§ 10.20. Landscaping standards.

A.

Site plans for all construction, including new developments and changes to existing developments, shall meet the following landscaping standards.

i.

Canopy trees shall be a minimum of two and one-half inches in caliper.

ii.

Evergreen trees shall be a minimum of six feet in height.

iii.

Understory trees shall be a minimum of one and one-half inches in caliper.

iv.

Deciduous shrubs shall be a minimum of two and one-half feet in spread.

v.

Evergreen shrubs shall be a minimum of two and one-half feet in height with a mature height of at least six feet.

B.

Buffer yards: Any lot developed or proposed to be developed with commercial or industrial uses which abuts or is located across the street from a residential district shall establish and maintain buffer yards as a minimum to the standards which follow. Additionally, the commission may require that a buffer yard be placed on any lot in a residential district when a special permit is being approved for such a lot abutting another lot in a residential district. Buffer yard examples are shown in figure 10.20.

i.

"A" buffer yard — These standards shall be required where any business district is across the street from any residential district. Additionally, the commission may require this buffer yard be placed on any lot in a residential district when a special permit is being approved for such a lot abutting another lot in a residential district. An "A" buffer yard is 25 feet deep.

ii.

"B" buffer yard — These standards shall be required where any industrial district is located across the street from any residential district. A "B" buffer yard is 50 feet deep.

iii.

"C" buffer yard — These standards shall be required where any business district abuts a residential district. A "C" buffer yard is 35 feet deep.

iv.

"D" buffer yard — These standards shall be required where any industrial district abuts a residential district. A "D" buffer yard is 100 feet deep.

C.

The commission may modify the buffer yard standards when, in the opinion of the commission, the adjoining land users are sufficiently protected.

D.

Additional requirements: The commission may, in addition to requiring buffer yards, require that a berm as shown in figure 10.20 be built and may require the substitution of evergreen trees for understory trees in those instances where it determines that it is necessary to screen a site from adjacent uses.