§ 184-104. Landscaping and buffers.

A. 

General. Landscaping for site plans and subdivisions shall be designed to:

(1) 

Preserve and enhance the visual identity of the site, neighborhood and Borough as a whole;

(2) 

Mitigate the potentially harmful effects of soil and negative disturbance, lighting, and noise, including but not limited to the provisions of this article;

(3) 

Buffer incompatible uses;

(4) 

Screen various improvements, including buildings, parking and loading areas, utilities and drainage structures, storage areas, etc. from streets and adjacent properties, as appropriate; and

(5) 

Not conflict with traffic safety, light fixtures, electric and telephone lines or other utilities, or related entities.

B. 

General site landscaping. Any part or portion of the site which is not used for buildings, accessory structures, loading or parking spaces or aisles, sidewalks and designated storage areas, and which does not contain existing vegetation to remain, shall be landscaped in accordance with an overall landscape planting plan, as approved by the Board. All landscaped portions of the site shall be maintained adequately throughout the year.

C. 

Protection of existing vegetation. Existing vegetation shall be preserved to the maximum extent practicable. The following shall apply:

(1) 

Snow fence or silt fence shall be installed at the limits of disturbance as shown on the approved development plans, which shall be at a sufficient distance to prevent disturbance of the root systems or branches of the vegetation to be preserved.

(2) 

Cut or fill near existing trees to be preserved shall require the installation of tree wells or retaining walls, as appropriate, to maintain the existing grade above the roots of the tree.

D. 

Buffers. A buffer in the form of landscaping, fences, berms and/or walls shall be provided by the developer of any nonresidential use which abuts a residentially zoned property, and by the developer of any multifamily residential use, community residence or shelter which is regulated as a conditional use which abuts a property located in a single-family or two-family residential zone. Any buffer provided between properties shall be sufficient to provide visual separation during all seasons and to minimize the effects of headlights from vehicles, light from structures, noise and the movements of people and vehicles. The following provisions shall apply, provided that additional and/or more restrictive standards may be required by the zoning regulations, Articles XII through XX of this chapter.

(1) 

When topographical conditions, existing vegetation or other conditions provide a sufficient buffer as determined by the Board, no additional buffer shall be required.

(2) 

Buffer depths shall be sufficient to accommodate the ultimate growth of any plantings in the buffer. In the case of gasoline filling stations, gasoline service stations, automotive service shops, automotive repair shops, automobile body repair shops and automobile painting facilities, any of which abut a residentially zoned property, the buffer depth shall be at least 10 feet.

(3) 

Trees and shrubs used in a buffer shall be at lease five feet high at the time of planting.

(4) 

Buffers shall be protected from impact by motor vehicles, and from the negative effects of road salt and snowplowing. A granite block curb shall separate buffers from vehicle use areas.

E. 

Every sexually oriented business shall be surrounded by a perimeter buffer of at least 50 feet in width with plantings, fences or other physical divider along the outside of the perimeter sufficient to impede the view of the interior of the premises in which the business is located. The perimeter buffer shall also meet all other requirements of this section.

F. 

Sections 184-116B(5), 184-117, and 184-118C(5) governing landscaping and buffering in the LGAH, TAH, and MAH Zones that conflict with the provisions of this section shall control.