24-516 Screening requirements | St. John Town Code

Sec. 24-516. Screening requirements.

(a) Ground mounted heating and cooling units and above ground fuel tanks must be screened from the view from public streets and adjacent properties.

(b) All trash dumpsters, trash pads, loading areas, loading docks, building service areas, and outside storage areas shall be screened from the view from residentially zoned property or uses and shall be screened from the view from a public street. Such screening may be achieved by using a minimum six-foot high opaque screen consisting of material similar to the principal building.

(d) All trees and scrubs must be planted a minimum of five (5) feet behind the right-of-way.

(1) In all zoning districts, all developed uses shall provide a green or landscaped yard along all streets. Such yard shall be kept clear of all structures and storage. Such yard shall be at least eight (8) feet in depth along all streets measured from the street right-of-way. Except for driveways, the yard shall extend the entire frontage of the lot and along both streets in the case of a corner lot.

(2) Screening shall be provided on all peripheral lot lines where the adjacent property has a different land use. An opaque screen shall be installed and maintained and shall have a total height of not less than six (6) feet nor more than seven (7) feet. Where there is a difference in elevation on opposite sides of the screen, the height shall be measured from the highest elevation. A screen shall consist of one or more of the following types:

a. Walls. A wall shall consist of concrete, stone, brick, tile or similar type of masonry material, a minimum of eight (8) inches thick.

b. Berms. A berm may be banked on both sides or with one side banked toward the lot line with a retaining wall. A berm shall be not less than twenty (20) feet wide at the base, shall have an undulating contour and shall be sloped for ease of maintenance. It shall be constructed of earthen materials and shall be landscaped.

c. Planting. Plant materials, when used as a screen, shall consist of a mixture of compact evergreen plants and taller deciduous plants. They shall be of a kind and used in such a manner so as to provide screening, having a minimum width of three (3) feet within eighteen (18) months after initial installation. Plan materials shall not be limited to a maximum height. The building commissioner may require that either (i) or (ii) above shall be installed if, after eighteen (18) months following installation, plant materials have not formed an opaque screen or if an opaque screen is not maintained.

d. Any landscaped area shall be separated from an adjacent vehicular area by a wall or curb at least six (6) inches higher than the adjacent vehicular area.

e. Landscaping shall be limited to a height of not more than three (3) feet within twenty (20) feet of the point of intersection of two (2) or more vehicular traffic ways, driveways or streets.

f. Underground sprinkling facilities shall be provided for all landscaped area.

g. Required landscaping shall be maintained in a neat, clean and healthy condition. This shall include proper pruning, mowing of lawns, weeding, removal of litter, fertilizing, replacement of plants as necessary, and the regular watering of all plants.

h. Existing topographic patterns shall be preserved, except where modifications will specifically contribute to increased utility of the site, and/or enhancement of the site.

i. All open automobile parking areas containing more than four (4) parking spaces shall be effectively screened on each side adjoining or fronting on any residential property. Wheelstops of masonry, steel, or heavy timber shall be placed not nearer than five (5) feet from the street line in districts where a front yard is not required, or from side lot lines.

j. A plan of screening and landscape development shall, where required, be submitted with the preliminary plat of a subdivision or land use application for a building.

(3) In addition to the aforementioned screening discussion, the following fence information shall apply:

Fence. A structure or tree or shrub hedge which is a decoration or barrier and used as a landscape decoration boundary or other means of protection or confinement.

Open fence. A fence including gates, which has for each one foot wide segment extending over the entire length and height of the fence, fifty (50) percent of the surface area in open spaces which afford a direct view through the fence.

Solid fence. A fence including gates which conceals from view from adjoining properties, streets, or alleys, activities conducted behind it.

F denotes front yards and side yards adjoining streets.

S denotes interior side yards.

R denotes rear yards.

b. Regulations. The fences and heights are allowed in each district as follows:

1. Open fences located in:

a. Agriculture districts, not more than eight (8) feet in height. (FSR)

b. Residence districts, not more than six (6) feet in height. (SR)

c. Residence districts, not more than four (4) feet in height. (F)

d. Business and manufacturing districts, not more than eight (8) feet in height. (SR)

2. Solid fences located in:

a. Agriculture districts, not more than eight (8) feet in height. (SR)

b. Residence districts, not more than six (6) feet in height. (SR)

c. Business districts, not more than eight (8) feet in height. (SR)

d. Manufacturing districts, not more than eight (8) feet in height. (SR)

c. Fence materials shall be approved by Plan Commission at the time of development plan approval.

d. Chain link fence is prohibited when adjacent to an existing residence or residential subdivision unless a solid buffer is provided on the residential side of the chain link fence.