§ 12.22. Screening walls.

1.

For the use districts and uses listed below, there shall be provided and maintained on those sides abutting or adjacent to a single or two-family residential district, an obscuring wall. The height of the wall shall be measured from the surface of the parking area or land on the nonresidential side of the wall:

	Use	Minimum Height Requirements
a.	Off-street parking area	4′6″ high wall (see also section 12.9)
b.	RM (with 17 or more units), C-1, C-2, C-3, and R-T districts	4′6″ high wall
c.	Districts	4′6″ high wall
d.	Storage areas and loading and unloading zones	4′6″ to 8′0″ high wall or fence (see also sections 12.12 and 12.13)
e.	Trash receptacles	6′0″ high wall (see also section 12.24)
f.	Utility buildings, stations, and substations	6′0″ high wall or fence

 

2.

In the case of the variable wall height requirement in subsection d. above, the extent of obscuring wall shall be determined by the planning commission on the basis of land usage, provided further that no wall or fence shall be less than the above required minimum, nor greater than the above required maximum height.

3.

Required walls shall be located on the lot line except where underground utilities interfere and except in instances where this Ordinance requires conformance with yard setback lines. Upon review of the site plan, the planning commission may approve an alternate location for the wall, or may modify the wall requirement by approving either an earth berm or evergreen screen in its place. The planning commission may also waive the wall requirement if in specific cases where cause can be shown that no good purpose would be served by the screening requirement.

4.

Required walls shall have no openings for vehicular traffic or other purposes, except as otherwise provided in this Ordinance and except such openings as may be approved by the planning commission. All walls herein required shall be constructed of materials approved by the building official to be durable, weather resistant, and easily maintained.

5.

The requirement for an obscuring wall between off-street parking areas, outdoor storage areas, and any abutting residential district shall not be required when such areas are located more than 200 feet distant from abutting residential district(s).