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20.50.520 LA-06 – Buffer yard landscaping standards.
This section is included in your selections.

This landscaping standards (LA) section applies to the following zoning districts:
PR A3 A4 R1 R2 VR M1 M2 MP IS LB GC HC CP I1 I2 HI

The following standards shall apply:

A. Applicability. Buffer yard standards shall apply along the front, side, and rear property lines where conflicting zoning districts meet, as indicated on Table LA-A: Buffer Yards Required.

B. Arrangement. Plant material shall be installed within the buffer yard such that views between two (2) differing intensity land uses are disrupted. A natural pattern or irregular row of trees is preferred in the buffer yard.

C. Responsibility.

1. Higher Intensity Use. The property which is zoned for higher intensity uses at the time of application for an improvement location permit or subdivision approval is responsible for installing the buffer yard as indicated in Table LA-A: Buffer Yards Required.

2. Developed Property. Any previously developed lot shall not be required to install a buffer yard when any adjacent property is developed.

3. New Lower Intensity Use. If a property is being developed adjacent to an existing more intense land use the new lower intense land use shall install at a minimum a buffer yard “A” or elect to install a greater buffer. This requirement shall not be required if the higher intense use has a buffer yard or equivalent screening in place.

D. Substitution. The Zoning Administrator may lessen the requirements of the buffer yard standards by twenty percent (20%) due to unique site conditions or features that prevent appropriate and healthful installation of the trees. These site conditions or features may include existing vegetation that exceeds the buffer yard requirements in size and quantity or topography that shields the adjacent property in a more thorough way than the buffer yard requirements.

E. Buffer Yard “A.” One (1) canopy tree and one (1) ornamental or evergreen tree shall be planted for every seventy (70) feet of contiguous boundary with the adjacent lot. Each tree shall be planted within twenty (20) feet of the property line, but no closer than five (5) feet to the property line.

F. Buffer Yard “B.” One (1) canopy tree and two (2) ornamental or evergreen trees shall be planted for every sixty (60) feet of contiguous boundary with the adjacent lot. Each tree shall be planted within fifteen (15) feet of the property line, but no closer than five (5) feet to the property line.

G. Buffer Yard “C.”

1. Canopy Tree. One (1) canopy tree shall be planted for every forty-five (45) feet of contiguous boundary with the adjacent lot. Each tree shall be planted within twenty-five (25) feet of the property line; and

2. Ornamental or Evergreen Tree. Two (2) ornamental or evergreen trees shall be planted for every fifty (50) feet of contiguous boundary with the adjacent lot. Each tree shall be planted within fifteen (15) feet of the property line.

3. Substitution. A six (6) foot tall opaque fence or four (4) foot tall undulating mound may be installed along seventy-five percent (75%) of the contiguous lot in substitution for twenty-five percent (25%) of the canopy trees and fifty percent (50%) of the ornamental or evergreen trees required.

H. Buffer Yard “D.”

1. Canopy Tree. One (1) canopy tree shall be planted for every forty (40) feet of contiguous boundary with the adjacent lot. Each tree shall be planted within twenty (20) feet of the property line; and

2. Ornamental or Evergreen Tree. Two (2) ornamental or evergreen trees shall be planted for every fifty (50) feet of contiguous boundary with the adjacent lot. Each tree shall be planted within twenty (20) feet of the property line; and

3. Row of Evergreens. One (1) evergreen tree shall be planted for every twelve (12) feet of contiguous boundary with the adjacent lot. The evergreen trees shall be planted in an irregular row spaced no closer than nine (9) feet apart or more than fifteen (15) feet apart. The irregular row shall be planted at least twenty-five (25) feet from the property line; and

4. Fence or Mound. A minimum six (6) foot tall opaque fence or a minimum five (5) foot tall undulating mound shall be installed roughly parallel to the property line. The fence or undulating mound shall be installed at least twenty-five (25) feet from the property line.

Table LA-A. Buffer Yards Required

Adjacent District

Zoning District of Subject Property

CO

PR

A1

A2

A3

A4

R1

R2

VR

M1

M2

MP

IS

LB

GC

HC

CP

I1

I2

HI

CO

–

–

–

–

A

A

A

A

–

A

B

C

–

B

C

C

C

C

C

D

PR

–

–

–

–

B

C

A

B

–

B

B

C

–

B

C

C

C

C

C

D

A1

–

–

–

–

B

–

A

A

–

A

C

C

–

B

D

C

C

C

C

D

A2

–

–

–

–

B

–

A

B

–

A

B

C

–

C

C

C

C

B

B

D

A3

–

B

–

–

A

B

D

D

D

D

D

D

–

D

D

B

D

C

C

D

A4

–

C

–

–

B

–

C

C

C

C

C

C

–

D

D

B

C

B

B

D

R1

–

A

–

–

D

C

–

A

B

B

C

C

–

C

C

C

C

C

D

D

R2

–

B

–

–

D

C

A

–

B

B

C

C

–

C

C

C

C

C

D

D

VR

–

–

–

–

D

C

B

B

–

A

B

C

–

C

C

C

C

C

D

D

M1

–

B

–

–

D

C

B

B

A

–

B

C

–

C

C

C

C

C

D

D

M2

–

B

–

–

D

C

C

C

B

B

A

C

–

C

C

C

C

C

D

D

MP

–

C

–

–

D

C

C

C

C

C

C

A

–

C

C

C

C

C

D

D

IS

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

C

D

D

LB

–

B

–

–

D

D

C

C

C

C

C

C

–

–

–

–

–

B

D

D

GC

–

C

–

–

D

D

C

C

C

C

C

C

–

–

–

–

–

B

C

D

HC

–

C

–

–

B

B

C

C

C

C

C

C

–

–

–

–

A

B

C

D

CP

–

C

–

–

D

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

–

–

–

A

–

B

C

D

I1

–

C

–

–

C

B

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

B

B

B

–

B

D

I2

–

C

–

–

C

B

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

C

C

C

B

–

D

HI

–

D

–

–

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

[Ord. 3-7-16A § 1; Ord. 12-27-11 § 5.52.]