[Amended by Ord. No. 2004-22, 8-23-2004]
The intent of this division is to provide standards for the installation of a visual and vegetative separation between incompatible or different uses and to promote, where feasible, the preservation of existing vegetation rather than the removal of existing vegetation and installation of new plant materials in a required buffer area.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2004-22, 8-23-2004]
Buffer areas shall meet the requirements of this division by any combinations of the following:
(1) 
Allowing natural vegetation to remain;
(2) 
Removing dead, diseased or unsightly vegetation; and/or
(3) 
Installing supplemental plantings.
Driveways are permitted in buffer areas and should intersect with public streets as near to a 90-degree angle as is practical given the shape and topography of the property. Some grading in buffer areas may be permitted.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2004-22, 8-23-2004]
Unless an alternate location is approved by the zoning administrator, or his or her designee, all required buffer areas shall be located generally parallel to the perimeter of any lot, but should stop at the front yard setback line. All required buffer areas shall be clearly labeled and dimensioned on the landscape plans.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2004-22, 8-23-2004]
(a) 
Buffer widths shall be based on the land use classifications of proposed and adjacent uses. Such classifications are set forth in § 25.8.
(b) 
New developments shall provide buffer areas to separate the proposed use from adjacent uses(s) of the width and with the type of planting set forth Table 1 below,[1] whether by preservation of existing vegetation, installation of new plantings or a combination thereof.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Table of Buffer Widths is included at the end of § 25.9.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2004-22, 8-23-2004]
(a) 
If the proposed development is adjacent to improved property then the entire buffer requirements shall be met.
(b) 
If the proposed development is adjacent to unimproved property then one-half of the buffer requirements shall be met.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2004-22, 8-23-2004]
(a) 
Class 1:
Low density residential use equal to or less than four units per acre, public parks, resource conservation areas, greenways, recorded permanent open space, farms and similar low density uses as determined by the zoning administrator in his discretion.
(b) 
Class 2:
Medium density residential use of five to 12 units per acre.
Professional and other business offices, studios, agencies, and laboratories (with no drive-in services or automated teller machines).
Civic clubs, housing for fraternal organizations.
Bed and breakfast establishments and rooming houses.
Funeral homes, cemeteries, grave sites.
Telegraph, CATV, radio, and television broadcasting and transmission facilities.
Fire stations and facilities housing emergency service vehicles, police precinct, and support training facilities.
Churches, synagogues, convents, monasteries.
Public and private schools, secondary and elementary schools but not stadiums.
Golf courses other than driving ranges and miniature golf.
Day care facilities, adult care day care facilities, assisted living/care facilities, and convalescent care facilities.
Beauty salons and barber shops.
Tanning salons.
Similar medium density uses as determined by the zoning administrator in his discretion.
All accessory uses serving the uses listed in this section.
(c) 
Class 3:
High density residential use of more than 12 units per acre including multi-family apartments and townhouses.
Retail sales and services, commercial uses, sales and service of equipment.
Eating establishments, food stores, uses with any drive-in service, automated teller machines or both.
Hotels, motels, and campgrounds.
Colleges, universities, technical and specialty schools, vocational schools, instructional facilities, libraries, galleries, and museums.
Hospitals and asylums.
Outdoor stadiums, theaters, racetracks, coliseums or civic centers of less than 250 seats, indoor movie theaters.
Plant nurseries.
Similar high density uses as determined by the zoning administrator in his discretion.
All accessory uses serving the uses listed in this section.
(d) 
Class 4:
Industrial and manufacturing uses including processing of materials, bulk products, fabricating, manufacturing, mixing, printing, assembly, cutting or repairing of articles, and products for handling or the distribution of materials, articles, or products.
Mini warehouse storage facilities, warehousing and distribution centers, or storing indoors or outdoors as a primary use, wholesaling, outdoor storage of contractors equipment, coal or lumber yard, and scrap yard.
Storage in bulk quantities, above or below ground, of flammable or combustible liquids and hazardous chemicals, but not storage at gasoline service stations in quantities for retail sales to the general public nor storage for consumption on the premise.
Transportation facilities, terminals, depots, storage of trains, trucks, buses and other vehicles.
Airfields, landing strips, heliports, railroad freight and passenger stations.
Utility power, treatment, or gas plants, incinerators, storage terminals, water towers and tanks not located on a roof, and accessory uses and parking.
The temporary or permanent outdoor storage of vehicles, including wrecked, dismantled or partially dismantled vehicles, manufactured homes, boats, aircraft, farm machinery, taxis, automobiles, buses, trucks and motorcycles as the primary use (such as parking garages, dealers, parking rental lots, and park 'n' ride lots); or vehicles in excess of eight used in the operation of a business or service (such as motor pool and fleet vehicles).
The raising of, the processing of, or the slaughtering of animals and insects, but not pasture lands.
Landfills, indoor or outdoor reclamation facility, storage of recyclable materials, and unlicensed, uninspected, wrecked, crushed, dismantled or partially dismantled vehicles.
Quarry and mining operations.
Outdoor stadiums, race tracks, theaters and coliseums or civic centers of 250 or more seats, and outdoor movie theaters.
Penal and correctional institutions.
Recreational outdoor use — commercial, (excluding golf courses), including membership and non-membership facilities, but not including recreational use related to residential development, or recreational use restricted to membership — not for profit in a residential district.
Public utilities substations.
Shopping centers, shopping areas, and automotive service and repair facilities.
Outdoor storage for the operation of any of the uses listed in this part.
Outdoor rifle ranges.
Kennels.
All accessory uses serving the uses listed in this section.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2004-22, 8-23-2004]
(a) 
The following buffer plantings are required for every 100 lineal feet of buffer length:
For a 15-foot wide buffer: 25 shrubs.
For a 25-foot wide buffer: 40 shrubs.
For a 30-foot wide buffer: 55 shrubs.
(b) 
Additional buffer planting shall be required on a prorated basis for every additional 20 lineal feet of buffer length.
Table of Buffer Widths Based On Use Classifications
Use Classification of Adjacent Use(s) and Buffer Width
Use Classification
Class 1
(feet)
Class 2
(feet)
Class 3
(feet)
Class 4
(feet)
Class 1
0
15
25
30
Class 2
15
0
15
25
Class 3
25
15
0
15
Class 4
30
25
15
0
[Amended by Ord. No. 2004-22, 8-23-2004]
Evergreen shrubs planted to meet the requirements of this section shall be planted at a minimum of 24 inches in height at time of planting and should achieve a minimum height of five feet within five years of planting. Shrubs planted on berms may have a lesser mature height but the combination of shrub height and berm height shall be at least equivalent to the minimum height required. No shrub shall be planted further than six feet from another shrub on center and shall be at least six feet from existing trees. Developers are encouraged to leave existing, attractive, healthy trees in the buffer area.