§ 17.24.240. Landscape buffer yard standards.

A.

Application of Landscape Buffer Yard Standards. The specifications contained in Figures 17.24.240A through 17.24.240D, set out at the end of this chapter, shall be used to select the desired landscape buffer yard option for the building site. These yard requirements are stated in terms of minimum yard width and the density of required plant material per linear foot of yard. To determine the total number of plants required, the length of each side of property requiring a landscape buffer yard shall be divided by one hundred and multiplied by the number of plants shown in the illustration.

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

B.

Allowable Design Variations. The landscape buffer yard is normally calculated as parallel to the property line. However, design variations, especially when used to incorporate native vegetation into the yard area, shall be considered. The edges of the landscape buffer yard may meander provided that:

1.

The total area of the yard is equal to or greater than the total area of the required landscape buffer yard; and

2.

The yard measures no less than the minimum width permitted by the applicable landscape buffer yard standard at all points along the perimeter of the property line requiring a landscape buffer yard.

C.

Fractional Requirements. When the requirements of this article result in a fractional number of plantings, the fraction shall be rounded to one.

D.

Planned Unit Development Districts. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title to the contrary, the landscaping buffer yard requirements for a PUD originally approved by the metropolitan council under a previous Zoning Code shall be provided as required by this code or as required in the originally approved PUD, whichever is greater. If a PUD approved under a previous Zoning Code provides for commercial and/or industrial uses within such PUD, and the underlying base zoning of the property on which the PUD district exists is an agricultural or residential zoning district, then the commercial and/or industrial zoning district which best accommodates the land uses permitted within the PUD shall be the "Zoning District Providing Buffer Yard" for the purposes of Table 17.24.230.

E.

Yard Exceeds Twenty Percent of Lot Area. In circumstances where the ground area required for the landscape buffer yard exceeds twenty percent of the total lot area, the width and the number of trees and shrubs within the yard may be reduced up to fifty percent provided that a solid wall or closed wooden fence at least six feet in height is provided along the length of the reduced landscape buffer yard.

F.

Grading and Use of Berms. Proposals for grading within a landscape buffer yard shall demonstrate superior enhancement of the buffer function compared to retention of the existing grades. Grading should not endanger or remove existing trees which occur within a landscape buffer yard, unless the proposal clearly demonstrates an enhanced buffer. The use of earthen berms within a landscape buffer yard is encouraged when disturbance to existing vegetation can be minimized. Where berms are incorporated into the yard, the required plantings may have a lesser mature height, provided that the combined height of the berm and plantings will equal the required mature heights of plantings as set forth in Section 17.24.210B and C.

G.

Waiver of Landscape Buffer Yard. Landscape buffer yard requirements may be waived by a demonstration of unusual site grade conditions which would clearly negate the effects of the required yard. The applicant shall furnish sections or profiles (drawn to scale) through the property line along the yard which is proposed for waiver. These drawings shall demonstrate the existing and proposed grades on both sides of the property line, as well as the principal structures on both properties. The sections or profiles shall show the line of sight for a pedestrian (taken at four and one-half feet above grade) from principal entrances and from the highest point on the site to be buffered. Such profiles or sections shall clearly demonstrate that the effect of the change in grade would negate the effect of a mature landscape buffer yard thirty feet in height.

(Ord. 2001-750 §§ 15—31, 2001; Ord. BL2000-364 § 1 (part), 2000; Amdt. 2 (part) with Ord. 98-1323 § 4, 1998; Amdt. 1 with Ord. 98-1268 § 1 (part), 1998; Ord. 96-555 § 6.5(G), 1997)

Table 17.24.230 TABLE OF LANDSCAPE BUFFER YARD REQUIREMENTS

		ZONING DISTRICT PROVIDING BUFFER YARD
		1 AG, AR2a, RS80, R80, RS40, R40, RS30, R30, RS20, R20, RS15, R15, RS10, R10, RM2, RM4	2 R8, R8-A, RS7.5, RS7.5-A, R6, R6-A, RS5, RS5-A, RS3.75, RS3.75-A, RM6, RM9, RM9-A	3 RM15, RM15-A, RM20, RM20-A, RM40, RM40-A, RM60, RM60-A, RM80-A, RM100-A, MHP	4 ON, CN, CN-A, MUN, MUN-A, SCN, OL, OR20, OR20-A, OR40, OR40-A	5 CL, CL-A, CS, CS-A, MUL, MUL-A, SCC, I	6 CA, CF, SCR, MUG, MUG-A, MUI, MUI-A, ORI, ORI-A, OG	7 IWD, IR, IG
A B U T T I N G Z O N I N G D I S T R I C T	1 AG, AR2a, RS80, R80, RS40, R40, RS30, R30, RS20, R20, RS15, R15, RS10, R10, RM2, RM4	—	B	C	C	C	D	D
	2 R8, R8-A, RS7.5, RS7.5-A, R6, R6-A, RS5, RS5-A, RS3.75, RS3.75-A, RM6, RM9, RM9-A	—	—	B	C	C	D	D
	3 RM15, RM15-A, RM20, RM20-A, RM40, RM40-A, RM60, RM60-A, RM80-A, RM100-A, MHP	A	A	—	B	B	C	D
	4 ON, CN, CN-A, MUN, MUN-A, SCN, OL, OR20, OR20-A, OR40, OR40-A	A	A	A	—	A	B	C
	5 CL, CL-A, CS, CS-A, MUL, MUL-A, SCC, I	A	A	A	A	—	A	B
	6 CA, CF, SCR, MUG, MUG-A, MUI, MUI-A, ORI, ORI-A, OG	B	B	B	B	A	—	B
	7 IWD, IR, IG	C	C	C	B	B	B	—

 

Note 1:  The zoning administrator may allow a necessary adjustment to the landscape buffer yard located along a rear property line to provide for necessary building area after determining an adjustment to a required build-to zone is necessary as permitted by Table 17.12.020.D. The zoning administrator may allow a necessary adjustment to the landscape buffer yard based on the nature of the existing and future land uses and site conditions in the general vicinity after receiving a written recommendation from the planning department.