Chapter 17.110 — BUFFERING REGULATIONS

The provisions of this Chapter shall be known as the Buffering Regulations. The purpose of these regulations is to prescribe screening requirements and other controls designed to ensure an orderly relationship between neighboring developments, to enable diverse kinds of uses to be located near one another compatibly, and to improve the appearance of individual properties, neighborhoods, and the city. These regulations shall apply to the specified uses in the zones and situations indicated hereinafter.

(Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; prior planning code § 7100)

The following regulations shall apply in all Residential Zones and in the S-1, S-3, S-15, D-CO-1, and OS Zones, and are in addition to the provisions set forth in Section 17.110.040:

A.

Screening and Setback of Open Parking and Loading Areas. The following requirements shall apply in said zones to all open off-street parking areas located on any lot containing three (3) or more independent parking spaces, except in the case of a One-Family Dwelling or Two- to Four-Family Dwelling with Accessory Dwelling Units, and to all open off-street loading areas on any lot:

Such parking and loading areas shall be screened from all lots abutting the side or rear property lines, except where a maneuvering aisle is shared with one or more abutting lots in the manner described in Section 17.116.170, by dense landscaping not less than five and one-half (5½) feet high and not less than three (3) feet wide, and/or by a decorative screening fence or wall not less than five and one-half (5½) feet high, subject to the standards for required landscaping and screening in Chapter 17.124 and the exceptions stated in said chapter.

Such parking and loading areas shall also be screened from all abutting streets, alleys, paths, and private streets or other ways described in Section 17.106.020, except where a driveway is located for access, by dense landscaping not less than three and one-half (3½) feet high and not less than three (3) feet wide, and/or by a decorative screening fence or wall not less than three and one-half (3½) feet high, subject to the standards for required landscaping and screening and the exceptions stated in said chapter.

No unroofed parking space or loading berth on such lots shall be located within five (5) feet from any street line or alley.

B.

Screening of Open Storage Areas. All open storage of boats, trailers, building materials, appliances, and similar materials shall be screened from all abutting lots abutting the side or rear property lines, and streets, alleys, and paths, and private streets or other ways described in Section 17.106.020, by dense landscaping not less than five and one-half (5½) feet high and not less than three (3) feet high, and/or by a decorative screening fence or wall not less than five and one-half (5½) feet high, subject to the standards for required landscaping and screening and the exceptions stated therein.

C.

Control on Artificial Illumination of Parking and Loading Areas. Artificial illumination of all off-street parking areas located on any lot containing three (3) or more parking spaces and all off-street parking areas, and of driveways related thereto, except in the case of a One-Family Dwelling or Two- to Four-Family Dwelling with Accessory Dwelling Units, shall be directed away from all abutting lots and from any on-site residential living units so as to eliminate objectionable glare.

(Ord. No. 13812, § 4(Exh. A), 7-30-2024; Ord. No. 13763, § 5, 10-3-2023; Ord. No. 13677, § 4(Exh. A), 1- 18-2022; Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. No. 13302, § 5(Exh. C), 4-21-2015; Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), 3-15-2011; Ord. No. 12999, § 4(Exh. A), 3-16-2010; Ord. 12872 § 4 (part), 2008; Ord. 12501 § 77, 2003: Ord. 12078 § 5 (part), 1998; Ord. 11892 § 9, 1996: prior planning code § 7110)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), adopted March 15, 2011, changed the title of Section

zones" to "General buffering requirements—Residential and S-1, S-2, S-3, S-15 and OS zones." The historical notation has been preserved for reference purposes.

The following regulations shall apply in all Commercial and Industrial Zones, and are in addition to the provisions set forth in Section 17.110.040:

A.

Screening Along Entire Lot Line Abutting Residential Zone If Lot in Commercial or Industrial Zone Is Occupied by Commercial, Industrial, or Agricultural or Extractive Activities. Wherever any lot which is located in any Commercial or Industrial Zone and which is occupied by Commercial, Industrial, or Agricultural or Extractive Activities abuts a lot located in any Residential Zone, it shall be screened from the residentially zoned lot, along the entire abutting lot line except where a driveway or maneuvering aisle is shared with the abutting lot in the manner described in Section 17.116.170, by dense landscaping not less than five and one-half feet (5½) high and not less than three (3) feet wide, and/or by a decorative screening fence or wall not less than five and one-half (5½) feet high, subject to the standards for required landscaping and screening in Chapter 17.124 and the exceptions stated in said chapter.

B.

Screening of Open Parking, Loading, and Storage Areas. All open off-street parking areas located on any lot containing three (3) or more independent parking spaces, and all open off-street loading, storage, sales, display, service, and processing areas on any lot, shall be:

Screened from all abutting streets, alleys, paths, and private streets or other ways described in Section 17.106.020, by dense landscaping not less than three and one-half (3½) feet high and not less than three (3) feet wide, and/or by a decorative screening fence or wall not less than three and one-half (3½) feet high, except where a driveway is located for access, and except in the case of sales, rental, or display areas occupied by Automotive Sales, Rental, and Delivery Commercial Activities, subject to the standards for required landscaping and screening and the exceptions stated therein; and

Screened from any Residential Facilities located on any lot abutting the side or rear property lines, except where a maneuvering aisle is shared with the abutting lot in the manner described in Section 17.116.170, by dense landscaping not less than five and one-half (5½) feet high and not less than three (3) feet wide, and/or by a decorative screening fence or wall not less than five and one-half (5½) feet high, subject to the standards for required landscaping and screening and the exceptions stated therein; and

Screened from any lot abutting the side or rear property lines located in any Residential Zone, except where a maneuvering aisle is shared with the one or more abutting lots in the manner described in Section 17.116.170, by dense landscaping not less than five and one-half (5½) feet high and not less than three (3) feet wide, and/or by a decorative screening fence or wall not less than five and one-half (5½) feet high, subject to the standards for required landscaping and screening and the exceptions stated therein.

C.

Restrictions on Storage, Repair, and Production in Certain Required Yards. See Subsections H. and K. of

D.

Control on Artificial Illumination in Certain Situations. All artificial illumination which is readily visible from any of the Residential Facilities or residentially zoned lots referred to in Subsection B of this Section shall be directed away from said facilities and lots so as to eliminate objectionable glare.

(Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. No. 13302, § 5(Exh. C), 4-21-2015; Ord. No. 13251, § 5(Exh. A), 7-29-2014; Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), 3-15-2011; Ord. No. 12999, § 4(Exh. A), 3-16-2010; Ord. No. 12939, § 4(Exh. A), 6-16-2009; Ord. 12899 § 4, Exh. A (part), 2008; Ord. 12872 § 4 (part), 2008; prior planning code § 7111)

A.

Open Storage Areas on Same Lot as Residential Facility—Screening Required Within Three (3) Years. In all zones, on any lot which contains both a Residential Facility and any area devoted to open storage or display of goods or materials, said open storage or display area shall be screened from all abutting lots, streets, alleys, and paths, and private streets or other ways described in Section 17.106.020, by dense landscaping not less than five and one-half (5½) feet high and not less than three (3) feet wide, or by a decorative screening fence or wall not less than five and one-half (5½) feet high, subject to the standards for required landscaping and screening in Chapter 17.124 and the exceptions stated in said chapter. Existing open storage and display areas on such lots shall either be removed or provided with the above prescribed screening within three years after the effective date of the zoning regulations.

B.

Screening of Open Parking, Loading, and Storage Areas in the CN, CR-1, D-CE-3, D-CO-1, and S-15 Zones. In the CN, CR-1, D-CE-3, D-CO-1, and S-15 Zones, open parking, loading, and storage areas shall be subject to the same screening and setback requirements as are set forth in Subsections A. and B. of Section 17.110.020. Existing nonconforming storage areas in said zones shall be subject to the provisions of Section 17.114.140.

C.

Location of Detached Accessory Buildings on Corner Lot Abutting a Key Lot in a Residential Zone. In all zones except as otherwise provided in Section 17.103.080 for Accessory Dwelling Units, on any reversed corner lot which abuts a key lot located in any Residential Zone, no detached accessory building shall be located within four (4) feet from the abutting side lot line of the key lot. No detached accessory building on such lot shall be located closer to the street line on which the key lot fronts than a distance equal to one- half (½) of the minimum front yard depth required on the key lot, but shall not be required to exceed four (4) feet in width if it would reduce to less than twenty-five (25) feet the buildable width of any corner lot. An accessory building shall be considered detached from any principal building on the same lot if the only roofed attachment thereto consists of a breezeway or similar structure exceeding neither twelve (12) feet in height nor eight (8) feet in width.

D.

Other Provisions. Also applicable are the special provisions, if any, set forth in the applicable individual zone regulations and development control maps with respect to landscaping and screening and controls on parking, loading, and other specified uses; the requirements set forth in Section 17.102.140 for stables, corrals, and similar facilities; and the screening and other standards prescribed for required usable open space in the standards for required usable open space in Chapter 17.126.

(Ord. No. 13812, § 4(Exh. A), 7-30-2024; Ord. No. 13763, § 5, 10-3-2023; Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2- 16-2016; Ord. No. 13302, § 5(Exh. C), 4-21-2015; Ord. No. 13172, § 3(Exh. A), 7-2-2013; Ord. No. 13168, § 5(Exh. A-2), 6-18-2013; Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), 3-15-2011; Ord. 12872 § 4 (part), 2008; Ord. 11892 § 10, 1996; prior planning code § 7115)