17.10.050 Buffering and screening requirements.
A. Zone Boundary Buffering.
1. Zone boundary buffering shall be installed and maintained along nonresidential zoning district boundaries (other than streets) that abut residential zones. Zone boundary buffering shall consist of, at minimum:
a. One canopy tree per fifty linear feet.
b. One ornamental/evergreen tree per fifty linear feet.
c. One shrub per every fifteen linear feet.
d. The maximum spacing between plants shall not exceed twenty feet at maturity.
e. Screening shall be installed and maintained at eight feet minimum.
f. A buffer shall be installed and maintained at ten feet in width.
g. Reference: Table 17.10.050 Buffer Landscape Specification, Figure 17.10.050.A, and Figure 17.10.050.B.
Figure 17.10.050.A.
Figure 17.10.050.B.
B. Standard Buffering.
1. Standard buffering shall be installed and maintained where specifically or otherwise required within the Moab Municipal Code (MMC). Standard buffering shall consist of, at minimum:
a. One canopy tree per one hundred linear feet.
b. One ornamental/evergreen trees per fifty linear feet.
c. One shrub per twenty-five linear feet.
d. Maximum spacing between plants shall not exceed twenty-five feet at maturity.
e. Screening shall be installed and maintained at six feet minimum.
f. A buffer shall be installed and maintained at eight feet in width minimum.
g. Reference: Table 17.10.050, Buffer Landscape Specification, Figure 17.10.050.A, and Figure 17.10.050.B.
C. Buffer Landscape Requirements.
1. Landscaping specifically required within zone boundary buffering and standard buffering shall be regulated and maintained as follows:
a. Trees shall be a minimum of one-and-one-half inch diameter measured six inches above the soil surface or bare root at time of installation. Bare root trees may be 2-1, 2-2, P-1 and P-2 stock types.
b. Clustering of plant material is allowed if the maximum spacing requirement is not exceeded.
c. Each existing shrub preserved may count towards the required shrub amount if it is identified on the approved plant list.
d. Existing trees that are preserved may count as two new trees towards the required tree amount if it is identified on the approved plant list.
e. Fractional landscaping quantities shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.
f. Required buffering trees and shrubs shall be maintained as provided in Section 17.10.030, Landscaping – Maintenance.
g. The developing land use is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the landscape buffer yard including, but not limited to, the trimming of canopy trees that may encroach onto neighboring property that becomes a nuisance or hazard.
D. Screening Required.
1. Screening shall be required as follows, unless provided specifically elsewhere in this title:
a. Six-foot fence screening shall be required around mechanical equipment, outdoor storage areas, loading/unloading areas visible from an adjoining street or parking area, heating or cooling units for all nonresidential uses, dumpsters or structures built to accommodate the storage of trash and garbage.
b. Screening shall be enclosed on all sides and not contain any openings other than a gate for access which shall be closed at all times when not in use. This full enclosure requirement shall not apply to screening of loading/unloading areas.
c. When a screen wall or fence has both a finished side and an unfinished side, the finished side shall face the adjoining property or, if on the interior of the site, shall face outward toward the perimeter of the site.
|
Requirements (Minimum plants per 100 linear feet) |
Standard Buffering |
Zone Boundary Buffering |
|---|---|---|
|
Canopy Tree |
1 |
2 |
|
Ornamental/Evergreen Trees |
2 |
2 |
|
Shrubs |
4 |
6 |
|
Maximum Spacing at Maturity |
25' |
20' |
|
Screen Height Minimum |
6' |
8' |
|
Buffer Depth Minimum |
8' |
10' |
E. Exceptions to Buffering and Screening Requirements.
1. The land use authority may grant an exception to the zone boundary buffering and standard buffering where the land use authority determines that existing natural conditions are such that a lot cannot reasonably accommodate the required buffering or where existing natural conditions on the lot act as sufficient buffering. Alternatively, where the land use authority determines that landscaped screening is inappropriate for a lot, they may require the installation of a fence or wall to meet the buffering requirements. The following factors shall be considered when evaluating any request for exception:
a. Physical characteristics of the site and surrounding area such as topography, vegetation, water features, etc.;
b. Views and noise levels;
c. Proximity or potential proximity to residential uses;
d. Building and parking lot placement; and
e. Location of outdoor storage, display, or sales areas.
2. The land use authority may grant exceptions to screening requirements if existing conditions are such that a lot cannot accommodate the required screening standards. The land use authority may modify the screening requirements based on the following factors:
a. Proximity or potential proximity of residential uses;
b. Sight lines from parking areas, adjacent properties or roadways;
c. Noise levels generated by the facility to be screened; and
d. Physical characteristics of the site and surrounding area such as topography and vegetation may mitigate the need for screening. (Ord. 23-08 § 3, 2023)