shall stipulate any conditions as to time, nature of use and or structures permitted, and arrangements for removal and restoration as necessary.

If the operator of the temporary use is not the owner of the site where the temporary use will be located, written permission from the property owner is required.

Temporary permits are subject to any reasonable conditions and safeguards to minimize any injurious effect on the neighborhood or contiguous property.

The granting of a temporary permit shall be accompanied by written stipulations regarding the following, as needed: setbacks, lot coverage, off-street parking signage and lighting to protect the public health, safety, peace, morals, comfort, convenience, and general welfare of the immediate vicinity.

All temporary uses must meet any applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including, but not limited to, licensing, health, safety, and building and fire code requirements.

Outdoor special events adjoining a Residential District shall be closed by 11:00 p.m.

For outdoor special events, outdoor cooking of food shall be set back at least 30 feet when adjacent to an R District.

Outdoor music, live or recorded, adjoining a Residential (R) District shall be finished by 8:00 p.m. on weeknights (Sunday through Thursday) and 11:00 p.m. on weekends (Friday and Saturday).