Street, sideline, parking area and district boundary plantings shall be provided as specified below when any new building, addition or change of use requires a parking increase of 10 or more spaces. The Planning Board in acting under §
240-16 may authorize alternatives to the following specifications, taking into consideration existing vegetation, topography, soils and other site conditions, provided that equivalent screening, shading and articulation are achieved.
Any outdoor service or storage areas not effectively screened
by the above requirements shall be separated from any abutting street
or residentially used or zoned premises by a planting area meeting
the requirements for a sideline planting area.
Wherever possible, the above requirements shall be met by retention
of existing plants. If located within 25 feet of a street, no existing
tree of six inches trunk diameter or greater (measured four feet about
grade), dense hedgerow of four or more feet in both depth and height,
or existing earth berm providing similar visual screening shall be
removed or have grade changed more than one foot unless dictated by
plant health, access safety or identification of the premises.
Where plant materials as required would harmfully obstruct a scenic view, substitution of additional low-level plantings which will visually define the street edge or property line may be authorized by the Planning Board in acting under §
240-16, provided that proposed buildings are also designed and located to preserve that scenic view.
All plant materials required by this bylaw shall be maintained
in a healthful condition. Dead limbs shall be promptly removed, and
dead plants shall be replaced at the earliest appropriated season.