18.105.050 Buffer and screening.
In order to reduce the impacts on adjacent uses of a different type, buffering and screening are required in accordance with Table 18.105.050-1 below.
A. General Requirements.
1. The property owner is responsible for the installation and maintenance of required buffers and screens including compliance with TMC 18.135.060(A).
2. The community development director may waive the buffering/screening requirements of this section where the required buffer/screen has been installed on the adjacent property in accordance with this chapter.
3. Where a proposed use abuts undeveloped property, only one-half of the buffer width shall be required.
B. Buffer Location. A buffer consists of an area within a required setback adjacent to a property line. It has a depth equal to the amount specified in Table 18.105.050-1 and contains a length equal to the length of the property line of the abutting use(s).
C. Buffer Requirements.
1. At least one row of trees. These trees will not be less than 10 feet tall at the time of planting and not spaced more than 30 feet apart and five feet tall at the time of planting for evergreen trees and spaced not more than 15 feet apart. This requirement may be waived by the community development director when it can be demonstrated that such trees would conflict with other provisions of this code (e.g., solar access).
2. At least five five-gallon shrubs or 10 one-gallon shrubs for each 1,000 square feet of required buffer area.
3. The remaining buffer area shall be planted in accordance with TMC 18.105.030(C).
D. Screening. Where screening is required or provided, at least one of the following techniques shall be provided in addition to the buffering requirements above:
1. One row of evergreen shrubs that will grow to form a continuous hedge at least six feet tall within two years of planting; or
2. A fence or masonry wall at least six feet in height to provide a uniform sight-obscuring screen; or
3. An earthen berm combined with evergreen plantings or a fence that forms a sight and noise buffer at least six feet tall within two years of installation.
E. Clear Vision. Buffering and screening provisions are superseded by the clear vision requirements of TMC 18.105.055.
F. Landscaping within the buffer shall count towards minimum landscaped area and vegetation required by TMC 18.105.020 and 18.105.030.
G. Agricultural Buffers. To implement the agricultural buffering standards of the Greater Bear Creek Valley regional plan, buffering provisions in TMC 18.215.200 shall be addressed when urban development on land along the urban growth boundary abutting land zoned exclusive farm use is proposed.
BUFFER REQUIREMENTS | PROPOSED USE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABUTTING USE OR ZONING DISTRICT | Single-family dwelling (1) | Multifamily | Manufactured home park or subdivision | Commercial/professional or mixed-use | Light industrial use | Parking lot with at least 5 spaces |
Dwellings in RHD, RMD, RLD districts | 0' | 10' | 0' | 10' S | 30' S | 10' S |
Manufactured home park (MHP) or subdivision in any district | 0' | 0' | 0' | 10' S | 30' S | 10' S |
Any arterial street (2) | 10' | 10' | 10' S | 10' | 10' | 10' |
Commercial or professional uses, or commercial and mixed use districts | 10' | 10' S | 10' S | 0' | 0' | 0' |
Light industrial district | 30' S | 30' S | 30' S | 0' | 0' | 0' |
Any parking lot with at least 5 spaces | 5' S | 5' S | 5' S | 0' | 0' | 0' |
“S” indicates screening required. (1) Includes single-family detached, attached and common-wall dwellings, duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and cluster housing. (2) The buffer/screening standard does not apply along arterial streets where it conflicts with other provisions of this code. | ||||||
[Ord. 966 § 2 (Exh. B), 2021; Ord. 918 § 2 (Exh. A), 2016; Ord. 817 § 8-3J.450, 2006.]