[R.O. 2004 § 405.370; Ord. No. 2.56 § 2(Art. 8 § 1), 1-9-2001]
It is the intent and purpose of this
Article to establish minimum landscaping and buffering requirements
for new development within the City of Mount Vernon. Two (2) types
of landscaping/buffering are described in this Article: transition
buffers and dumpster screening.
[R.O. 2004 § 405.380; Ord. No. 2.56 § 2(Art. 8 § 2), 1-9-2001]
Landscaping, screening and buffering, as required in this Article, shall be provided for all new development, except that specifically exempted in Section 405.390 of this Article.
[R.O. 2004 § 405.390; Ord. No. 2.56 § 2(Art. 8 § 3), 1-9-2001]
Improvements or repairs to existing
development that do not result in an increase in floor area and changes
in use that do not result in an increase in intensity shall be exempt
from the regulations of this Article.
[R.O. 2004 § 405.400; Ord. No. 2.56 § 2(Art. 8 § 4), 1-9-2001]
A.
Location Of Buffers. Transition buffers
shall be located along those portions of a site that are along those
portions of adjoining lots with a different zoning classification.
B.
Responsibility For Installing Buffers.
The developing property shall always be responsible for providing
required buffers.
[R.O. 2004 § 405.410; Ord. No. 2.56 § 2(Art. 8 § 5), 1-9-2001]
A.
When a transition buffer is required by
this Code, such transition buffer shall consist of a planting screen
meeting the specifications herein. A landscaped berm or a fence screen
meeting the specifications herein may be used in lieu of such planting
screen if a variance for such substitution is granted by the Zoning
Board of Adjustment.
B.
Planting Screens. Planting screens shall
consist of trees, bushes or shrubs of a variety and so planted and
kept as to be achieved within thirty-six (36) months after occupancy
of the premises to be screened.
1.
Such screen shall have a minimum
height of six (6) feet above grade at any particular point along its
length.
2.
Any two-foot square segment of a
planting screen shall contain no more than thirty percent (30%) open
space affording a direct horizontal view through such screen if such
segment is over two (2) feet above grade.
C.
Landscaped Berm. Adequate evidence shall
be furnished demonstrating that the construction of such berm, along
with any necessary culverts and ditching, will not create adverse
drainage and flooding conditions on adjacent property.
1.
Such berm shall be at least thirty
(30) feet in width at the base and at least four (4) feet in height
as measured perpendicular to grade level at any point along its length.
Side slopes shall have a gradient no steeper than three to one (3:1).
2.
Side slopes of such berm shall be
sodded so as to prevent erosion. The top of the berm shall contain
a planting screen above except that the minimum height of such planting
screen need be no more than three (3) feet above the top of the berm
at any particular point along its length. Construction and material
of such berm shall be as approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
D.
Fence Screen. A fence screen shall not
be less than eight (8) feet, nor more than ten (10) feet in height
above grade level, at any particular point along its length. Any two-foot
square segment of such screen shall contain no more than thirty percent
(30%) open space affording a direct horizontal view through such screen.
Construction and material of such fence screen shall be as approved
by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
[R.O. 2004 § 405.420; Ord. No. 2.56 § 2(Art. 8 § 6), 1-9-2001]
A.
Landscape buffers shall be provided and
maintained when certain land uses are adjacent to one another. This
requirement is intended to help ease the land use transition between
areas of varying development intensity and to ensure land use compatibility.
B.
Determination Transition Buffer Requirements. The following procedure shall be followed in determining if a transition buffer is required. Using the matrix in Subsection (C), Transition Buffer Requirements, of this Section:
1.
Identify the minimum zoning classification
required to accommodate the proposed use. These classifications are
listed under "Proposed Zoning" in the first column.
2.
For transition buffer requirements,
identify the actual zoning classification of the abutting site(s).
These classifications are listed under the heading "Adjacent Zoning."
|
Determine if a transition buffer
is required by crossing the previously identified proposed zoning
with the adjacent zoning. The letter "R" indicates that a transition
buffer is required, otherwise, no transition buffer is required.
|
C.
Transition Buffer Requirements.
|
TRANSITION BUFFER REQUIREMENTS
| ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Proposed Zoning
|
Adjacent Zoning
| |||||||||
|
A-R
|
R-1
|
R-2
|
R-3
|
MP
|
B-1
|
B-2
|
B-3
|
M-1
|
M-2
| |
|
A-R
| ||||||||||
|
R-1
| ||||||||||
|
R-2
| ||||||||||
|
R-3
|
R
|
R
| ||||||||
|
MP
|
R
|
R
|
R
| |||||||
|
B-1
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
| |||||
|
B-2
| ||||||||||
|
B-3
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
| ||||
|
M-1
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
| |||
|
M-2
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
|
R
| |||
[R.O. 2004 § 405.430; Ord. No. 2.56 § 2(Art. 8 § 7), 1-9-2001]
Dumpsters for solid waste located
in "B-1," "B-2," "M-1" and "M-2" Districts shall be completely screened
from view of roadways and adjacent sites by fences, walls or vegetative
screens. The screen shall provide complete visual screening of the
dumpster and be compatible in material and color with the principal
structure on the lot.
