Section 110-566. landscaping and screening for commercial and industrial zoning districts.
(a) Whenever the boundary of a commercial or industrial zoning district abuts a residential zoning district, a visual screen shall be provided within the required setbacks of such commercial or industrial zoning district.
(b) Such visual screen shall:
(1) Be provided along the entire length of the commercial or industrial zoning boundary which abuts any residential zoning district.
(2) Consist of decorative or ornamental fencing or shrubs designed and placed in a manner rendering such visual screen density of at least 80 percent within a period of two years after such screen is provided.
(3) Be not less than four or more than eight feet in height, except as provided in section 110-470(a)(2).
(4) Have a minimum of one ten-point tree value as defined in section 110-567 which shall be planted every 35 feet with at least two five-point trees on the minimum 50-foot C-1 lot and three five-point trees on the minimum 75-foot M-1 lot.
(5) Be serviced by a functional underground sprinkler system adequate to maintain such landscaping.
(6) Be properly maintained and replaced if for any reason it does not survive.
(7) Be protected from vehicular encroachment.
(c) All areas not paved or with other landscaping, as designated in this section or in section 110-567, shall be planted with grass, hardy shrubs, evergreen or other ground cover materials, as specified in section 102-44, having the cold tolerance designation (+). Otherwise, the owner or developer must provide documentation from a recognized knowledgeable person, as defined in section 102-36, that his choice of vegetation has a good chance of thriving or meets state requirements for low water need (xeriscape).
(d) Where a fence or wall is used to fulfill the screening requirements within a vegetative buffer, it shall be located one foot inside of the property line which abuts the residential zoning. When a drainage easement, ditch or water body runs along a property line, an administrative waiver may be granted by the building official to allow the masonry wall or fence to be placed along the edge of the ditch or water body, instead of on the property line. Where existing trees exist within the buffer area, the fence or wall shall be located so as to preserve the trees.