City of Franklin, WI Article 5 General Development Standards

§ 15-5-01 Off-Street Parking and Loading.

[Amended 10-7-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-2701]

A. Applicability. The off-street parking and loading provisions of this Article shall apply as follows.

1. No Off-Street Parking Required. The off-street parking maximums in Table 15-5-01(B) establish maximum quantities of off-street parking that may be provided for each use on a lot. The off-street parking maximums do not constitute a parking requirement. Applicants may provide off street parking less than the maximum established for the applicable use.

2. Existing Uses Established Prior to the Effective Date of This Ordinance. This Article shall not require the reduction or addition of any parking or loading spaces for uses existing as of the effective date of this UDO.

B. Off-Street Parking Limited.

1. Maximum Requirements. To minimize the creation of impervious surface, no off-street parking area shall be designed or used to provide a greater number of off-street parking spaces than the limit established in Table 15-5-01(B).

2. Parking Increases Allowed. The Zoning Administrator may allow an increase in the number of off-street parking spaces allowed of up to thirty (30) percent of the spaces provided above the maximum when the following provisions are met:

a. The additional spaces over the maximum are surfaced with a permeable paving system or one hundred (100) percent of the first one-half (1/2) inch of runoff from the additional parking area is treated with green infrastructure.

b. Additional parking area landscaping equivalent to an area fifteen (15) percent greater the minimum square feet of parking area landscaping specified in Article 5 is provided.

c. The parking lot perimeter landscape zone required in Article 5 is at least ten (10) feet in width.

d. No more than fifty (50) percent of the parking spaces over the maximum parking allowed shall be located in the front yard.

3. Calculations. The following rules shall apply when calculating the specified maximum quantity of parking spaces.

a. Area Measurements. Parking calculations shall be based upon the definition of gross floor area as defined in this UDO.

b. Fractions. When measurements of the maximum quantity of off-street parking spaces result in a fractional number, the resulting number shall be rounded up to the next higher whole number.

c. Combined Uses on the Same Parcel. When a combination of the uses in Table 15-5-01(B) are located on the same parcel, the maximum quantity of off-street parking allowed shall be the largest quantity allowed for any of the individual uses.

d. Uses Not Listed. Off-street parking spaces for uses not listed in Table 15-5-01(B) shall be provided for a use deemed similar, as determined by the Plan Commission.

Table 15-5-01(B): Maximum Parking Requirements
Use	Maximum Parking
Residential Uses
Single-Family	n/a
Duplex
Townhouse
Multifamily Building
Multifamily Complex
Multifamily, above ground floor only
Community Living, 1-15 Persons
Community Living, 16 + Persons
Senior Housing, Assisted Living
Senior Housing, Nursing Care
Senior Housing, Total Life Care
Institutional
Educational Facility	As determined by the Plan Commission
Governmental Uses
Health Care Facility	1/150 sq ft
Cemetery	As determined by the Plan Commission
Place of Assembly
Indoor Commercial Place of Assembly, 20,000 sq ft or less	1/3 Individuals at Maximum Occupancy
Indoor Commercial Place of Assembly, more than 20,000 sq ft
Outdoor Commercial Place of Assembly
Noncommercial Place of Assembly, 20,000 sq ft or less
Noncommercial Place of Assembly, more than 20,000 sq ft
Recreation, Amusement, and Lodging
Campground	1/camp site
Lodging House	1/lodging unit
Hotel
Recreation Area
Short-Term Rental
Retail Uses
Adult Establishment	1/250 sq ft
Retail, up to 50,000 sq ft
Retail, more than 50,000 sq ft
Multitenant Shopping Center	1/200 sq ft
Wholesale Establishment	1/250 sq ft
Service
Animal Boarding Facility/Kennel and/or Veterinary Service	1/300 sq ft
General Service, 50,000 sq ft or less
General Service, more than 50,000 sq ft
Financial Institution
Funeral Home
Office, above ground floor only
Office, 50,000 sq ft or less
Office, more than 50,000 sq ft
Office Complex/Business Park
Eating and Drinking Uses
Bar/Tavern	1/150 sq ft
Brewery/Winery/Distillery
Brewery/Winery/Distillery Tasting Room
Food Truck Court
Micro Brewery/Winery/Distillery
Restaurant
Vehicle Related Uses
Carwash	1/stall
Vehicle Fuel Sales	1/250 sq ft
Auto Sales/Rental and Service	1/500 sq ft
Major Automotive Repair	3/service bay
Minor Automotive Repair
Agricultural
Community Garden	0.25 per garden plot or as determined by Plan Commission
Crop Production	1 or as determined by Plan Commission
Animal Husbandry
Indoor Agriculture	1/500 sq ft
Nursery Retail
Nursery Wholesale
Industrial Uses
Artisan Manufacturing	1/1,000 sq ft
Brewery/Winery/Distillery
Composting/Recycling Facility
Distribution Facility
Equipment Rental, Sales, and Service
Extractive Industry
Heavy Industry
Home Improvement Center/Lumberyard
Landfill	As determined by the Plan Commission
Solid Waste Facility
Light Industry	1/1,000 sq ft
Self-Service Storage Facility
Storage Yard
Warehouse
Utility and Transportation
Airport/Heliport	As determined by the Plan Commission
Helistop
Loading Areas, Parking Areas, and Landing Strips as a Principal Use
Railroad Use
Sanitary Sewer or Water Supply Lines
Solar Farm
Telecommunications Tower
Wastewater Treatment Ponds and Facilities
Waterborne Transportation Uses
Wind Farm
Accessory Uses
Accessory Dwelling, Detached/Attached	1/dwelling
Accessory Dwelling, Internal
Accessory Retail	1/250 sq ft
Accessory Structure	n/a
Artisan Workshop
Drive-Through
Donation Drop Box
Outdoor Activity/Operation/Storage
Outdoor Dining
Outdoor Display/Sale of Merchandise
Home Based Business
Solar Energy Collection System, Canopy
Solar Energy Collection System, Ground-Mounted
Solar Energy Collection System, Roof-Mounted
Temporary Uses
Construction-Related	As required through Temporary Use Permit process
Farmers Market
Food Truck Court
Seasonal Sales

C. Off-Street Parking Design, Location, and Size. In all districts and in connection with every use, there shall be provided at the time any use or building is erected, enlarged, extended, or increased, off-street parking stalls for all vehicles in accordance with the regulations of this Section.

1. Access and Cross-Access.

a. Access. Adequate access to a public street shall be provided for each off-street parking lot. Each required off-street parking space shall open directly onto an aisle meeting the requirements specified in Table 15-5-01(C).

b. Cross-Access. To facilitate vehicular access between adjoining developments and to minimize off-street parking area access points along streets and alleys, all development other than single-family residential development located on a lot fronting on a collector or arterial roadway shall comply with the following standards:

i. Internal vehicular circulation systems shall be designed to allow for vehicular cross-access between the development's off-street parking areas and off-street parking areas in an adjoining non-single-family development, or to the boundary of an adjoining vacant parcel.

ii. Required vehicular cross-access between adjoining off-street parking areas shall be provided through the use of a single two-way maneuvering lane or two (2) one-way maneuvering lanes that comply with the requirements of Table 15-5-01(C) are sufficiently wide to accommodate traffic by automobiles, service vehicles, loading vehicles, and emergency vehicles.

iii. Vehicular cross-access between off-street parking areas on adjoining lots shall cross the lot line at right angles or as close to right angles as possible to provide site access.

iv. The Zoning Administrator or their designee may waive or modify the requirement for vehicular cross-access on determining that such cross-access is impractical or undesirable because it would require crossing a significant physical barrier or environmentally sensitive area, would create unsafe conditions, or if the Zoning Administrator determines there exists an inability to connect to the adjacent property due to a site constraint.

v. Easements allowing cross-access to and from properties served by a vehicular cross-access, along with agreements defining maintenance responsibilities of property owners, shall be recorded with the Milwaukee County Register of Deeds before issuance of a Building Permit for the development.

vi. Zoning Administrator Waiver. The Zoning Administrator or their designee may waive the cross-access requirement in any instance in which site conditions, including lot configuration, topography, or size, would prohibit the connection's establishment when the waiver does not obviate state or county requirements.

Figure 15-5(1) Access and Cross-Access

2. Standards for Parking Spaces, Aisles, and Parking Bays. Minimum parking space and aisle dimensions shall be in accordance with the standards specified in Table 15-5-01(C).

Table 15-5-01(C): Parking Stall and Aisle Dimensional Requirements
	(SW)	(SD)	(W1)	(W2)	Depth of Interlocking Spaces	(O)
Parking Angle (Degrees)	Space Width	Space Depth	Aisle Width (1-Way)	Aisle Width (2-Way)		Overhang
0	10'	22'	12'	18'	n/a	n/a
45	10'	17'	12'	18'	28.25'	1.5'
60	10'	18'	16'	18'	32'	1.5'
90	10'	18'	24'	24'	36'	n/a

Figure 15-5(2) Standards for Parking Spaces, Aisles, and Parking Bays

3. Location on Lot. Any off-street parking provided shall be located on the same lot as the use being served, or within the limits of a common parking lot serving one (1) or more buildings.

4. Setback Required. Off-street parking spaces and aisles shall be set back from front, street side, interior side, and rear property lines as follows.

a. In Residential Districts. Off-street parking shall be set back at least five (5) feet from lot lines.

b. In Nonresidential and R-MF Districts. Off-street parking shall be set back at least ten (10) feet from lot lines, except when a larger setback is explicitly required by this Section.

5. Minimum Distance of Truck Parking from Any Residential Zoning District. No designated truck parking shall be allowed within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any residential district.

6. Permanent Off-Street Parking Area Surfacing. All permanent open, off-street loading and parking spaces shall be improved with a dust-free, all-weather paving system and stormwater management measures as approved by the City Engineer.

7. Temporary and Event Off-Street Parking Area Surfacing. All off-street parking serving a temporary use or event may be surfaced with grass or gravel subject to the approval of a Temporary Use Permit as specified in Article 9.

8. Edging and Stormwater Management.

a. Approved Edging and Stormwater Management Required. Concrete curb and gutter, wheel stops, or an equivalent barrier sufficient to prevent cars from driving into or on any landscaped area shall be installed at the perimeter of all new off-street parking areas, and around all interior landscape areas. A barrier of a minimum of four (4) inch in height generally shall be provided except where required to allow for stormwater inflows as part of an approved Stormwater Management Plan. Curb and gutter shall not be required for additions to existing parking areas where curb and gutter is not present, is not installed on the adjacent street right-of-way, or is not anticipated to be constructed on the street right-of-way in a future street.

b. Minimum Distance of Required Concrete Curbing from Property Lines. Perimeter edging for off-street parking areas shall be installed a minimum of ten (10) feet from a property line as measured from the back of curb to prevent the parked vehicles from extending over any lot lines.

9. Off-Street Parking Stalls. Off-street parking stalls shall be marked by painted lines or other approved material and shall be maintained to be legible at all times.

10. Parking of Trucks and Equipment. The parking of trucks or other vehicular equipment of a commercial or industrial nature shall be allowed subject to the following regulations:

a. Agricultural equipment shall be allowed in the R-C - Conservation Residence, R-SE - Suburban/Estate Residence, A - Agricultural, or A-P - Agricultural Prime District.

b. The parking of any passenger automobiles, panel trucks, vans, or pick-up trucks, each individually exceeding eight thousand (8,000) pounds manufactured gross vehicle weight in a residential district, P-Park and Open Space, or I - Institutional District, and Floodplain Overlay District shall require a Temporary Use Permit as specified in Article 3.

c. Any vehicle over eight thousand (8,000) pounds rated gross vehicle weight may be parked in districts not previously mentioned in the normal course of business in conjunction with a commercial or industrial use of the subject property. Any overnight parking shall be allowed only with a Conditional Use.

11. Pedestrian Circulation Standards.

a. Off-street parking areas serving multifamily, mixed-use, and nonresidential development and consisting of twenty (20) or more off-street parking spaces shall incorporate on-site circulation systems exclusively for the use of pedestrians and other non-motorists to navigate the site. Pedestrian circulation systems are encouraged in off-street parking areas with fewer than twenty (20) spaces but are not required.

b. The on-site pedestrian circulation system shall comply with all ADA standards.

c. The on-site pedestrian circulation system shall be marked, shall connect all buildings on the site to one another, and shall provide connections to required parking spaces.

d. The on-site pedestrian circulation system must connect building entrances to adjacent public rights-of-way when public sidewalks are either existing or planned. The on-site pedestrian circulation system shall form a direct route between the building entrance and adjacent public right-of-way that does not require significant out-of-direction travel unless approved as follows.

i. For pedestrian circulations system with a significant out-of-direction travel, the applicant must submit sufficient evidence of the special conditions to support such alternative design. Special conditions may include, but not be limited to, presence of natural resources, steep slopes, street grades, landscape features and building orientation or similar.

e. The on-site pedestrian circulation system shall provide at least one (1) connection to all adjacent properties along a shared street frontage. Connections must provide access to existing walkways on adjacent properties, or to the likely future location of walkways on those properties. The Zoning Administrator may waive this requirement upon determining that no walkway exists, a future walkway is unlikely to exist, or such connection would create a safety hazard.

Figure 15-5(3) Pedestrian Circulation Standards

D. Snow Storage Requirements For Off-Street Parking and Loading Areas.

1. Snow Storage Prohibited in Required Off-Street Parking, Drive, and Loading Areas. The storage of snow for more than forty-eight (48) hours is hereby prohibited in provided off-street parking, driveway, and loading areas.

2. On-Site Snow Storage Standards for Parking and Loading Areas. If an off-site snow repository is not used, adequate on-site snow storage shall be provided using the following standards:

a. A minimum site area representing ten (10) percent of the total required off-street parking or loading area, inclusive of access drives, shall be provided as the snow storage area.

b. The required snow storage area may be paved or unpaved. In either case, provision for adequate drainage of the snow storage area shall be provided to accommodate snowmelt, and no snowmelt shall drain onto abutting properties.

3. Use of Setbacks, Yards, Bufferyards, and Stormwater Management Facilities for Snow Storage. Required setbacks, yards, and bufferyards may be used to accommodate the required snow storage area. However, landscaped areas specified in Section 15-5-06 shall not be used as snow storage areas. Stormwater management facilities shall not be used as snow storage areas unless specifically approved by the City Engineer as part of a Stormwater Management Plan per Part 8 of the 1998 UDO.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Part 8 of the 1998 UDO is an attachment to this Chapter.

4. Use of Stream and Surface Water Buffers as Snow Storage Areas. Snow storage areas designated pursuant to Site Plan or Conditional Use review are not to be located within stream buffers unless the applicant can demonstrate that there is no reasonable alternative location for snow storage on the same property, and that the snow storage area will be sited, planted or managed in a manner that reduces the potential for erosion and contaminated runoff entering the associated stream as a result of snow melt.

E. Off-Street Bicycle Parking.

1. Location.

a. Required bicycle parking shall be provided on the same lot as the use it is intended to serve.

b. Bicycle parking spaces shall be adequately lit and located such that they are highly visible from the street and/or building entrance(s) from points where bicyclists approach the site.

c. The location of bicycle parking shall not conflict with pedestrian and/or vehicle circulation.

d. Bicycle parking shall be sited within fifty (50) feet of a building's main entrance. If provided indoors, bicycle parking shall be located within a common area designated for secure bicycle storage.

e. Bicycle parking adjacent to a pedestrian walkway shall be sited to ensure that a minimum five (5) foot walkway clearance is maintained.

2. Design Criteria. All bicycle parking facilities shall be designed in accordance with standards established by the National Association of City Transportation Officials.

3. Dimensional Standards.

a. Each bicycle parking space shall be a minimum of six (6) feet in length.

b. Bicycle racks shall be located at least three (3) feet in all directions from any obstruction, including, but not limited to, other bicycle racks, walls, doors, posts, columns, or landscaping.

c. A minimum vertical clearance of seven (7) feet shall be maintained above all bicycle parking facilities.

4. Off-Street Bicycle Parking Required.

a. Bicycle parking as specified in this subsection shall be required for all multifamily residential, mixed-use, and nonresidential development. Vehicle-related uses as defined in this UDO shall be exempt from the requirement.

b. The number of required bicycle parking spaces shall be equal to five (5) percent of the off-street vehicle parking spaces provided, up to ten (10) required bicycle parking spaces.

c. When the required amount of bicycle parking is less than two (2) spaces, the use shall provide a minimum of two (2) spaces in a bicycle parking area.

d. Off-street bicycle parking spaces provided on vertical racks mounted on a building wall shall not count toward the minimum quantity required.

F. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.

1. All parking lots may utilize the electric vehicle charging station incentive.

2. For any applicant providing ten (10) or more electric vehicle charging stations on site, twenty (20) percent of the applicable permit fee required per the City of Franklin Fee Schedule may be waived by the Zoning Administrator.

3. Electric vehicle charging stations shall comply with the use-specific standards for electric vehicle charging stations in Section 15-4-13(H).

G. Off-Street Loading.

1. Purpose. The purpose of this Section is to prevent congestion of public rights-of-way and private lots to promote the safety and general welfare of the public by establishing minimum requirements for the provision of loading facilities on various sites.

2. Location. All required loading spaces shall be located on the same lot as the use served. No permitted loading space shall be located within forty (40) feet of the nearest point of intersection of any two (2) streets. No loading space shall be located in a required side yard abutting a parcel in a residential zoning district, a parcel with an existing residential use, or in a required front yard.

3. Access. Each required off-street loading space shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street or alley in a manner which will least interfere with traffic movement. Loading spaces on lots located adjacent to public ways shall be so situated as to enable the vehicles to back into the loading dock from areas other than public ways unless as otherwise approved by the Plan Commission. The blocking of loading spaces by other loading spaces, permanent or moveable structures of any type, including trash receptacles or compactors, shall be prohibited.

4. Surfacing. All open, off-street loading and parking spaces shall be improved with asphalt, concrete, or a permeable paving system approved by the City Engineer, and with stormwater management facilities as approved by the City Engineer.

5. Repair and Service. No motor vehicle repair work or service of any kind shall be permitted in conjunction with loading facilities provided in any residential or nonresidential zoning districts.

6. Maneuvering Space Required to Service Outdoor Loading Areas. Adequate off-street truck maneuvering area shall be provided on site and shall not interfere with internal site circulation, ingress or egress to the site, access to or use of required off-street parking areas and pedestrian circulation areas. Maneuvering areas shall not be provided within any public street right-of-way or other public lands except as may be allowed by the Plan Commission for properties in the B-P - Business Park and LI - Limited Industrial Districts where permanently dead-ended streets and cul-de-sacs may serve as off-street truck maneuvering. The Plan Commission shall consider the number of proposed loading docks, the proposed use and frequency of loading and unloading and the number of businesses located on the dead-end street or cul-de-sac and determine that the adjacent businesses will not be adversely impacted or affected.

7. Interference With Fire Exit or Emergency Access Prohibited. Off-street loading facilities shall be designed so as not to interfere with any fire exits or emergency access facilities to either a building or site.

8. Required Loading Spaces. The number of loading spaces provided shall be determined by the developer and shall provide for adequate space for standing, turning, loading, and unloading services in a manner that does not interfere with vehicle or bicycle parking, drive aisles, pedestrian walkways, or landscaped areas.

§ 15-5-02 Driveways.

[Amended 10-7-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-2701]

A. Driveways on Controlled Access Arterials and Highways Prohibited. No direct private access shall be permitted to the existing or proposed rights-of-way of expressways or to any controlled access arterial street without permission of the highway agency with access control jurisdiction.

B. Right Angles Required. Driveways shall cross the lot line at right angles or as close to right angles as possible to provide site access.

C. Arterial Street and Highway Access and Street Intersections. No new direct public or private access shall be permitted to an arterial street or highway within one hundred fifteen (115) feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines of another arterial street or highway unless approved by the Plan Commission.

D. Single-Family and Duplex Driveway Standards. A single slab or ribbon driveway from the property line to legal, on-site parking shall be provided and shall be in conformance with the following criteria.

1. Limit of One. One (1) single slab or ribbon driveway and one (1) curb cut shall be permitted per seventy-five (75) feet of lot frontage.

2. Single-Slab Driveway Design Standards.

a. Single-slab driveways shall not exceed twenty-four (24) feet in width at the property line.

Figure 15-5(4) Single-Slab Driveway Design Standards

b. Surfacing.

i. Single-slab driveways shall be surfaced with an all-weather, dustless concrete material which may include decorative concrete, patterned concrete, exposed aggregate concrete, concrete pavers, permeable paver blocks, or similar materials approved by the City Engineer.

ii. Single-slab driveways surfaced with asphalt and constructed prior to the adoption date of this UDO shall be allowed to continue or be reconstructed in kind.

iii. Driveways longer than fifty (50) feet may be surfaced with asphalt.

iv. Driveways on lots in the R-C - Conservation Residence District and R-SE - Suburban/Estate Residence District may be surfaced with asphalt.

3. Garage Access Drive. A garage access drive is permitted and shall meet the standards below.

a. Width. The maximum width of a garage access drive shall be the width of the garage, as measured from the garage door(s) plus an additional three (3) feet on either side of the garage door(s).

b. Length. The maximum length of a garage access drive shall be twenty (20) feet from the garage doors.

c. Taper. The garage access drive shall taper, within ten (10) feet, back to the maximum driveway width.

d. Surfacing. Garage access drives shall adhere to the surfacing requirements for single-slab driveways in Section 15-5-02(D)(2).

Figure 15-5(5) Garage Access Drive

4. Parking Pad.

a. Limit of One. A garage access drive may be extended to include one (1) parking pad.

b. Configuration.

i. A parking pad shall be a minimum of nine (9) feet and a maximum of ten (10) feet in width.

ii. The portion of the parking pad adjacent to the garage access drive shall have a maximum length of twenty (20) feet, as measured from the front facade line of the garage. A minimum seven (7) foot taper shall be included in the twenty (20) foot maximum.

iii. The portion of the parking pad adjacent to the garage shall have a maximum length equal to the depth of the garage, as measured from the front facade line of the garage.

c. Location. The parking pad shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from any side property line.

d. Screening. A fully opaque fence with a minimum height of six (6) feet shall be constructed in the side yard abutting the parking pad.

e. Surfacing. A parking pad may be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, grass, gravel, or a permeable paving system. The first one-half (1/2) inch of runoff over the entire surface shall be treated with green infrastructure if the parking pad is surfaced with asphalt or concrete.

Figure 15-5(6) Parking Pad

E. Townhouse, Multifamily, and Nonresidential Driveway Standards.

1. Location.

a. Where an off-street parking area of a corner lot abuts an alley or a corner side street, access to the off-street parking area shall be obtained from a driveway off the alley or corner side street.

b. No lot other shall have multiple driveways for purposes of vehicular ingress and egress without a minimum three hundred (300) foot separation between such curb cuts along a street, unless otherwise approved by the City Engineer.

2. Townhouse Driveway Design Standards.

a. One-way driveways for townhouse uses shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet wide and a maximum of twenty (20) feet wide at the property line.

Figure 15-5(7) Townhouse Driveway Design Standards

b. Two-way driveways for townhouse uses shall be a minimum of twenty-four (24) feet and a maximum of thirty-six (36) feet in width at the property line.

c. Driveways for townhouse uses shall comply with the surfacing standards for single-slab driveways as specified in Section 15-5-02(D)(2).

3. Multifamily and Nonresidential Driveway Standards.

a. One-way driveways for multifamily and nonresidential uses shall be a minimum of twelve (12) feet wide and a maximum of twenty-four (24) feet wide at the property line.

b. Two-way driveways for multifamily and nonresidential uses shall be a minimum of twenty (20) feet wide and a maximum of thirty-six (36) feet wide at the property line.

c. Driveways for multifamily uses shall comply with the surfacing requirements for single-slab driveways in Section 15-5-02(D)(2) above. Asphalt shall be prohibited for driveways serving lots with a nonresidential use.

d. Islands between the vehicle lanes in opposing directions shall be provided at driveway openings with a minimum width of twelve (12) feet and located five (5) feet from all lot lines.

Figure 15-5(8) Multifamily and Nonresidential Driveway Standards

e. Setbacks Required.

i. Pedestrian Entrance. Driveways for all retail, service, eating and drinking, vehicle-related, and industrial uses shall be at least two hundred (200) feet from any pedestrian entrance to any institutional or place of assembly use.

ii. Property Line. No driveway shall be located closer than ten (10) feet to any front, street side, side, or rear property line except as follows.

a) Where a shared driveway between neighboring lots or parcels is provided to serve as access to a state or county highway for the purposes of highway safety as approved by either the Wisconsin Department of Transportation or Milwaukee County Highway Department, any minimum driveway setback as required by this Section may be waived, provided that such waiver of setback is for the shared driveway that is constructed over or abutting property lines of lots or parcels that benefit from the shared driveway.

b) Approved access points to public streets or cross-access between neighboring properties as required in Section 15-5-01(C)(1) may be allowed to cross the required setbacks at or as close to right angles as possible to provide site access.

f. Edge Barrier Required. A concrete curb and gutter, or an equivalent barrier of a minimum of four (4) inches in height, shall be installed along the length of all new driveways serving multifamily, mixed-use, or nonresidential development.

i. The edge barrier may be interrupted where necessary to provide for stormwater outflows.

ii. This provision may be waived by the Plan Commission for additions to existing structures located in areas without a predominance of curb and gutter when curb and gutter is not installed on the adjacent street right-of-way or is not anticipated to be constructed on the street right-of-way in a future street reconstruction in a reasonable period of time.

§ 15-5-03 Required Landscaping.

A. Landscaping Required. Landscaping is required in the form of on-lot landscaping, street bufferyards, peripheral bufferyards, and in off-street parking areas and in areas where vegetative mitigation (see Section 15-7-03 of this Ordinance) is required. The area and/or length of each, as required herein, must be measured in order to determine the amount of landscaping required.

B. Exemptions and Modifications. All developments shall meet the provisions of this Article except as specifically exempted below:

1. Residential Development on Existing Lots of Record in the A - Agricultural, A-P - Prime Agricultural, and residential districts.

2. Additions to Existing Buildings Where the Total Floor Area is Not Increased More than Ten (10) Percent. Additions to existing buildings where the total floor area is not increased more than ten (10) percent of the existing total floor area.

3. Additions to Buildings Which Increase Overall Building Area from Ten (10) to Fifty (50) Percent. Additions to buildings which increase their overall building area from ten (10) to fifty (50) percent shall conform to the landscaping standards set forth in this Article reduced by up to thirty (30) percent .

4. Floodplain and Wetland Areas. Areas located within the FW - Floodway and FF - Floodfringe Districts are exempt from the landscaping requirements set forth in this Section except where mitigation or restoration is required by this UDO.

C. Bufferyards to Ameliorate Nuisances Between Certain Adjacent Zoning Districts. A bufferyard is a combination of a setback and a visual buffer or barrier and is a yard or area together with the planting and/or landscape structure required thereon. The amount of land, the type of planting, and the amount of planting specified for each bufferyard requirement of this UDO are designed to ameliorate nuisances between certain adjacent zoning districts. Bufferyards are also designed to ensure a desired character along public streets and roads.

D. Bufferyards Required to Separate Different Zoning Districts. Bufferyards shall be required to separate different zoning districts from each other. Bufferyards function to eliminate or minimize potential nuisances such as dirt, litter, noise, glare of lights, signs, and unsightly buildings or parking areas, or to provide spacing to reduce adverse impacts of noise, odor, or danger from fires or explosions.

E. Integration with Stormwater Management. Vegetated features designed and installed to provide stormwater infiltration or treatment, including, but not limited to, bioretention areas or rain gardens, vegetated swales, or deep-rooted plantings with amended soils, may be incorporated into landscaped areas and bufferyards required under this Section. The plant selection requirements of this Section may be varied in order to accommodate planting plans specific to a vegetated stormwater infiltration or treatment area, provided the overall landscaping and/or screening plan installed is equivalent or greater to the amount required under this Article.

§ 15-5-04 Minimum Landscape Standards.

A. Standard Plant Units. This Section defines the standard plant unit and its definitions of this Section. The following Table 15-5-04(A) specifies the plant unit requirements. Tree requirements shall refer to the diameter measured six (6) inches above root flare. For purposes of this Section, bioretention plantings shall be equivalent to small flowering shrubs or native grasses/forbs at a rate of nine (9) square feet of plantings per large deciduous shrub, small flowering shrub, or native grass/forb.

Table 15-5-04(A): Standard Plant Units
	Planting size		Land Use Type
Planting Type	Minimum Diameter/Size	Minimum Height	Multifamily	Retail, Service, Institutional, Place of Assembly, Vehicle-Related, and Similar	Industrial
Canopy/Shade Tree	3" diameter at 6" above root flare	—	1.5/dwelling unit	1/5 parking spaces	1/10 parking spaces
Evergreen Tree OR	—	6'	1/dwelling unit	1/5 parking spaces	1/10 parking spaces
Omamental Tree	3" diameter at 6" above root flare	—
Evergreen Shrub OR	18" wide	—	1/dwelling unit	1/5 parking spaces	1/10 parking spaces
Large Deciduous Shrub	—	3'
Small Flowering Shrubs OR	—	18"	3/dwelling unit	1/5 parking spaces	1/10 parking spaces
Native Grasses/Forbs OR	1-gallon pot	—
Bioretention Plantings	3" - 4" pot (or as specified by landscape architect)		Per Stormwater Management Plan; maximum spacing 18" on center; 9 sq ft = one 18" small flowering shrub or 1-gallon pot of native grasses/forbs

B. Definition and Conditions. The following definitions and conditions shall apply to the application of Table 15-5-04(A):

1. Trees.

a. Canopy/shade trees are deciduous trees providing over-hanging canopy at maturity.

b. Evergreen trees refers to coniferous trees, tamarack trees, and upright-growing arborvitae; bush-type arborvitae may be used as an evergreen shrub.

c. Ornamental trees are flowering and/or fruit bearing trees, normally growing to full growth shorter than a shade tree.

2. The number of plantings required per parking space shall be rounded to the next highest range. For example, fifty-two (52) spaces in a commercial development shall require eleven (11) shade trees, not ten (10).

3. The minimum number of plantings shall be five (5) per property for each type.

Figure 15-5(9) Standard Plant Units

4. The minimum amount of landscaping shall be twenty (20) canopy/shade trees per acre, twenty (20) evergreen trees per acre, ten (10) ornamental trees per acre, and thirty (30) small shrubs per acre. Each acre shall be divisible, rounded to the next number of plantings (i.e., 1.68 acres = 34 shade trees).

5. In the event ornamental trees and/or shrubs are not appropriate for a development, then those types may be replaced by the following schedule:

a. One (1) canopy/shade tree for every one (1) required ornamental tree.

b. One (1) canopy/shade tree or evergreen tree for every two (2) required large deciduous or evergreen shrubs.

6. In the event evergreen trees are not appropriate for a non-multifamily development, then each required evergreen tree may be replaced by a canopy/shade tree.

7. Tree requirements are stated in terms of the required diameter measured six (6) inches above root flare.

C. Bufferyard. When development abuts or is across a street from a residential zoning district or existing residential use, or an existing, less intensive use as determined by the Zoning Administrator the following bufferyard requirements shall apply:

1. Additional planting density shall be required; for the site as a whole, the minimum density of plantings required in Table 15-5-04(A) shall be increased by twenty (20) percent.

2. Emphasis shall be on placing the increased amount of plantings within the bufferyard, except where preservation of existing plant material does not allow additional plantings, or where a combination of fencing and landscaping is provided to accommodate vegetated stormwater management areas.

3. A combination of evergreen trees (which may include arborvitae), other deciduous vegetation, and fencing are recommended within the bufferyard. The minimum planting height of evergreens and fencing at installation shall be six (6) feet.

4. On-site pedestrian circulation systems provided on site, whether required in Section 15-5-05 or not, may traverse a bufferyard required in this subsection subject to Zoning Administrator approval.

D. Credit for Preserved Existing Plant Materials. The preservation of healthy, existing plant materials is strongly encouraged. Where plant materials and trees are to be preserved on the site, the following shall apply:

1. In a non-bufferyard landscape area, preservation of existing canopy/shade trees, evergreen trees, and ornamental trees over six (6) feet in height with a minimum diameter of three (3) inches measured six (6) inches above root flare shall replace one (1) equivalent type of required planting.

2. In a bufferyard landscape area, existing canopy/shade trees, evergreen trees, and ornamental trees over six (6) feet in height shall replace one-half (1/2) an equivalent type of required planting.

3. In either a non-buffer or bufferyard, existing large deciduous or evergreen shrubs over five (5) feet in height shall replace one (1) required large shrub planting.

4. Plantings to be preserved including exact location, size, and type shall be shown on the submitted Landscape Plan and in any required maintenance and replacement schedules. The City Forester may be consulted to determine the likelihood of survival of canopy/shade, evergreen, and ornamental trees through construction, and may specify required measures for construction-phase protection as a condition of approval of the Landscape Plan.

E. Alternative Minimum Landscape Surface Ratio. Use of the Alternative Minimum Landscape Surface Ratio shall require a minimum diameter measured six (6) inches above root flare of three (3) inches for canopy/shade trees and two (2) inches for ornamental trees, and a minimum height of six (6) feet for evergreen trees, along with an increase by twenty (20) percent of the minimum quantity of plantings required by Table 15-5-04(A). If a bufferyard is present, then the required quantity of plantings increases to thirty (30) percent.

F. Ground Cover. All areas not covered by buildings or paving shall be covered with landscaping. The specific type(s) of ground cover to be used shall be shown on the Landscape Plan.

1. Open areas not covered by formal Landscape Plantings shall be planted with deep-rooted plantings (which may include native short-stature grasses or forbs), low growing ground cover, or other living landscape materials, except where existing natural vegetation of the site makes such plantings impossible.

2. The use of conventional sod or turf grass as ground cover should be limited to those areas planned for active or passive recreation use, or other areas where substantial use of the area is anticipated.

3. The use of low-growing ground cover on slopes to provide stabilization and where appropriate, pollinator habitat, is encouraged.

4. The use of salt-tolerant species is recommended in all parking lot landscaped islands and perimeter areas.

5. Low-growing ground cover such as Barren Strawberry (Waldesteinia) is preferred to grass. The use of stone, wood chips, artificial or plastic mulches, or other non-living material to cover more than twenty-five (25) percent of any parking lot landscaped island shall be prohibited.

G. Placement. Generally, placement of all types of plantings shall be dispersed across the entire site at discretion of developer, with the following minimum guidelines:

1. Species of plantings best suited for high traffic areas shall be placed in the highest vehicular and pedestrian traffic areas.

2. Native species of canopy/shade trees should be placed away from the highest vehicular and traffic areas.

3. Plantings shall be located so as not to obscure vehicle sight lines.

4. Plantings shall be located so future growth is not over a sidewalk or parking/drive area.

5. Plantings shall be located to soften tall and long building walls.

6. Plantings within bufferyards, in combination with any fencing provided, shall provide visual opacity within two (2) years of planting.

7. Any fruit, nut, or seed-bearing trees shall be located away from parking/drive areas and pedestrian walkways.

8. Canopy/shade trees and evergreen trees shall be separated from one another to ensure the health and longevity of the trees. In no instance shall canopy/shade or evergreen trees be located closer than five (5) feet from one another.

H. Landscape Plan Contents.

1. Landscape Plans shall be prepared by a professional landscape architect or landscape designer. Each Landscape Plan shall include:

a. Preparer's name and date of preparation.

b. A base site plan that matches the site plan submitted for approval, showing planting locations and existing plantings to be preserved, and the Landscape Surface Ratio percentage.

c. A planting schedule of common names, botanical names, and planting sizes and quantities of all planting materials and ground cover.

d. Calculations showing how the plan meets or exceeds the minimum quantity of plant materials required, including calculations of preserved plant materials, landscape area plantings, and bufferyard plantings.

e. A diagram or plan showing the integration of drainage patterns and stormwater management measures with landscape areas.

2. Landscape Plans shall be submitted with the initial application subject to the following procedures.

a. An applicant must at a minimum file a preliminary Landscape Plan generally depicting the landscaping for the site at the time of initial application filing.

b. Landscape Plans must be approved by the Zoning Administrator and, where integrated with a Stormwater Management Plan, the City Engineer.

§ 15-5-05 General Landscaping Requirements.

A. Physical Containment of Landscaped Areas. All landscaped areas located within or adjacent to a parking area, or adjacent to a public street or sidewalk, shall be designed to contain landscape materials and to prevent vehicular encroachment through the use of concrete curbing, headers of a minimum four (4) inches in height, or wheel stops.

B. Artificial Landscape Materials. Artificial trees, shrubs, turf, or plants shall not be permitted as landscaping.

C. Ground Cover. The use of landscape fabrics or mulches under all areas landscaped with non-living materials, except as required per an approved Stormwater Management Plan, is recommended to prevent weed growth.

D. Irrigation. Appropriate on-site, outdoor water supply (e.g., underground or drip irrigation, hose bibs, etc.) that provides complete coverage to all new living landscaped areas sufficient to provide for plant establishment and ongoing maintenance is required. Watering systems shall be designed to water landscaped areas efficiently and avoid irrigation of adjacent parking areas and access drives, sidewalks, buildings, and public streets. If hose bibs are used, they must be located within one hundred (100) feet of any landscaped area. Temporary or permanent irrigation of bioretention areas or other vegetative stormwater management areas shall be implemented per an approved Stormwater Management Plan, or as specified by a landscape architect or landscape designer on the approved Landscape Plan.

E. Location. New vegetation shall be selected, planted, and maintained so that at maturity it will not interfere with utility lines, snow storage areas, vehicular parking, pedestrian circulation, traffic sight visibility at driveways and street intersections, and will not cause damage or upheaval of sidewalks and pavement.

F. Installation.

1. Timing of Installation. Landscaping and irrigation shall be installed in accordance with the approved Landscape Plan prior to issuance of a Zoning Compliance Permit or commencement of operations. The City will have the right to refuse approval of any project not meeting the provisions of this Section.

2. Surety to Include the Cost of Ground Cover. The cost of vegetative ground cover shall be reflected in the financial surety held in accordance with this Article.

3. Return of Financial Surety. When it is determined that the landscaping and watering systems have been installed in accordance with the approved plans, the City shall return the surety to the applicant.

G. Maintenance.

1. Responsibility for Maintenance.

a. Maintenance of all landscaping shall be the responsibility of the owner, lessee, heirs, assigns, agents, homeowners' association, or other liable entity of the property and shall consist of regular watering, pruning, mowing, fertilizing, removal and replacement of irrigation systems, and architectural features.

b. The owner or liable entity in control of any private premises shall at all times maintain the premises free of litter and weeds.

c. Landscape maintenance shall be coordinated, where applicable, with maintenance provisions in an approved Stormwater Management Plan.

2. Landscape Phasing. Future building pads within a phased development shall be maintained in a dust-free condition vegetated with ground cover.

H. Preservation of Existing Trees During Grading. During grading operations, those existing trees to be preserved and retained as a part of the subdivision, Certified Survey Map, or condominium approval shall be protected through the following measures:

1. All trees to be retained shall be identified on site by flagging tape. Trees selected for transplanting shall be flagged with a separate distinguishing color.

2. Construction limit fencing shall be erected at the perimeter drip line of all trees to be retained and all protected areas as identified in a Natural Resource Protection Plan. Tree protection devices shall be installed where required over tree roots, branches and/or tree trunks, as identified in the Natural Resource Protection Plan.

3. Fences and tree protection devices installed shall be maintained and all construction materials, supplies and equipment shall be kept outside of the protected areas throughout construction.

I. Plant Replacement. Any plant materials included in an approved landscaping plan that do not survive a plant establishment period of two (2) years after installation shall be replaced with plant material(s) of the same or like species of equal size within the next planting season, but in any event, within six (6) months of the plant's demise. Said replacement shall be made by the property owner or, in the case of Landscape Plant materials located within a landscape easement under the control of a homeowners' association, the homeowners' association shall be responsible for said replacement.

J. Plant Material Species Mixture.

1. All Landscape Plant materials selected shall be adequately mixed so that no singular species exceeds forty (40) percent of the total planting requirements. Where four (4) or more canopy/shade trees are to be installed, at least two (2) species of canopy/shade tree must be installed that include one (1) or more species suitable to the region, such as but not limited to Sugar Maple, Red Maple, Red Oak, Tilia Americana and improved cultivars, or Hybrid Elm.

2. For every ten (10) trees a minimum of three (3) different species are recommended.

3. Trees shall be selected from a tree species list as recommended by the City Forester.

K. Invasive Species Prohibited. Plant species listed in Wis. Adm. Code Ch. NR 40 invasive species plant list shall not be used in any landscape areas.

§ 15-5-06 Minimum Landscaping Standards for Off-Street Parking Areas and Lots.

A. Minimum Landscaping Requirements for Residential, Mixed-Use, and Nonresidential Off-Street Parking Areas and Lots. Each residential, mixed-use, and nonresidential off-street parking lot shall contain landscaping within the parking lots, along the perimeter of parking lots, and along adjoining entrance drives and circulation drives.

1. A minimum of ten (10) percent of the interior area of the parking lot shall be landscaped, with a minimum total interior planting area of three hundred (300) square feet.

2. The minimum dimension of any planting area shall be nine (9) feet by eighteen (18) feet, with a minimum planting depth of three (3) feet.

3. A minimum of two (2) cubic feet of soil volume per one (1) square foot of projected tree canopy at maturity shall be provided per canopy/shade or ornamental tree planted in an interior parking lot island.

4. In general, larger, contiguous planting areas are preferred over smaller planting areas in order to promote healthy plant growth.

Figure 15-5(10) Minimum Landscaping Requirements for Residential, Mixed-Use, and Nonresidential Off-Street Parking Areas and Lots

B. Existing Vegetation May Count Toward the Provision of Minimum Off-Street Parking Landscape Requirements. Existing trees that can, in the opinion of the City Forester, be preserved in a healthy condition after construction, shall count toward the minimum off street parking landscape requirements. The City Forester shall find that conditions during and after construction:

1. Shall not cut off the tree from a reasonable supply of water;

2. Shall incorporate sufficient soil volume (i.e. two (2) cubic feet of soil per one (1) square foot of projected canopy area at maturity) and protected from compaction, with the area under the canopy remaining undisturbed; and

3. Plantings that are preserved within parking lot islands shall be located within islands with a minimum of three hundred (300) square feet in area.

C. Barriers Required to Contain Landscape Areas. The barrier around landscape areas may incorporate wheel-stops provided the area of vehicle overhang does not exceed two (2) feet and does not damage or interfere with the landscaping. Where vehicle overhangs abut required landscape areas, a minimum five (5) foot wide planting area is required for a single vehicle overhang, and an eight (8) foot wide planter for a double vehicle overhang is required. Vehicle overhang into the public right-of-way is not permitted.

D. Uses Not Permitted in Required Landscaped Areas. Parking (except where vehicle overhang is permitted), buildings, and display of equipment or vehicles are not permitted in required landscaped areas. Required landscaped areas shall not be used for snow storage.

E. Required Landscape Materials Not to Constitute a Driving Hazard. To ensure that landscape materials do not constitute a driving hazard, trees used to landscape parking islands shall have a clear trunk height of six (6) feet; mature shrubs, ground cover, or other landscaping material shall not exceed three (3) feet in height. The landscaped area within these planters may be used to satisfy, to the extent provided, the landscaping requirements.

§ 15-5-07 Screening.

A. Grease Traps, Trash, and Recycling Receptacles. The following regulations shall apply to all nonresidential, mixed-use, and multifamily development.

1. Visibility from Public Right-of-Way Prohibited. Grease traps, trash, and recycling receptacles shall be located to be completely concealed from visibility from any public right-of-way. The Zoning Administrator may provide an exemption from these requirements when the Zoning Administrator determines that the site's conditions require the exemption.

2. Screening Required.

a. Grease traps, trash, and recycling receptacles shall be screened on three (3) sides with a solid, opaque material with a minimum height of six (6) feet and a maximum height of eight (8) feet.

b. Materials used for screening shall complement the exterior building cladding materials of the primary building.

c. Materials and elevations for enclosures that are attached to buildings shall be designed to be integrated into the primary building.

d. If enclosures are to be attached to buildings, they shall comply with applicable Fire and Building Codes.

e. Shrubs, native grasses, or other vegetation shall be installed along the exterior of the enclosure, except for the enclosure openings, to provide a softening effect.

f. Enclosure openings shall be gated with an opaque material.

g. Enclosure openings shall be kept closed at all times except for when the receptacle is being accessed.

h. Property owners shall be responsible for ensuring that grease traps, trash, and recycling receptacles be placed in the enclosure at all times other than when it is being accessed.

i. Access drives shall be constructed of materials and to a thickness which accommodates truck loading. Year-round access to the enclosure area for service trucks shall be maintained by the property owner or tenant.

j. Enclosures shall be of an adequate size to accommodate expected containers. The enclosure shall be designed to be expandable to accommodate future additional containers.

k. All enclosures shall be curbed, graded and drained in a manner that prevents the discharge of contaminated runoff to surface waters or storm drainage facilities.

l. Enclosure structures shall be designed to protect the walls from damage by containers. Such protection may be provided by the use of barrier curbing, reinforced masonry walls, or other similar means.

m. Grease traps, trash, and recycling receptacle enclosures shall not occupy areas used for required parking spaces.

Figure 15-5(11) Grease Traps, Trash, and Recycling Receptacles

B. Ground-/Wall-Mounted Mechanical Units. The following regulations shall apply to all ground-/wall-mounted mechanical units, including, but not limited to, generators, air-conditioning condensers, heat pumps, ventilation units, computer cooling equipment, etc., and any related utility structures and equipment. Tanks and/or silos accessory to a brewery, winery, and/or distillery or microbrewery, microwinery, or microdistrillery are exempt from these requirements.

1. Locating mechanical units within the primary building is strongly encouraged to minimize exterior visual impacts. Ground-mounted mechanical units are prohibited within the front yard, regardless of whether screening is provided.

2. Ground-/wall-mounted mechanical units that are visible from any public right-of-way or adjacent residential property shall be screened from public view.

Figure 15-5(12) Ground-/Wall-Mounted Mechanical Units

3. Materials used for screening shall be designed and established so that the area or element being screened is no more than twenty (20) percent visible through the screen. Evergreen hedges or non-transparent walls such as stone masonry shall be allowed.

4. Chain-link fence or slats in chain-link fence shall not be used to meet this requirement.

C. Roof-Mounted Mechanical Units. The following regulations shall apply to all roof-mounted mechanical units, including, but not limited to, air-conditioning condensers, heat pumps, ventilation units, computer cooling equipment, etc., and any related utility structures and equipment which service multifamily, nonresidential, or mixed-use developments.

1. Locating mechanical units within the primary building is strongly encouraged to minimize exterior visual impacts.

2. Roof-mounted mechanical units that are visible from the closest right-of-way line or adjacent residential property, as well as from adjacent commercial and mixed-use districts (B-N, B-G, B-R, B-MU, and B-SM), shall be completely screened from public view from those locations.

3. Materials used for screening shall be architecturally integrated with the building and shall be continuous and permanent.

4. Screening shall be required when new equipment is installed and shall be provided around both new and existing roof-mounted mechanical units in order to provide visual continuity. Normal maintenance of roof-mounted mechanical unit shall not mandate the screening requirements.

5. Additional screening may be required due to topographic differences in the adjoining properties.

Figure 15-5(13) Roof-Mounted Mechanical Units

D. Off-Street Loading Areas. Off-Street loading areas that are visible from any property in a residential district shall be completely screened from view with a bufferyard as specified in Section 15-5-04(C).

Figure 15-5(14) Off-Street Loading Area

§ 15-5-08 Fencing.

Fence permit applications

Residential lots: building permit application.

Nonresidential lots: site plan application.

2026-03-16

[Amended 10-7-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-2701]

A. General Provisions.

1. Maintenance Required. All fences shall be maintained in good repair and in structurally sound condition. All fences shall be constructed and maintained in a good aesthetic condition and of such materials and colors so as not to adversely affect the value, visual character, and visual appeal of adjoining property or property in the immediate neighborhood. All fences shall be constructed and maintained straight, plumb, and of an even height along its length, except for such deviations as required by grade.

2. Building Permit Required. No fence shall be constructed in the City without first obtaining a Building Permit.

3. Material Storage Prohibited. No materials shall be stored between a fence located adjacent to a lot line and the lot line. No materials shall be stored against the fence on its interior side.

4. Snow Fencing Allowed. Snow fencing will only be allowed between November 15th and April 15th of each year. No Building Permits for the installation of said snow fencing shall be required.

5. Utilities. An applicant seeking to construct a fence shall call Diggers Hotline or similar service to obtain information on the location of underground utilities located on site.

6. Finished Side Facing Adjacent Property. Fencing shall be constructed with the finished or decorative side facing the adjacent or abutting property or street.

B. Height. Fence height shall be the vertical distance measured from the mean elevation of the natural lot grade along the fence to the highest point on the fence, excluding fence posts and supports.

C. Fence Posts and Supports.

1. The posts and supports for fences may exceed the allowed fence height by six (6) inches.

2. A maximum of twenty (20) percent of the fence length may be comprised of fence posts.

D. Location. All fences allowed in this Section shall be located:

1. Wholly within property lines; no part of the fence, post hole, or fence material may encroach or cross a property line;

2. A minimum of one (1) foot from any property line abutting a right-of-way;

3. A minimum of one (1) foot from any City easements unless otherwise approved by Common Council;

4. Outside of a vision clearance area as detailed in Section 15-5-12; and

5. In a manner which does not block access to underground utility access structures or fire hydrants.

E. Material Standards.

1. Materials Permitted. Permitted fence materials shall be only those materials which are designed and intended for use in fence installations and shall be limited to:

a. Masonry;

b. Vegetation (including, but not limited to, "green wall" systems);

c. Wood, chemically treated or naturally resistant to decay;

d. Wood composites;

e. Aluminum;

f. Vinyl/PVC;

g. Wrought iron;

h. Trellises composed of materials allowed in this subsection; and

i. As approved by the Zoning Administrator or their designee.

2. Chain-Link Fences. Chain-link fences shall be allowed in the interior side or rear yard on a lot with any single-family or duplex use.

3. Masonry Fences. Masonry fences shall be prohibited in the Floodplain Overlay District. The Zoning Administrator may forward applications for masonry fences to the City Engineer for further review on sites outside the Floodplain Districts on which drainage and flooding concerns are present. Adverse impact of drainage and flooding shall constitute the ground for denial of the application.

F. Fences on Lots with Single-Family and Duplex Uses. Fences on lots with single-family and duplex uses shall meet the requirements established below. Barbed wire, razor wire, agricultural fencing, or unconventional materials such as plywood or tarps or others as determined by the Zoning Administrator shall be prohibited on lots with single-family and duplex uses. All fences shall be erected so that the posts and all other supporting members face inward toward the owner's property.

1. Fences in Front and/or Street Side Yards.

a. Height. Fences in front and/or street side yards shall not exceed four (4) feet in height except fences in street side yards which may have a maximum height of six (6) feet if located at least five (5) feet from the property line.

b. Materials. Fences in front yards and/or street side yards shall be of non-sight barrier construction and have a maximum opacity of fifty (50) percent except for fences in street side yards, which may be one hundred (100) percent opaque if located a minimum of seven (7) feet from the street side lot line.

Figure 15-5(15) Fences on Lots with Single-Family and Duplex Uses in Front and/or Street Side Yards

2. Fences in Interior Side and Rear Yards.

a. Height. The maximum height of a fence in interior side yards and rear yards shall be six (6) feet. A height of up to eight (8) feet shall be allowed for fences in rear yards abutting an arterial road.

b. Materials. Fence materials utilized in interior side yards and rear yards shall complement fence materials utilized in other yards. Fences in interior side and rear yards may be one hundred (100) percent opaque.

Figure 15-5(16) Fences on Lots with Single-Family and Duplex Uses in Interior Side and Rear Yards

G. Fences on Lots with Townhome, Multifamily, Mixed-Use, and Nonresidential Uses.

1. Height. The maximum height of fences on a lot with townhome, multifamily, mixed-use, and nonresidential uses shall not exceed six (6) feet.

a. Rear Lots Abutting an Arterial Road. A height of up to eight (8) feet shall be allowed for fences in rear yards abutting an arterial road.

b. Plan Commission Exception. The Plan Commission may approve a height above six (6) feet for a fence located in any lot where the proposed increase provides a functional or aesthetic benefit for the proposed use.

2. Location. Fences on lots with townhome, multifamily, mixed-use, and nonresidential uses shall be located in rear and interior side yards only, with the exception of fences on lots in the LI - Limited Industrial District which may be located in street side, interior side, and rear yards only. Fences located in the street side yard in the LI - Limited Industrial District shall be buffered from the sidewalk by a landscaped area as specified in Section 15-5-04(C).

3. Barbed Wire. In the LI - Limited Industrial District, barbed wire may be utilized in interior side and rear yard fences and shall be limited to a maximum height of one (1) foot, and a maximum of three (3) strands of wire. The barbed wire shall not be included in the determination of fence height.

§ 15-5-09 Retaining Walls.

A. Applicability. The standards of this Section shall apply to retaining walls constructed in any zoning district.

B. Location.

1. General Location Standards. All retaining walls shall be located as follows:

a. Setbacks and Location.

i. Retaining walls shall be wholly within property lines; no part of the retaining wall or material may encroach or cross a lot line.

ii. The setback from any lot line for retaining walls shall be at least five (5) feet.

iii. The setback and location standards specified in Subsection (B)(1)(a)(ii) above shall be exempted for retaining walls maintained by a homeowners association that span multiple lots so long as the retaining wall features are documented in an approved subdivision agreement.

b. General Location Standards. Retaining walls shall be a minimum of:

i. Five (5) feet from any property line abutting a right-of-way;

ii. One (1) foot from any City easements unless otherwise approved by Common Council;

iii. In a manner which does not block access to underground utility access structures or fire hydrants; and

iv. A minimum horizontal distance of four (4) feet is required between walls installed in a tiered installation. The area between the tiers shall be graded with no more slope than needed to facilitate shedding of surface waters and must be landscaped with natural material and be properly maintained.

C. Design.

1. Retaining walls shall not exceed four (4) feet in height above the natural lot grade at the wall's location, unless a greater height is approved by the City Engineer.

2. Retaining walls shall not exceed the height of the grade that is supported.

3. The exterior of all retaining walls shall be natural materials, decorative wall blocks, textured concrete, or other similar materials as approved by the Zoning Administrator. The use of standard concrete block or untreated landscape ties are prohibited.

4. Plans for any wall more than three (3) feet in height above the natural lot grade shall be stamped and signed by a professional engineer and submitted to the City Engineer for approval.

5. A safety guard rail or fence is recommended along any portion of a retaining wall exceeding three (3) feet in height.

D. Maintenance and Installation.

1. The long-term durability and maintenance of retaining walls shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner.

2. Retaining walls shall not interfere with the surface water drainage pattern and shall not be constructed in drainage swales.

§ 15-5-10 General Townhouse, Multifamily, Mixed-Use, and Nonresidential Design Standards.

A. Applicability. The standards of this Section shall apply to all townhome, multifamily, mixed-use, and nonresidential development.

B. Exterior Building Cladding Materials. Allowable exterior building cladding materials shall be as detailed in Table 15-5-10(B) below. Glazing shall not be included in the facade material calculations. When part of a common development, buildings shall utilize materials that are consistent with or complement surrounding development.

Table 15-5-10(B): Exterior Building Cladding Materials
District	Building Facade Elevation	Masonry (1)	Lap Siding, Stucco (2)	EIFS, Concrete	Architectural Metal Siding (3)	Vinyl Siding, Unifinished Concrete Block
R-M - Multi-Unit Residential, Commercial and Mixed-Use, I - Institutional, and B-P - Business Park Districts	Front, Street Side	Min. 50%	Max. 50%	Max. 15%	Max. 15%	Not permitted
	Interior Side	Min. 25%	Max. 75%	Max. 25%	Max. 25%	Not permitted
	Rear	Any % allowed	Any % allowed	Max. 25%	Max. 25%	Max. 25%
LI - Limited Industrial District	Front, Street Side	Min. 30%	Max 60%	Max. 30%	Max. 30%	Not permitted
	Interior Side	Any % allowed	Max. 80%	Max. 40%	Max 40%	Not permitted
	Rear	Any % allowed	Any % allowed	Max. 40%	Max. 40%	Max. 40%

Notes:
(1)	Masonry shall include brick, stacked stone, stone, stone masonry units, and architectural concrete masonry units.
(2)	Lap siding shall include cementitious fiber board.
(3)	Architectural metal siding shall not be corrugated.

C. Facade Articulation. Articulation involves the horizontal and vertical variation of the facade so that walls are subdivided into bays or sections that are vertically proportioned. The following provisions for facade articulation shall apply to any building elevations facing a public right-of-way or property in a residential district.

1. The frontage of the building shall be divided into architecturally distinct sections or bays with each section taller than it is wide.

2. Sections or bays shall be visually established by architectural features such as columns, ribs, pilasters, piers, recesses, projections, windows, awnings, arcades, or an equivalent element that visually subdivides the wall with a roof or cap features that provides a rational terminus and integrates with the overall design of the facade.

3. The required dividing elements shall have a minimum width of one (1) foot and minimum projection to width ratio of 1:4.

Figure 15-5(17) Facade Articulation

D. Roofline Modulation. The width of any continuous flat roofline should not extend more than one hundred (100) feet without modulation. Modulation shall consist of either one (1) or a combination of the following treatments:

1. For flat roofs or facades with a horizontal eave, fascia, or parapet, the minimum vertical dimension of roofline modulation is the greater of two (2) feet or ten (10) percent of the wall height.

2. For gable, hipped, or gambrel roofs a minimum slope of three (3) feet vertical to twelve (12) feet horizontal.

E. Glazing.

1. Transparency Zone. Glazing that is transparent under all lighting conditions shall extend from a base of contrasting material (not exceeding four (4) feet in height above the adjacent grade) to at least the height of the door head. Table 15-5-10(E) details the minimum required percentage of square footage in the transparency zone that must have a glazing treatment.

Table 15-5-10(E): Transparency Zone Glazing Requirements
District	Elevation Facing Yard
	Front	Street Side
B-SM	50%	40%
B-MU	40%	30%
B-N	40%	30%
B-G	30%	20%
B-R	30%	20%
LI	30%	20%
I	30%	20%

2. Upper Story Glazing. A minimum of twenty (20) percent of the square footage of upper stories of buildings in the B-SM - St. Martins Road Historic Village Business and B-MU - South 27th Street Mixed-Use Districts shall include glazing.

3. Glazing to Be Dispersed. Required glazing shall not be aggregated into a single, undivided area of glazing treatment. Individual glazing areas shall not span more than fifteen (15) linear feet.

4. Entrance Orientation. Main entrances to buildings shall be oriented toward the primary street adjoining the subject property. Secondary entrances are encouraged along secondary streets or along building frontages not adjoining a street.

§ 15-5-11 Outdoor Lighting.

A. Fixture Classification. All outdoor lighting fixtures, with the exception of wall-mounted accent lighting, shall either have a fixture cutoff classification of "Full Cutoff" or be fully shielded, unless otherwise expressly permitted in this UDO.

B. LED Fixtures. All outdoor lighting utilizing a light-emitting diode (LED) fixture shall meet the following standards:

1. Color Rendering. Outdoor LED fixtures shall be rated a minimum Color Rendering Index (CRI) value of seventy (70) or higher.

2. Color Temperature. Outdoor LED fixtures shall have a correlated color temperature between four thousand (4,000) and five thousand (5,000) degrees Kelvin.

C. Pole-Mounted Outdoor Lighting.

1. Pole Placement. Pole-mounted outdoor lighting shall be located outside of utility easements, designed in coordination with required landscape zones.

2. Maximum Lighting Height. Pole-mounted fixtures shall be mounted at heights as specified in Table 15-5-11(C)(2).

Table 15-5-11(C)(2): Maximum Lighting Height
District	Maximum Permitted Luminaire Height
A, A-P, R-C, R-SE, R-SR	10
R-M, R-V, B-SM	15
B-N, B-MU	20
All Other Districts	25

Notes:

A post height of 60 feet shall be allowed for outdoor place of assembly uses including ball diamond, playing fields, golf driving ranges, tennis courts and similar outdoor recreational facilities.

D. Wall-Mounted Accent Lighting. Wall-mounted accent lighting shall be integrated with the architectural character of the building and shall use low-luminosity lamps, with two thousand (2,000) source lumens or less. The illumination on any vertical surface shall not exceed one-half (0.5) maintained foot-candle and shall not spill over roof lines or building edges.

E. Outline Lighting, Flickering, and Flashing Prohibited. Outline lighting shall be prohibited from signs, buildings, and structures. No flickering or flashing lights shall be permitted.

F. State Requirements for Street Lighting. Street lighting shall conform to the standards set forth by the State of Wisconsin for State Trunk Highways, Milwaukee County for County Trunk Highways, and the City for City streets and highways.

G. Maximum Light Level at Property Line.

1. On lots adjacent to lots in a nonresidential district, all outdoor lighting fixtures shall be designed and located so that the maximum light level at any property line shall not exceed one-half (0.5) maintained foot-candles, as measured by the City's Inspection Services Department.

2. On lots adjacent to lots in a residential district, all outdoor lighting fixtures shall be designed and located so that the maximum light level shall be zero (0) maintained foot-candles at any property line.

3. The Zoning Administrator may approve light level in excess of the limits of this Section at a front property line for lighting fixtures that meet the City's specifications for streetlighting as specified in Section 15-5-11(F).

H. Light Level Measurement.

1. Location. Light level measurements shall be made at the property line of the property upon which the light to be measured is being generated. If measurement on private property is not possible or practical, light level measurements may be made at the boundary of the public street right-of-way that adjoins the property of the complainant or at any other location on the property of the complainant. Measurements shall be made at finished grade (ground level), with the sensor in the horizontal position and not mounted more than six (6) inches above ground level, and with the light-registering portion of the meter held parallel to the ground and pointing upward.

2. Light Meter Specifications. Light levels shall be measured in foot-candles with a direct-reading portable light meter. The meter shall have:

a. Cosine and color correction;

b. An accuracy tolerance of no greater than plus or minus five (5) percent.

§ 15-5-12 Vision Clearance Areas.

A. No visual obstructions, such as structures, parking, or vegetation, taller than three (3) feet above grade shall be permitted in any district in the triangular area of the lot measured as a set distance from the center of the intersection of a driveway and a street or from the center of the intersection of two (2) or more streets. This area shall be referred to as a clear sight triangle and shall be determined as follows:

1. In the case of an arterial or collector street intersecting with another arterial or collector street, the clear sight triangle shall be sixty (60) feet from the center of the intersection of the two (2) streets.

2. In the case of the intersection of any two (2) other street types or between a street and a driveway, the clear sight triangle shall be thirty (30) feet from the center of the intersection of the two (2) streets or between the street and the driveway.

Figure 15-5(18) Vision Clearance Areas

§ 15-5-13 Performance Standards.

A. Any use established in the City of Franklin shall be operated in such a manner as to comply with applicable performance standards set forth governing noise, smoke, particulate matter, toxic or noxious matter, odors, fire and explosive hazards, vibration, radiation or glare or heat; and no use already established on the effective date of this Chapter shall be so altered or modified as to conflict with, or further conflict with, applicable performance standards. Failure to comply with such applicable performance standards shall constitute a nuisance.

1. Noise. No activity or use shall be conducted in a manner that generates a level of noise greater than that allowed by the Franklin Municipal Code.

2. Vibration. No activity or use shall be conducted in a manner that generates earthborn vibration that can be detected at any point off the lot on which the use is located.

3. Dust and Air Pollution. Dust and air pollution carried by the wind from sources such as storage areas, yards, parking areas, equipment, and the like, within lot boundaries, shall be kept to a minimum by appropriate landscaping, screening, paving, wetting, or other acceptable means.

4. Hazardous, Radioactive, and Toxic Materials. No activity or use shall produce hazardous, radioactive, or toxic material without prior notice to the City. Notice shall be given to the Community Development Director at least thirty (30) days before the operation commences. The transport, handling, storage, discharge, clean up, and disposal of all hazardous, radioactive, or toxic materials, including waste, shall comply with applicable federal, state, county, and local regulations.

5. Odor. No activity or use shall be conducted in a manner that generates odors of such intensity and character as to be harmful to the health, welfare, or comfort of the public. Any such use shall be stopped or modified to remove the odor.

6. Fire and Explosion Hazards. Materials that present potential fire and explosion hazards shall be transported, stored, and used only in conformance with all applicable federal, state, county, and local regulations.

B. Sound Study.

1. Applicability. Concurrent with the approval of a Conditional Use permit for a development or use proposed to include outdoor activities or operations, a sound study and noise mitigation and management plan shall be approved by the City.

2. Requirements. A sound study and noise mitigation and management plan prepared by a professional acoustical consultant or engineer shall meet the following requirements.

a. Comparative Analysis of Existing Noise Environment. A comparison of current ambient noise levels at the project site and sites within two hundred fifty (250) feet of the project site, to the established noise standards of the local noise ordinance.

b. Project Noise Emissions. A description of the types and anticipated noise levels of noise emissions from the project during construction and operation (decibel levels, variations).

c. Noise Mitigation Strategies. A plan to reduce noise and comply with noise standards (barriers, quieter equipment, operating hour limitations).

d. Noise Mitigation and Management Plan. A document outlining the noise mitigation strategies and management activities that the use shall operate under, and which shall be adopted as the conditions of the approval of the Conditional Use permit.

3. Review and Determination. The City shall review the submitted documentation to assess the potential noise impact of the proposed project and determine if modifications to site design, layout, landscape, or other development or use features are necessary to ensure compliance with the Municipal Code.