The landscaping and screening regulations provide additional
guidance on the development of sites within Seward by addressing landscaping
and screening requirements. They are designed to improve the appearance
of the community, buffer potentially incompatible land uses from one
another, and conserve the value of properties within the City of Seward
and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The landscape and screening
provisions are further intended to expedite development approval by
including predictable, uniform standards for landscaping.
The provisions of this article shall apply to all new development
on each lot or site upon application for a building permit, except
for the following:
A. Reconstruction or replacement of a lawfully existing use or structure
following a casualty loss.
B. Remodeling, rehabilitation, or improvements to existing uses or structures
which do not substantially change the location of structures, parking,
or other site improvements.
C. Additions or enlargements of existing uses or structures which increase
floor area or impervious coverage area by less than 20% of the building
established on the site on the effective date of this chapter. Where
such cumulative additions or enlargements are 20% or greater, these
provisions shall apply only to that portion where the new development
occurs.
Landscaping shall be required adjacent to each street property
line and shall extend to a minimum depth inward on private property
as set forth in the development regulations and summarized in Table
33A.
Table 33A
Required Landscape Depth Adjacent to Street Property Lines
|
---|
Column 1
Zoning District
|
Column 2
Minimum Depth of Landscaping Adjacent to Street Property
Lines
|
---|
AG
|
35 feet
|
RR
|
25 feet
|
R-1
|
20 feet
|
R-2
|
20 feet
|
R-3
|
15 feet
|
R-4
|
15 feet
|
R-5
|
30 feet
|
UC
|
10 feet or 10% of street yard for lots less than 120 feet deep
|
C-1
|
10 feet or 10% of street yard for lots less than 120 feet deep
|
C-2
|
10 feet or 10% of street yard for lots less than 120 feet deep
|
CBD
|
No requirement
|
BP
|
25 feet
|
I-1
|
10 feet or 10% of street yard for lots less than 120 feet deep
|
I-2
|
No requirement
|
These provisions apply when a use is established in a more intensive
zoning district (District A) that is adjacent to a less intensive
zoning district (District B). The owner, developer, or operator of
the use within District A shall install and maintain a landscaped
bufferyard on his/her lot or site, as set forth in this section. Bufferyard
requirements apply only to those districts indicated in Table 33B.
Bufferyards are not required of single-family, two-family, duplex,
or townhouse use types in the more intensive zoning district.
Table 33B
Bufferyard Requirements
(feet)
|
---|
|
District B
(Less Intensive Adjacent District)
|
---|
District A
(More Intensive District)
(Note 3)
|
AG, RR
(Note 1)
|
R-1, R-2, R-3
(Note 1)
|
R-4
(Note 1)
|
---|
R-4
|
20
|
20
|
—
|
UC
|
15
(Note 2)
|
15
(Note 2)
|
15
(Note 2)
|
CBD
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
C-1
|
15
|
20
|
20
|
C-2, BP
|
25
|
25
|
20
|
I-1
|
40
|
40
|
30
|
I-2
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
Notes:
Note 1: Applies only to residential uses or preliminary plats
previously established in the zoning district.
|
Note 2: Buffering requirement applies to adjacencies between commercial and office use types and preexisting residential land uses in adjacent districts. Buffering requirement also applies to a commercial or office use type established in a UC District and adjacent to a preexisting residential use in the UC District. Vertical screening may also be required as set forth in Article 33.
|
Note 3: Buffer requirements do not apply to single-family, duplex,
or townhouse residential uses established in District A.
|
A. The bufferyard dimensions set forth in Table 33B apply to zoning
districts which share a common lot line or are adjacent but separated
by an intervening alley.
B. When a street separates adjacent zoning districts requiring a bufferyard,
the size of the bufferyard shall be one-half the required bufferyard
set forth in Table 33B.
C. Each required bufferyard must be entirely landscaped and free of
paved areas, accessways, storage, or other disturbances.
[Added 12-16-2003 by Ord.
No. 39-09]
On lots of record with a width less than 60 feet, screening consistent with §
410-33.6 and approved by the Zoning Administrator may be substituted for bufferyards and requirements set forth in §
410-33.5.
Unless otherwise noted, each unenclosed parking facility with
a paved surface of 6,000 square feet or more shall comply with the
following regulations:
A. Each unenclosed parking facility shall provide a minimum landscaped
buffer of 10 feet along any street property line.
B. Each parking facility that abuts a residential district shall provide
a ten-foot landscaped buffer along its common property line with the
residential district.
C. Any parking facility which abuts property in a residential district
shall provide a fence, wall, landscape screen, or earth berm not less
than four feet in height for the length of the common boundary. A
grade change, terrace, or other site feature which blocks the sight
line of headlights into a residential property may satisfy this requirement,
subject to the determination of the Zoning Administrator.
D. Each unenclosed parking facility of over 6,000 square feet within
any street yard shall provide interior landscaped area equal to no
less than 5% of the total paved area of the parking facility. Parking
facilities within the I-1 and I-2 Districts shall be exempt from this
requirement.
E. Interior landscaping shall be credited toward the satisfaction of
overall landscaping requirements set forth in this section.
F. Landscaping or screening installed in any required landscaped area
shall not obstruct the view from the off-street parking facility to
any driveway approach, street, alley, or sidewalk. Landscaping shall
further not obstruct any views among parking spaces and circulation
ways, or visibility between vehicles and pedestrians.