[Zoning Order §14.120, 4-2-2008; Resolution 1-14-2010A Exh. A, 1-14-2010; Ord. No. 10-0145 §§1 — 2, 2-18-2010]
A. 
Buffer/screen between developments of differing land uses adjoining one another or separated from one another by only a street or alley shall comply with Table 14-1 Buffer/Screen Impact. The intensity of the required buffer/screen is established according to the intensity of the abutting uses, i.e., retail development adjacent to or across the street from a residential use or development requires a more intense buffer/screen than would retail adjacent to or across from office use, etc.
B. 
If a single-family subdivision is proposed adjacent to a previously approved or built, but separate single-family subdivision and the average minimum lot size of the new lots is two and one-half (2.5) times or more smaller than the average minimum lot size of the existing subdivision, the proposed subdivision shall contain a low-impact buffer/screen along the periphery adjacent to the previously approved or built subdivision. (See Section 400.4750, Table 14-1.)
C. 
Residential structures permitted in the "RA-5", "LR-2", "R-40", "R-20", "R-10", and "R-7" zone districts on a single parcel are exempt from the screening and buffering requirements of Table 14-1.
[Ord. No. 16-0100 §2, 1-4-2016]
Table 14-1. Buffer/Screen Impact
(Adjacent Zone District in columns and Subject Property Zone District in rows)
RA-5
LR-2
R-40
R-20
R-10
R-7
PR-1
PR-2
NC-1
CC-2
PC
PB
PI
PM
RA-5
*
*
*
*
*
*
L
M
M
H
H
H
H
**
LR-2
*
*
*
*
*
*
L
M
M
H
H
H
H
**
R-40
*
*
*
*
*
*
L
M
M
H
H
H
H
**
R-20
*
*
*
*
*
*
L
M
M
M
H
H
H
**
R-10
*
*
*
*
*
*
L
M
M
M
H
H
H
**
R-7
*
*
*
*
*
*
L
M
M
M
H
H
H
**
PR-1
L
L
L
L
L
L
M
M
M
M
H
H
**
PR-2
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
H
H
**
NC-1
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
L
M
**
CC-2
H
H
H
M
M
M
M
M
L
M
**
PC
H
H
H
H
H
H
M
M
L
M
**
PB
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
L
L
L
L
**
NPI
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
M
M
M
L
M
PI
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
M
M
M
L
**
PM
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
H
High Impact Screening
M
Medium Impact Screening
L
Low Impact Screening
*
If average lot size of a proposed development is 2.5 times (or more) smaller than the adjoining previously approved built development or a non-residential use is proposed in a residential district, a low impact screen shall be provided. (See also Sections 400.4730 and 400.4760).
**
Per approved plan
[Zoning Order §14.130, 4-2-2008; Ord. No. 07-30-2008A §§1 — 2(14.130), 7-30-2008; Resolution 1-14-2010A Exh. A, 1-14-2010; Ord. No. 10-0145 §§1 — 2, 2-18-2010]
A. 
General. Buffer areas shall contain no driveways, parking areas, patios or any other structures or accessory uses, except for a fence, wall or earthen berm constructed to provide the visual screening required to meet the standards of this Article. Underground utilities may be permitted to cross a buffer if the screening standards of this Article will be subsequently achieved. Required vehicular access through a buffer may be allowed as a condition of preliminary development plan approval.
B. 
Width Of Buffer.
1. 
Side lot line. Buffers required along any side lot line shall be no less than twenty (20) feet or as approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission. This buffer may be reduced to ten (10) feet when a non-residential use abuts another non-residential use.
2. 
Rear lot line. Buffers required along any rear lot line shall be no less than twenty (20) feet or as approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission. This buffer may be reduced to ten (10) feet when a non-residential use abuts another non-residential use.
C. 
Maintenance. Every buffer required by this Article shall be located in a recorded buffer or conservation easement and shall be maintained by the owner of the property or grantee as stated in the easement, where the buffer is located to provide the visual screen at the opacity identified. The document number as issued by the Recorder of Deeds Office for the recorded buffer or conservation easement shall be submitted to the County.
D. 
Buffer Modifications. If a buffer with landscaping is provided that creates an opaque screen to a height of no less than eight (8) feet, instead of six (6) feet, the buffer may be reduced to a width of no less than ten (10) feet.
[Zoning Order §14.140, 4-2-2008; Ord. No. 07-30-2008A §§1 — 2(14.140), 7-30-2008; Ord. No. 11-12-2008A §§1 — 2(14.140), 11-12-2008; Resolution 1-14-2010A Exh. A, 1-14-2010; Ord. No. 10-0145 §§1 — 2, 2-18-2010]
A. 
A screen required by this Article shall meet the following criteria:
1. 
Natural screen. Natural screen may contain deciduous or perennial vegetation, but shall contain evergreen shrubs and trees suitable to local growing conditions that will provide an opaque visual screen during all seasons of the year.
2. 
Minimum required screening.
a. 
Minimum required screening shall conform to Table 14.1 depending on the impact identified or as required in this Section. Structural screening (high impact screening) shall meet the height required when installed. Planted materials (trees and shrubs) shall meet the expected opacity within two (2) growing seasons.
b. 
Screening options.
(1) 
Six (6) foot masonry wall.
(2) 
Six (6) foot opaque vinyl or wood fence.
(3) 
Earth berms.
(4) 
Plant material.
3. 
Structural screening. Structural screening shall meet the following criteria:
a. 
Structural screening shall be vegetated throughout the minimum area required for the buffer around any fences or walls and upon any earthen berms, which may include grass, ground covers, shrubs, and trees.
b. 
All earthen berms shall have a maximum side slope of three (3) horizontal to one (1) vertical (3:1). Earthen berms shall not be constructed within the drip line of any existing trees that will remain on the property.
c. 
Trees shall be located or planted within any structural screening at a density of no less than one (1) tree for each thirty (30) feet of buffer length or portion thereof. A lesser density may be allowed as a condition of development plan approval upon the recommendation of the Director. New trees shall have a caliper of no less than three (3) inches upon planting and may be clustered for decorative effect, following professional landscaping standards for spacing, location, and design.
d. 
Fences and freestanding walls shall present a finished and decorative appearance to the abutting property. Where a fence or wall is set back from the property line, shrubs, ground covers, or other vegetation shall be provided between the fence or wall and the property line to provide a decorative effect, following professional landscaping standards for spacing, location and design.
4. 
Examples of screening. The accompanying illustration provides examples of natural and structural screening. Typical screens are provided in the examples following Table 14.1 for low, medium and high impact screening.
[Zoning Order §14.150, 4-2-2008; Ord. No. 11-12-2008A §§1 — 2(14.150), 11-12-2008]
A. 
The following impact screens shall be required between any district as identified in Table 14.1 in which the perspective development is located and adjacent to or across from.
1. 
High impact screening (H). A one hundred percent (100%) opaque screen between land uses that are dissimilar in character. When the proposed plan is considered to have a high impact on surrounding properties or the adjacent property is considered to have an adverse impact, both of the following shall be installed:
a. 
A six (6) foot high masonry wall or opaque vinyl fence; and
b. 
Low impact screening shall be planted on the exterior side of the wall or the fence.
2. 
Medium impact screening (M). A seventy percent (70%) semi-opaque screen between land uses that are dissimilar in character. Semi-opaque screening should partially block views from adjoining land uses and create a separation between the adjoining land uses. For medium impact screening, either a landscape screen or fencing is required. A medium impact landscape screen must meet one (1) of the following screening options:
3. 
Low impact screening (L). An open screen between relatively similar land uses. Open screening shall provide an attractive separation between land uses. A low impact landscape screen must portray one (1) of the following screening options: