§ 33-9. Screening.

A.

Purpose. Screening is intended to protect uses by providing landscaped areas of sufficient density and height to divide and shield them from incompatible uses, and to conceal incompatible uses and objectionable features.

B.

Composition. When required, screening shall consist of new plantings, existing vegetation, an opaque masonry wall or wooden fence, or combination thereof, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Approving Authority. Where only vegetation is provided, a planting strip of not less than twenty feet in width shall be provided.

(1)

Where new plantings are to be installed, they shall consist of (i) two rows of evergreen trees planted ten feet on center and staggered, or (ii) a berm not exceeding a slope of 2:1 with two rows of evergreen shrubs planted twenty feet on center and staggered.

(2)

Alternate methods of vegetative screening may be approved by the Approving Authority as follows: one large shade tree, one medium shade tree and one evergreen tree, per 500 square feet of area, and one shrub per 50 square feet of area.

(3)

Where a wall or fence is provided, it shall be a minimum of six feet in height and evergreen plantings shall be required at approximately ten-foot intervals along the side of any such wall or fence facing a public street or the use for which the screening shall benefit.

C.

When Required. Screening shall be provided as required under Table 33-1 and generally as follows:

1.

Non-residential buildings, multi-family residential buildings and parking lots shall be screened from adjacent land planned or zoned for agricultural, rural area and residential uses.

2.

Objectionable features, including the following and other similar features, shall be screened from (i) adjacent parcels or areas of land planned or zoned for residential or agricultural uses, and (ii) views from public streets:

a.

Loading and service areas;

b.

Refuse or trash collection or storage areas serving any commercial or industrial development or residential development of three units or more;

c.

Vehicle storage and other outdoor storage yards;

d.

Pump stations, well houses, and similar utility uses; and

e.

Tower sites including communication towers and accessory structures and equipment.

3.

All utility or mechanical equipment (i.e., meters, pedestals, transformers, air compressors, etc.) not entirely within a screened service area shall have a natural evergreen planting screen provided. Such screen shall be planted and installed so as to not hinder access to or maintenance of such utility or mechanical equipment. In lieu of such screening, utility or mechanical equipment may be shielded from view by any structure architecturally compatible with an adjacent building.

4.

Screening of Historic Properties viewshed. The Approving Authority may require screening of any use, or portion thereof, upon determination that the use would otherwise have a direct negative visual impact on a property designated as historic by its inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan, Historic Resources chapter.

(Ord. of 8-1-2006(2))

(Ord. of 8-1-2006(2))