Section 175-37.08        LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING.


A.  Screening of Uses.  Commercial, institutional, and community uses shall be screened from residential uses within and abutting the planned neighborhood development by a buffer yard 20 feet in width containing a minimum of three canopy trees, six understory trees, and nine shrubs per 100 feet of length (or an amount creating an equivalent effect and approved with the landscape plan) along the perimeter of the lot line abutting a residential use.

 

B.  Screening along Public Roadways.   Uses within a planned neighborhood development which abut an arterial street as defined in Section 148-26(C)(3) shall be screened by a buffer yard of 20 feet in width containing a minimum of three canopy trees, six understory trees and  nine shrubs per 100 feet of frontage (or an amount creating an equivalent effect and approved with the landscape plan).  Canopy trees shall be deciduous shade trees planted with a minimum of two and one-half inches in caliper at six inches above the ground with a mature height of at least 35 feet.  Understory trees shall be deciduous shade or fruit trees planted at minimum one and ½ inch in caliper at six inches above the ground with a mature height of at least 12 feet.

 

C.  Existing Vegetation.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this ordinance, existing vegetation shall be retained and maintained to the extent feasible in order to permit existing vegetation to fulfill or contribute to buffer and screening requirements.  In lieu of strict compliance with the above buffer yard requirements, a developer may submit a detailed landscaping plan that will afford a degree of buffering and screening comparable to that provided by these regulations in making use of existing and new vegetation.  For developments utilizing more than 10 percent existing vegetation as a density bonus credit, a Certified Arborist shall provide a detailed description of the existing vegetation with notation of specimen trees, to certify compliance.  The Arborist report shall be accompanied by the proposed measures for ensuring preservation during and after construction in accordance with the preservation criteria stated in the Town of Front Royal Landscape Preservation and Planting Guide.

 

D. Screening of Refuse Collection Facilities.  Uses, except single-family homes within a planned neighborhood development shall provide secure, safe, and sanitary facilities for the storage and pickup of refuse.  Such facilities shall be convenient to collection and shall be appropriate to the type and size of use being served.  All refuse storage facilities shall be screened on three sides by a solid wooden fence or masonry wall and a tight evergreen hedge.  The fourth side shall be angled to minimize the view of the refuse collection facility or shall be screened by an opaque gate made of durable materials.  The screening shall be of sufficient height and design to effectively screen the facility from the view from nearby residential uses, streets, adjacent properties, and recreational facilities.


(Ord. No. Z-1-05 Added Entire Section 4-11-05-Effective Upon Passage)