Article 8 Site Design

Unless otherwise stated, the site design regulations of this Article 8 apply in the following situations:

New development and expansions. New buildings or sites constructed or enlargement of an existing building by more than 35% of its footprint and at least 2,500 square feet, unless otherwise stated in this article.

New site elements. New site development elements, such as parking or loading areas, outdoor storage areas, and other vehicular areas (e.g., drive-through facilities, fueling stations, vehicular sales lots), that are more than 2,500 square feet.

Tree removal. Any tree removal as regulated in § 660-73.

Adaptive reuse. See § 660-36A(2)(b) for adaptive reuse of an existing building and supplemental use regulations requiring compliance with the site design regulations in this Article 8.

Expansion of existing parking, loading areas, or other vehicular areas. Whenever an existing parking, loading, or other vehicular area (e.g., drive-through facilities, fueling stations, vehicular sales lots) is enlarged or expanded by more than 2,500 square feet, parking lot landscape, frontage buffers, and side and rear buffers must be applied per this article.

Expansion of outdoor storage and truck terminal uses. Whenever an existing outdoor storage or truck terminal use is expanded or enlarged by more than 500 square feet, frontage and side and rear buffers must be applied per this article.

§ 660-69 Intent.

General intent. The landscape and site design regulations of this article are intended to provide the following:

(1)

To protect property values and the appearance of neighborhoods and commercial zones through appropriate landscape and fencing.

(2)

To provide for healthy, long-lived trees within all public ways to improve the appearance of streets and create a buffer between pedestrian and vehicular travel lanes.

(3)

To increase the urban tree canopy throughout the City.

(4)

To increase the compatibility of adjacent uses and minimize the adverse impacts created by adjoining or neighboring uses.

(5)

To promote the prudent use of water through sustainable, functional landscapes.

(6)

To reduce energy demands through the shading of buildings and pavement, reducing urban heat island effects.

Spacing and dimensions. Spacing and dimensional standards for multiple landscape elements as required by this article are intended to be averaged across the site, accommodating environmental and infrastructure constraints, such as steep slopes or utilities.

§ 660-70 Sight triangles.

No walls, fences, plants, or trees may be constructed or planted to obstruct or eventually obstruct or hinder the visibility of drivers at the intersection of the street right-of-way lines and at driveways where they intersect streets.

Generally.

(1)

Unobstructed visibility. Unobstructed visibility must be maintained between 30 inches above curb level and 10 feet above curb level within the sight triangle areas defined in this § 660-70.

(2)

Obstructions. Obstructions are defined as any structure, fence, wall, hedge, shrub, or other planting. Obstructions must not be constructed or planted to obstruct or eventually hinder or obstruct the visibility of drivers within the defined sight triangles.

(3)

Sight triangle configuration. The three sides of the sight triangles are defined along two rights-of-way, or a right-of-way and driveway pavement edge, with the third line of the triangle connecting those two lines.

(4)

Rounded corner. In the case of a rounded property corner, the two shorter sides of the triangle shall be drawn from the intersection of the lot lines extended.

Specific triangle dimensions.

(1)

Street intersections. At street intersections, no obstructions may be located within a sight triangle measured 15 feet from the intersection of the street along each street right-of-way line.

(2)

Alley-street intersection. The sight triangle at the intersection of an alley and street shall be measured 15 feet along the street right-of-way and 10 feet along the alley right-of-way.

(3)

Alley-alley intersection. The sight triangle at the intersection of two alleys shall be measured five feet along each alley right-of-way.

(4)

Driveway-street intersection. At the intersection between a street and a driveway, no obstruction shall be located within a sight triangle measured 10 feet along the street right-of-way and 10 feet along the driveway edge.

Exceptions. The following are exceptions to the unobstructed sight triangles defined in this section.

(1)

Parcels located in any MX-D or GX-D Zone are excepted from the sight triangle regulations.

(2)

A utility pole or a pole for a permitted sign may be located within a sight triangle provided it does not have a diameter greater than 20 inches.

(3)

A trunk of an existing tree may continue to be located in a sight triangle, provided the adjacent landowner trims the branches to minimize sight obstructions.

(4)

A support column may be located within the sight triangle, provided the column is of the minimum size necessary for structural support.

(5)

This § 660-70 shall not, by itself, prevent the replacement of an existing principal building with a new principal building, provided that the new principal building does not intrude into the clear sight triangle to a larger extent than the pre-existing building and that a building permit is issued for such replacement within 12 months of the removal of the previous building.

(6)

A lot located at an intersection with a one-way street, where the lot is located such that visibility would not be obscured in any direction.

Land Development and Subdivision Ordinance. See also Chapter 350, Land Development and Subdivision, of the Municipal Code, which may require a larger sight triangle in the case of a new subdivision or other land development.

§ 660-71 Landscape installation.

Intent. The following provisions aid in ensuring that all landscaping required by this chapter is installed and maintained properly.

Applicability. These provisions apply to any landscape installation required by this article.

General installation requirements.

(1)

National standards. Best management practices and procedures according to the nationally accepted standards must be practiced. All landscape and trees must be installed in conformance with the practices and procedures established by the most recent edition of the American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1) as published by AmericanHort.

(2)

Timing. All landscape materials must be fully installed prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy or other means of assurance must be provided that it will be completed, such as a bond or letter of credit, or a temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued.

(3)

Tree measurement. Caliper is the measured diameter (inches) of the tree trunk for trees to be installed as follows:

(a)

Caliper measurement of the trunk must be taken six inches above the ground or top of the root ball up to and including four inch caliper size.

(b)

If the caliper at six inches above the ground exceeds four inches, the caliper must be measured at 12 inches above the ground or top of the root ball.

(4)

Plant size requirements. Plant material must be sized according to Table 660-8 unless otherwise noted in this section.

Table 660-8. Plant Material Size at Installation
Plant Material Type	Minimum Size
Street tree	2 in. caliper
Deciduous shade/overstory tree	1.5 in. caliper/8 ft. height
Evergreen tree	8 ft. height
Understory or ornamental tree	6 ft. height or 1.5 in. caliper
Shrubs - deciduous	24 in. height
Shrubs - evergreen	24 in. height
Groundcover	3 in. height

(5)

Condition and selection of planting materials. The plant materials used must be free from visible signs of disease, infestation, or physical defect at the time of planting.

(a)

Plant materials must be appropriate for the conditions of the location, including sun and wind exposure, air quality, salt exposure, soil type, expected moisture content of soil, and slope.

(b)

Plant materials must not be an invasive or a potentially invasive species.

(c)

Plant materials are encouraged to be native or naturalized.

(6)

Compost, mulch, and organic matter. Compost, mulch, and organic matter must be utilized within the soil mix to reduce the need for fertilizers and increase water retention.

(7)

Establishment. All installed plant material must be fully maintained until established, including watering, mulching, fertilizing, and replacement as necessary.

Permeable surface area for trees. For each tree planted, a sufficient amount of permeable surface area is required, unless otherwise stated in this chapter, to ensure root growth and access to air and water.

(1)

Minimum area. A minimum required permeable surface area of 24 square feet is required per tree unless the Zoning Officer or, in the public right-of-way, the Shade Tree Commission determines the minimum area is not practicable.

(2)

Required per tree. Permeable area for one tree may not count toward that of another tree.

(3)

Aeration systems and permeable pavers. Other alternative surfacing and soil systems may be required by the Zoning Officer in situations where sufficient permeable surface area is not provided.

§ 660-72 General landscape maintenance.

Applicability. All landscape required by this article must be maintained in healthy condition per this § 660-72.

General maintenance.

(1)

National standards. All landscaping and trees must be maintained according to the most recent edition of the American National Standards Institute, including its provisions on pruning, fertilizing, support systems, and safety.

(2)

Replacing unhealthy landscaping. Unhealthy landscaping must be replaced with healthy, live plants by the end of the next applicable growing season. This includes all plant material that shows dead branches over a minimum of 25% of the normal branching pattern.

(3)

Maintenance responsibility. The owner is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of all landscaping.

(4)

Maintain quality and quantity. Maintenance must preserve at least the same quantity, quality, and screening effectiveness as initially installed or required by this article.

(5)

City inspection. All landscaped areas regulated by this chapter may be inspected by the City.

(6)

Tree maintenance. All trees required by this article must be maintained as follows:

(a)

Street trees. All tree maintenance in the public rights-of-way or dedicated parks must be performed under the direction of a certified arborist or qualified landscape professional approved by the City.

(b)

Arborist. Tree trimming, fertilization, and other similar work must be performed by or under the management of a certified arborist.

(c)

Tree topping. Tree topping is not allowed. When necessary, crown reduction thinning or pruning is permitted. Refer to § 350-13C for clear branch height of street trees.

§ 660-73 Existing trees.

Applicability.

(1)

The following development sites or parcels must meet the regulations of this § 660-73:

(a)

Development sites requiring a master plan development (MPD) per § 660-07.

(b)

Development of heavily wooded sites in N5 Zones meeting the standards of § 660-73G.

(c)

Sites abutting any named waterway.

(d)

Sites over one acre and zoned IX, IG, or IM.

(2)

Forestry uses per § 660-40A are exempt from the regulations of this § 660-73.

Survey required. A survey of existing significant trees on the site must be submitted as part of the zoning permit with documentation of the condition of the trees to be removed, prepared by a licensed arborist or qualified professional. The burden of proof justifying the removal of a significant tree is on the applicant.

Measuring existing trees. Existing trees must be measured at the diameter of trunk, at breast height, 4.5 feet above grade at the base of the tree.

Significant trees. Trees of significant size, type, or meaning must be retained on the site, unless otherwise determined by the Zoning Officer per § 660-73D(3), below.

(1)

Definition. A "significant tree" is one of the following:

(a)

Any tree with a diameter at breast height of 13 inches or more.

(b)

A historic tree, champion tree, or remembrance tree [defined in § 597-5A(6)(a)] based upon the tree's age, species, health, meaning within the community, and/or historical importance.

(2)

Timing. No tree may be removed for future construction without zoning approvals issued for the future development.

(3)

Removal of significant trees. A significant tree may be removed with approval of the Zoning Officer under the following conditions:

(a)

The tree is in poor health or diseased with an expected life span less than two years.

(b)

The tree poses a danger to human safety, health, and welfare.

(c)

Any required zoning approvals for new development on the site have been issued.

(d)

If approved by the Zoning Officer, the removal is mitigated by one of the following:

[1]

The planting of multiple trees, whose calipers at planting totaled equal the diameter of the removed tree(s), on the subject site.

[2]

The planting of multiple trees, whose calipers at planting totaled equal the diameter of the removed tree(s) on a site approved by the Zoning Officer.

[3]

The Zoning Officer determines that the tree must be removed for the environmental, economic, health, or safety of the City.

Penalties. Any person who removes a significant tree without prior permission from the Zoning Officer or causes the death of a significant tree through other means as determined by the Zoning Officer must be subject to a fine. The fine must be paid into the City's Tree Planting Fund in accordance with the City's fee schedule. The fee must include a cost of three times per diameter inch of tree removed.

Trees damaged during construction. Any significant tree that is damaged during construction must either be mitigated by replacement per § 660-73D(3) or a fee-in-lieu must be paid into the City's Tree Planting Fund in accordance with the City's fee schedule. The fee must include a cost per diameter inch of tree removed.

Wooded sites in N5 Zone.

(1)

Applicability. In the N5 Zone where at least 50% of the total area of an existing lot is covered by woods primarily involving trees at least eight inches in diameter, the regulations of this § 660-73G apply.

(2)

Removal. A maximum of 50% of the existing tree canopy cover may be removed. Trees shall not be removed prior to an application in an attempt to circumvent this requirement.

(a)

If a subject property is proposed for subdivision into new lots, then, at the option of the applicant, the maximum removal may be calculated across the entire subdivision or for each individual new lot.

(3)

Tree protection. The regulations of § 350-21 of Chapter 350, Land Development and Subdivision, is required to protect all trees to remain on site.

(4)

Tree removal without new development. Where 20 or more trees over six inches in diameter are proposed to be removed and the removal is not connected to an approved development, the following additional requirements apply:

(a)

If the tree cutting involves two or more acres, then a forestry management plan shall be submitted, prepared by a professional forester. The plan shall comply with the Timber Harvesting Guidelines of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. The plan shall address reforestation.

(b)

Routine thinning of woods that does not involve clear-cutting and which does not reduce the amount of area under forest cover is not regulated by the section.

(c)

Clear-cutting is prohibited.

(d)

At least 50% of the forest cover shall be maintained.

(e)

An erosion and sedimentation control plan shall be found acceptable by the Lehigh County Conservation District.

§ 660-74 Ground vegetation.

Applicability. All unpaved areas of any lot in any zone other than an N1 through N5 Zone must be covered by either planting bed per § 660-74B or lawn per § 660-74C. See § 660-79D for parking lot areas to be landscaped. Playgrounds, special recreation spaces, or other special purpose areas are exempt from these regulations.

Planting beds. All planting beds may include shrubs, ornamental grasses, ground cover, vines, annuals, or perennials.

(1)

A minimum of 60% of the bed area must be covered in plant material at maturity. The remaining portion of the bed may be covered with non-living permeable materials, such as mulch, pine straw, or gravel.

(2)

Annual beds must be maintained seasonally, replanting as necessary.

(3)

In NX and GX-C Zones, street yards deeper than 15 feet and larger than 1,500 square feet must incorporate planting beds into a minimum of 35% of the street yard area.

Lawn. Seeded, plugged, or sodded grasses, clover, or other alternative lawn or meadow plantings may be planted throughout landscaped areas.

(1)

Lawn must be established within 90 days of planting or the area must be reseeded, replugged, or resodded.

(2)

Meadow lawns must consist of grasses, naturally spreading groundcovers, and/or wildflowers native to the area.

§ 660-75 On-site walkways.

Applicability. The regulations of this § 660-75 apply to all buildings and sites in all zones.

On-site walkways.

(1)

Locations. On-site sidewalks must continuously connect all public sidewalks to the main entrance of all principal buildings on the site and where normal pedestrian traffic will occur.

(a)

One connection is required per street frontage, except in N1 through N5 Zones where one connection is required only to the front street.

(b)

For all zones except N1 through N5, connection to any abutting public trails and pathways is required.

(c)

Parking lots with more than two double-loaded aisles must have a dedicated sidewalk or pathway from the outer aisle to the principal entrance.

(2)

Width. The width of any required on-site walkway in all zones except N1 through N5 must be a minimum of five feet, except six feet in MX-S.

(3)

Materials. All walks shall meet minimum construction standards as specified by the City Engineer. Walkways must be composed of concrete, brick, or other masonry pavers.

(a)

In any N1 through N5 Zone, the material may be gravel, stepping stones, mulch, wood decking, or other approved materials.

(b)

Other materials may be approved by the Zoning Officer, provided the materials are appropriate for the level of pedestrian traffic expected on the site.

(4)

Vehicular crossings. Where on-site walkways cross driveways, parking areas, and loading areas, the following applies:

(a)

Walkway paving material must continue through the vehicular area and the crossing area must be clearly differentiated from the vehicular area.

(b)

If the material of the pedestrian and vehicular area is similar, the pedestrian area must be differentiated through the use of elevation changes, speed bumps, another paving material, scoring, or other similar method.

(5)

Accessible. All sidewalks must comply with all local, state, and federal regulations for accessibility.

§ 660-76 Street trees.

Intent. To line all streets with a consistent and appropriate planting of trees, establishing tree canopy for environmental and aesthetic benefits.

Applicability. The regulations of this § 660-76 apply to all buildings and sites in all zones.

Required street trees. Street trees must be installed on all lots, regardless of development type. See streetscape and street tree regulations in Chapter 350, Land Development and Subdivision, and Chapter 597, Trees, of the Municipal Code for additional regulations.

§ 660-77 Frontage buffer.

Intent. To lessen the visual impact of on-site vehicular parking, loading, and other activities primarily from the street.

Applicability. The frontage buffer is required where lots contain 10 or more parking spaces along the edge of all surface parking lots, driveways, loading areas, and other vehicular areas abutting street rights-of-way, waterfront buffers, or open or civic spaces.

(1)

Outdoor storage uses, high-impact industry uses, and outdoor warehouse and distribution uses. In lieu of the frontage buffer, the side and rear buffer B (§ 660-78F), must be installed surrounding outdoor storage areas (§ 660-51), high-impact industry uses (§ 660-38D), and outdoor warehouse and distribution uses (§ 660-38G). Buffer must comply with any use regulations in Article 5 that may exceed these regulations.

Requirements. Refer to Figure 660(22) for an illustration of these requirements.

(1)

Buffer depth. The required buffer area must be a minimum five feet in depth, measured from the street-facing lot line into the lot.

(2)

Buffer location. The required buffer area must extend along the full edge of the vehicular area frontage, but may allow for the perpendicular crossing of driveways and walkways.

(3)

Fences and walls. The following applies to any fence or wall included within the frontage area.

(a)

Fence location. The fence should be located a minimum of two feet from the face of curb or edge of the vehicular area into the buffer.

(b)

Height. Fences and walls located in the frontage buffer may not exceed four feet in height, except that fences and walls with a solid to open area ratio of 1:1 or less (such as a picket, split rail or wrought iron fence) may be up to six feet in height (maximum).

(c)

Wall materials. Walls must be constructed of brick or other masonry with a finished appearance.

(d)

Additional height. Fences in frontage buffers in I Zones may not exceed 10 feet in height. Walls in frontage buffers in I Zones may not exceed six feet in height.

(4)

Buffer landscape. The following landscape is required within the buffer:

(a)

Shade trees. Medium or large shade trees are required at a minimum of 40 feet on center, with at least one shade tree required for each segment of buffer. Where feasible, spacing of the buffer trees should alternate with street trees. Street trees may count as buffer trees provided the street trees are located to screen the areas and healthy.

(b)

Hedge. A single row of shrubs is required on the street-side of the buffer, consisting of shrubs with a minimum mature width of 24 inches each, spaced no more than 36 inches on center, and height maintained no more than 42 inches.

[1]

For outdoor storage uses, the hedge must consist of a double row of shrubs.

[2]

For vehicle sales uses, a single row of low shrubs is allowed.

(c)

Existing vegetation. Existing vegetation may be credited toward buffer requirements per the Zoning Officer.

Figure 660(22) Frontage Buffer Plan and Section

§ 660-78 Side and rear buffers.

Intent. To minimize the impact that vehicular, outdoor storage, or loading activities have on abutting lots and to provide a transition between zones.

Applicability.

(1)

Applicable lots and building types. A side and rear buffer is required along the side and rear lot lines of all lots for all building types per this § 660-78.

(a)

House building type. Any house, twin house, or rowhouse building type used for residential principal use is exempt from any side and rear buffer.

(2)

Existing conditions.

(a)

Existing landscape. Existing mature, healthy landscape located within or abutting the buffer area, may be substituted for any buffer requirements, provided the existing landscape sufficiently buffers the activities as determined by the Zoning Officer.

(b)

Existing fence. Where an existing fence in good condition meets the buffer fence requirements, the following applies:

[1]

The existing fence may be used to fulfill the fence requirement in the buffer.

[2]

Should the existing fence be removed, a new fence must be provided.

[3]

New fences must not be placed parallel to an existing fence on an abutting lot in order to avoid a narrow alley between the fence of a distance less than five feet.

(c)

Existing topography. Where existing topography either reduces the need for or increases the visibility of the buffering or the use being buffered, the Zoning Officer shall determine the extent of needed buffering and may require additional landscape material as needed to buffer the uses.

Buffer locations.

(1)

Activities triggering buffers. Side and rear buffers are required where the following occurs in the rear or side yards of a lot:

(a)

Vehicular areas. Any vehicular areas, abutting or adjacent to zones designated in Table 660-9. Vehicular areas include such areas as parking spaces, drives, drive-through uses, fueling stations, auto sales or rental lots, truck parking, and structured parking.

(b)

Loading. Any loading areas abutting or adjacent to zones designated in Table 660-9. Loading areas include such areas as loading bays, loading docks, service bays, garage doors, other outdoor trucking facilities.

(c)

Outdoor storage uses, high-impact industry uses, and outdoor warehouse and distribution uses. The buffer B (§ 660-78F) must be installed on all lot edges surrounding outdoor storage areas (§ 660-51), high-impact industry uses (§ 660-38D), and outdoor warehouse and distribution uses (§ 660-38G), unless otherwise determined by the Zoning Officer. Buffer must comply with any use regulations in Article 5 that may exceed these regulations.

(d)

Other. Other outdoor activities where the Zoning Officer determines a buffer is necessary to comply with the performance standards of § 660-82.

(e)

Industrial zones. In IG and IM locations, the following is required:

[1]

The buffer B is required along the side and rear yards of all IG- and IM-zoned lots abutting an N or NX Zone regardless of vehicular activity, service, or outdoor storage areas. Buffer must comply with any use regulations in Article 5 that may exceed these regulations.

[2]

The Zoning Officer may require buffers between buildings and adjacent lots in zones other than N or NX Zones, if the use is determined to be of an intensity requiring buffering.

(2)

Location on the lot. Side and rear buffers must be installed along the lot line or the buffer may be located at the edge of the activity being buffered, provided the area between the buffer and the lot line is landscaped with ground vegetation per § 660-74 and one tree per every 2,000 square feet.

(3)

Access points. Driveways and other access points may interrupt buffers as necessary.

Fence buffer.

See Table 660-9 where required. See Figure 660(23) for illustration.

(1)

Intent. The fence is intended to provide a physical and visual separation for uses of different intensities where limited buffer area is available.

(2)

Buffer depth. A minimum two-foot-width buffer, measured from the lot line onto the subject lot, is required.

(3)

Fence, wall, or hedge. A continuous fence, wall, or shrub hedge is required on the inside perimeter of the buffer, consistent with one of the following:

(a)

Fence or wall option. A minimum six-foot-, maximum ten-foot-high, opaque, privacy fence or minimum six-foot, maximum eight-foot wall screening the activity must be located in the buffer adjacent to the lot line. Allowed materials include PVC, composite wood, FSC wood (cedar, redwood, or other approved by the Zoning Officer), stone, or brick. Concrete panels and concrete masonry units are not allowed, except when faced on all sides with brick or stone.

(b)

Shrub hedge option. An evergreen hedge screening the activity must be located in the buffer adjacent to the lot line. The hedge must consist of a single row of evergreen shrubs, minimum 24 inches in width, spaced 24 inches on center, with a height at planting of 36 inches and a mature height of at least six feet. A solid visual screen must be created within three years.

(4)

Curbs or wheel stops. Curbs or wheel stops must be provided along the buffer edge at any vehicular area to prevent motor vehicles from damaging the fence or hedge. Parking may not overhang into the buffer.

Buffer A. See Table 660-9 where required. See Figure 660(24) for illustration.

(1)

Intent. The buffer is intended to provide physical and visual separation for uses of different intensities.

(2)

Buffer depth. A minimum five-foot-width landscaped buffer, measured from the lot line onto the subject lot, is required.

(3)

Privacy fence or hedge. See § 660-78D for the requirements of the privacy fence or hedge.

(4)

Shade trees. Medium or large shade trees are required at a minimum of 40 feet on center, with at least one shade tree required for each segment of buffer.

(5)

Landscape. The buffer area must be landscaped as planting bed. See § 660-74 for required ground vegetation regulations.

Buffer B. See Table 660-9 where required. See Figure 660(25) for illustration.

(1)

Intent. The buffer is intended to provide physical and visual separation for uses of different intensities.

(2)

Buffer depth. A minimum ten-foot-width landscaped buffer, measured from the lot line onto the subject lot, is required.

(3)

Fence.

(a)

For outdoor storage uses and where expressly required in this chapter, an eight-foot-high security fence is required. This fence must be placed on the inside of the buffer.

(b)

See § 660-78D for the requirements of the privacy fence. The hedge option is not allowed.

(4)

Shade trees. Medium or large shade trees are required at a minimum of 40 feet on center, with at least one shade tree required for each segment of buffer.

(5)

Evergreen trees. Evergreen trees are required at a minimum of 20 feet on center, with at least one evergreen tree required for each segment of buffer. Evergreen trees must be at least five feet in height at planting, resulting in a complete year-round visual screen at least eight feet in height within four years of planting.

(6)

Landscape. The buffer area must be landscaped as planting bed. See § 660-74 for required ground vegetation regulations.

Table 660-9. Side and Rear Buffer Required
		Abutting Zones
		IG, IM	IX	MX-S	MX-D, GX-D	MX-C	GX-C	MX-N, GX-N	NX, N1, N2, N3, N4, N5	P1	P2
Buffer Required on Lots Zoned:	IG, IM	—	—	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer B	Buffer B [1]	Buffer A	Buffer A
	IX	—	—	Fence	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer A
	MX-S	—	—	—	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer A	Buffer A
	MX-D, GX-D	—	—	—	—	—	Fence	Fence	Buffer A	Fence	Fence
	MX-C	—	—	—	—	—	Fence	Fence	Buffer A	Fence	Fence
	GX-C	—	—	—	—	—	—	Fence	Fence	Fence	Fence
	MX-N, GX-N, NX	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Fence	Fence	Fence
	N1, N2, N3, N4, N5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	P1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	P2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Buffer A	Buffer A	—

See § 660-78C for activities triggering buffer requirement.
[1] See § 660-78C(1)(e). Buffer B required along all side and rear yards in IG and IM at N and NX Zones.

Figure 660(23) Fence	Figure 660(24) Buffer A	Figure 660(25) Buffer B

§ 660-79 Interior parking lot landscape.

Parking lot interior is the area dedicated to parking on a given parcel as measured from edge of pavement to edge of pavement, and including any islands or medians. See Figure 660(26) for illustration of these requirements.

Intent. To provide shading of pavement surfaces to reduce heat island effects and to improve the appearance of parking lots by breaking up the large expanses of pavement with trees and landscaped islands.

Applicability. All off-street surface parking lots in all zones with more than 30 spaces and/or more than two drive aisles must meet the interior parking lot regulations.

See § 660-77 for frontage buffer along street frontages and § 660-78 for side and rear buffers along the perimeter of the lot.

(1)

Existing vegetation may be credited toward these requirements per the Zoning Officer.

(2)

An alternative layout may be approved, provided the same percentage of landscape area and the same number of trees are included, and the design does not result in large expanses of paved areas of pavement without trees.

Required landscape islands.

(1)

Terminal end islands. Landscape islands are required at the terminal ends of freestanding rows or bays of parking. Freestanding rows or bays of parking are those not abutting the parking lot perimeter or building face, and may have a single or double row of parking.

(2)

Row islands. For rows of parking with more than 10 spaces, a landscape island is required for every 11th parking space with result of no more than 10 continuous parking spaces in a row without a landscape island.

(3)

Island size. The minimum size of an island is five feet wide and the depth of a parking space. Refer to § 660-71D for required permeable surface area for trees and alternative installation methods to achieve good tree health and survival rates.

(4)

Island trees. A minimum of one medium or large shade tree must be installed within each island.

(5)

Stormwater. Islands may accommodate stormwater detention or retention areas, rain gardens, or other infiltration systems.

Landscape areas. Areas in the parking lot not specifically designed for use as drive aisles, parking spaces, loading, refuse, or sidewalks must be unpaved, landscape areas. See § 660-74 for required ground vegetation.

Figure 660(26) Interior Parking Lot Landscape

§ 660-80 Steep slope regulations.

Purpose. The steep slope regulations of this section are established for the following purposes:

(1)

To conserve and protect steeply sloped land from inappropriate development that requires excessive grading and extensive vegetation removal;

(2)

To avoid significantly increased stormwater flow rates and velocities;

(3)

To avoid increased use of steep roads and driveways that are dangerous to drive upon in snow and ice, and that are difficult for emergency vehicles to access;

(4)

To avoid potential hazards to property and the disruption of ecological balance that may be caused by increased surface water runoff, flooding, soil erosion and sedimentation, blasting and ripping of rock, and landslides;

(5)

To encourage the use of steeply sloped land for conservation and other uses that are compatible with the preservation of natural resources and protection of the environment; and

(6)

To avoid loss of biodiversity and wildlife habitat and corridors.

Applicability. The regulations of this section apply when any construction, subdivision and/or earth disturbance activities on lots in excess of 6,000 square feet in area that contain slopes of 25% or greater. The regulations do not apply in any the following circumstances:

(1)

If the total area of slopes of 25% or greater is less than 500 square feet;

(2)

If the disturbance is for the purpose of widening, alignment, improvement, sight distance improvement or similar improvement of an existing street by the City or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation;

(3)

If the slopes in excess of 25% were created by permitted grading or other construction or earthmoving activities permitted under applicable regulations;

(4)

If the slopes were clearly human-made, such as areas that were graded previously for buildings, basins, quarrying, or other features. The burden of proof is on the applicant to show that slopes were human-made, such as by showing that grading occurred to develop a previous adjacent building; or

(5)

If the construction or earth disturbance is for the installation of public utilities that are not associated with any other activity regulated by this section.

Calculation of slopes.

(1)

Slope is the relationship of vertical rise to horizontal run, expressed as a percentage from the toe to the top of the slope. For example, land that rises 25 feet over a horizontal distance of 100 feet has a slope of 25%.

(2)

Any area that contains slopes of 25% or more is considered steeply sloped for purposes of these regulations.

(3)

For any application involving a lot that appears to include areas of steep slopes, the applicant must, using two-foot contours, delineate slopes of 25% to 35%; and greater than 35%. The applicant must conduct an actual field topographic survey as the source of contour information and the basis for depicting such slope categories or use other sources of slope information deemed acceptable by the City Engineer.

(4)

All steeply sloped areas must be shown for the purpose of review and verification, but these regulations apply only to those steep slopes occurring over three consecutive two-foot contour intervals (i.e., six cumulative vertical feet of slope).

(5)

Once delineated, the mapping provided by the applicant must be reviewed by the City Engineer. Applicants are required to follow all regulations of this section for those areas that contain steeply sloped areas, as determined in accordance with this section through the City Engineer's review.

Application procedures.

(1)

Before a permit is issued for any construction or land disturbance on land within or affecting steeply sloped areas, the applicant must submit plans drawn to a scale of at least one inch equals 50 feet, sealed by a registered professional engineer, Pennsylvania licensed land surveyor or Pennsylvania registered landscape architect (in the case of a subdivision or land development, required plans may be submitted as part of that application).

(2)

Required plans must depict at least the following information:

(a)

The location, dimensions and elevation of the property.

(b)

An earthmoving plan of the property identifying existing and proposed grades with contour lines at two-foot intervals within the area of any proposed activity, disturbance or construction. All steeply sloped areas must be graphically highlighted using the gradients identified above.

(c)

A site plan indicating existing and proposed buildings, structures, other impervious surfaces, storm drainage facilities and retaining walls. The site plan must also depict areas of existing vegetation, including woodlands (areas where healthy trees of over six inches in diameter measured at a height of 4.5 feet above the average surrounding ground level), open areas and their ground cover type, as well as landscaping material proposed to be installed.

(d)

When required by the City Engineer and/or Planning Commission, typical cross-sections and elevations of the property, and proposed buildings and structures at intervals prescribed by the City Engineer, as well as architectural plans, building elevations, and site sections.

(e)

A chart detailing the calculation of the steep slope areas and the percentage of disturbance for each gradient identified.

(f)

A statement and/or plans, signed and sealed by a registered architect or professional engineer, indicating:

[1]

The building methods to be used in overcoming foundation and other structural issues created by slope alteration;

[2]

The proposed techniques to preserve natural drainage and prevent soil erosion and sedimentation; and

[3]

The methods proposed to avoid excessive surface water runoff to neighboring properties and/or streets.

(g)

Plan, profile and typical cross-sections of any proposed street, emergency access or driveway within areas of steep slopes, sealed by a registered professional engineer.

Steep slope standards. The standards of this subsection apply whenever areas of steep slopes are proposed for development or disturbance.

(1)

In areas with slopes of 25% to 35%, no more than 25% of the total of such areas may be altered, regraded, cleared, built upon or otherwise altered.

(2)

Alteration, regrading, clearing, building, and similar activities are prohibited in areas with slopes of greater than 35%,

(3)

The Planning Commission may grant a waiver to the limitations set forth in Subsection E(1) and (2) above to permit the construction of a public street, driveway or other suitable access; public or private utility or other required facility when the Planning Commission determines that no other alternative exists for providing access to the remainder of the parcel or other required facilities. Such waivers must be limited to only the minimum amount of disturbance required to install the necessary facility.

(4)

The proposed development, any impervious cover and resultant disturbance to the land and existing vegetative cover may not cause stormwater runoff and/or related environmental problems beyond the subject site.

(5)

Removal of or disturbance to existing vegetation in steep slope areas must be minimized. The proposed impacts on existing vegetation must be evaluated in terms of the potentially detrimental effects on slope stability, conveyance and recharge of stormwater, aesthetic characteristics of the landscape and existing drainage patterns. Further, it must be demonstrated that any and all reasonable mitigation techniques and procedures will be utilized or have been considered in the preparation of the plan, such as revegetation measures, control of soil erosion and sedimentation, stormwater management, and the like. For purposes of such demonstration, the City Engineer may request additional information including, but not limited to, an erosion and sedimentation plan.

(6)

Important visual qualities of the site must be retained to the maximum extent possible. In addition to vegetation, these may include hilltops/ridgelines, rock outcroppings, and the natural terrain and contours of the site.

(7)

Road and driveway construction must follow the natural topography to the maximum extent possible. Cuts, fills and grading must be minimized. The design of new streets must comply with the street standards contained in Chapter 350, Land Development and Subdivision, of the Municipal Code. Driveways may not exceed a maximum slope of 15%. The initial 20 feet of a driveway from the connecting street cart may not exceed 6%.

(8)

Innovative, imaginative building techniques that are well-suited to slope conditions are encouraged, consistent with other applicable codes and regulations.

(9)

The stability of the slope, as characterized by the existing interrelationships among the soil, vegetation, and rock, must be disturbed as little as possible.

(10)

Proposed buildings and structures must be of sound engineering design. Footings must be designed in response to the site's slope, soil and bedrock characteristics. Footings must extend to stable soil and/or or bedrock.

(11)

All disturbed areas must be stabilized and seeded or planted, and notes to this effect must appear on all plans.

(12)

Finished slopes of all permitted cut and fill may not exceed 3:1 or 33%, unless the applicant can demonstrate the method by which steeper slopes can be stabilized and maintained adequately to the satisfaction of the City Engineer and/or Planning Commission.

(13)

The maximum vertical drop from a terrace or retaining wall used to stabilize and control steep slopes may not exceed five feet.

§ 660-81 Soil-disturbing activities.

All soil-disturbing activities must be performed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 350, Land Development and Subdivision, of the Municipal Code. The deposit of soils, detritus or other debris that would be unsightly or detrimental to surrounding properties, streets, sewers and natural waterways as a result of site preparation, grading and/or excavating is prohibited.

§ 660-82 Performance standards.

Applicability. The operational performance standards of this section apply to all uses unless otherwise expressly stated in this chapter.

Odors, dust and pollution. Uses must be operated so that they do not cause or result in continuous, frequent or repetitive noxious odors or dust that is detectable beyond the subject property. All uses must be operated in compliance with all applicable state and federal air and water pollution regulations.

Glare. All activities that cause glare (such as arc welding, acetylene torch cutting or similar processes) must be conducted within an enclosed building or be completely screened from view from any point beyond the property line.

Gases. Uses must be operated so that they do not emit gases that are deleterious to public health or safety.

Electrical disturbance. Uses must be operated so that they do not routinely cause electrical, radio or electromagnetic disturbances to electronic receiving equipment on another lot.

Noise and vibration. Uses must be operated in compliance with the noise and vibration standards established in Chapter 400.

Fire and safety hazard.

(1)

The storage of crude oil or any of its volatile products or other highly flammable liquids or gases in aboveground tanks must comply with all applicable City, state, and federal regulations.

(2)

The permitted manufacture or storage of explosive, toxic or hazardous materials must comply with all applicable City, state, and federal regulations.

Liquid waste. Liquid wastes and effluent must be discharged into the City of Allentown wastewater treatment plant in accordance with the regulations of that system or must be treated in a treatment plant operated by the permitted use that complies with all applicable state, federal, and City requirements.

Combustible material storage.

(1)

The bulk storage of lumber, coal or other combustible material must be set back at least 20 feet from all lot lines, and a paved driveway must be provided from a paved street into the property to permit access by fire protection and emergency vehicles.

(2)

The bulk commercial storage, baling, processing or treatment of rags, wastes, scrap paper or similar materials must take place in an enclosed building of fire-resistant construction, no part of which may be located within 50 of from any lot line.

(3)