Sec. 26-80. - Purpose.

This section provides standards for the screening and buffering of adjoining land uses, equipment, outdoor storage areas and surface parking areas.

(Ord. No. 2519, § 5(Exh. A), 2-20-24)

Sec. 26-81. - Screening and buffering standards.

(a)

Required screening in office, commercial and industrial zones. All exterior storage areas and service yards, loading docks and ramps, electrical cage enclosures and storage tanks are to be screened from view by a fence, wall or mature landscaped materials.

(1)

Mechanical equipment and duct work.

a.

All roof top mechanical equipment shall be placed behind a permanent parapet wall and be completely restricted from all ground level views from adjacent public rights-of-way. Such screening shall be as high as the highest portion of the equipment or ducting, and shall be permanently maintained.

b.

No mechanical equipment is to be exposed on the wall surface of a building.

c.

Gutters and downspouts that are utilitarian in nature are not to project from the vertical surface of the buildings. Decorative gutters and downspouts, when appropriate to the proposed architectural style of the building may project from the surface of the building and shall be subject to review of the Planning Commission.

d.

Vents, louvers, exposed flashing, tanks, stacks, overhead doors, rolling and "man" service doors are to be treated in a manner consistent with the color scheme of the building.

e.

All ground mechanical equipment shall be screened to the maximum extent feasible and as allowed by the utility provider by a permanent structure or landscape.

(2)

Refuse storage.

a.

All outdoor trash, garbage and refuse containers shall be screened from public view, within a trash enclosure containing a roof and screening on all sides consisting of minimum five and one-half (5½) foot high concrete, or masonry decorative block wall, and the opening provided with a solid gate.

b.

Such area shall be so located as to be easily accessible for trash pick-up.

c.

Storage. Except in the case of uses listed "outdoor displays" in section 26-51(a) of this chapter, all storage of wares, merchandise, crates, bottles or similar items shall be within a completely enclosed building.

(3)

Screening of parking areas.

a.

All parking areas shall be screened from public rights-of-way with various means of screening such as land contouring, low-profile walls, shrub plantings and similar screens or a combination thereof.

b.

A seven (7)-foot high concrete, masonry or decorative block wall shall be provided and maintained on the boundary of any nonresidential zone which abuts or lies across a public street or alley from a residential

zone except in the front setback area where said wall shall conform to the sight triangle area standards set forth in section 26-67(e).

c.

All walls shall be architecturally compatible with the main buildings. Type, texture, and color shall be approved by the Planning Commission. Barbed wire shall not be permitted.

(Ord. No. 2519, § 5(Exh. A), 2-20-24)

DIVISION 5. - LANDSCAPING