For all Commercial and Industrial Districts, the following minimum
screening and landscaping requirements shall apply for all off-street
lots with more than six parking spaces, or in any instance when a
commercial or industrial off-street parking area of any size abuts
a residential district.
A.
A strip of land at least six feet wide (may be part of required yard
setbacks) with trees or shrubs densely planted, to create at least
an impervious screen, at least four feet high at the time of planting
and which are of a type that may be commonly expected to form a year-round
impervious screen at least five feet high within three years.
B.
If a natural screen as described in Subsection A above cannot be attained, a wall or fence of uniform appearance at least five feet high above finished grade will be allowed. Such a wall and/or fence may be perforated, provided that not more than 25% of the face is open.
D.
For all off-street parking areas of 20 or more spaces the following
criteria shall also apply:
(1)
On at least three sides of the perimeter of an outdoor parking
lot, there shall be planted at least one tree for every 30 linear
feet. In the interior part of an outdoor parking lot where two rows
of parking spaces containing a total of 10 or more parking spaces
face each other, a landscaped open space not less than six feet in
width shall be provided. The landscaped strip may be provided either:
1) between the rows of parking spaces parallel to the aisle or 2)
in two or more strips parallel to the spaces and extending from the
aisle serving one row of spaces to the aisle serving the other row
of spaces, as illustrated below. Trees required by this subsection
shall be at least 3.5 inches in diameter at a height four feet above
the ground at time of planting and shall be of a species characterized
by suitability and hardiness for location in a parking lot. To the
extent practicable, existing trees shall be retained and used to satisfy
this subsection. The following graphics are intended as illustrations
and examples only and have not been incorporated into the requirements
of this bylaw. (See graphic after tables and footnotes at end of bylaw.)
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(2)
All artificial lighting used to illuminate any commercial or
industrial parking lot, loading bay or driveway shall have underground
wiring and shall be so arranged that all direct rays from such lighting
fall entirely within the parking, loading or driveway area, and shall
be shielded or recessed so as not to shine upon abutting properties
or streets.
B.
Screening.
Due to the high aesthetic standards to which the architecture shall
be made to conform, the main purpose of the screening shall be to
screen the parking and other accessory structures which may be a part
of the development; the Planning Board may require any additional
screening as may be reasonably required.
(1)
All buffer zones must be designed by a registered landscape
architect, or other professional as approved by the Planning Board.
(2)
The Planning Board recommends that materials to be used in the
buffer include but not limited to the following material: natural/existing
vegetation, natural topography, berms, stone walls, fences, deciduous
and coniferous shrubs/trees, perennials, annuals, pedestrian-scale
walkways, gazebos and other landscape material as it addresses the
aesthetic quality of the site. The final approval of all material
used within the buffer zone shall be at the discretion of the Planning
Board.
(3)
Parking lots containing 10 or more spaces shall be required
to provide one tree for every five spaces. All trees shall be a deciduous
mix of at least 2.5 inch caliper when planted. Native trees and shrubs
shall be planted wherever possible, in order to capture the "spirit
of the locale" through indigenous species (such as lilac, viburnum,
day lilies, ferns, red twig dogwood, oak, maple, sycamore, linden,
hawthorne, birch, shadbush, etc.). In instances where healthy plant
material exists on the site prior to its development, in part or in
whole, for purposes of off-street parking or other vehicular use areas,
the Planning Board may adjust the application of the above-mentioned
standards to allow credit for such plant material if, in its opinion,
such an adjustment is in keeping with and will preserve the intent
of these standards.
(4)
To produce parking which is aesthetically pleasing, well screened,
accessible and broken into smaller parcels that may directly and adequately
service adjacent structures, a minimum of 5% landscaping and green
space must be provided for all parking areas. This 5% is not intended
to include the buffer zones, but shall include all internal landscaped
islands in the parking areas. In all instances where natural topography
lends itself to the screening of these parking areas, it shall be
left in its natural state. The Planning Board may at its discretion
require additional screening at the owner's expense.
A.
Commercial
vehicles in excess of one-ton capacity shall be garaged or screened
from view of residential uses within 300 feet by either:
(1)
A strip at least four feet wide, densely planted with trees
or shrubs which are at least four feet high at the time of planting
and which are of a type that may be expected to form a year-round
dense screen at least six feet high within three years; or
(2)
An opaque wall, barrier, or fence of uniform appearance at least
five feet high, but not more than seven feet above finished grade.
Such screening shall be maintained in good condition at all times,
and shall not be permitted to exceed seven feet in height within required
side yards. Such screening or barriers may be interrupted by normal
entrances or exits and shall not be required within 10 feet of a street
lot line.
B.
Garaging or off-street parking of an additional two commercial vehicles
may be allowed by special permit. When it is deemed to be in the public
good, parking for additional pleasure vehicles may be allowed by special
permit.
