Landscape Screen

Landscape buffers and landscape screens are not the same. Landscape screens are similar to buffers but their main purpose is different. Landscape buffers reduce land use conflicts while landscape screens reduce visual conflict between adjacent properties.

Landscape screens are used to screen site service areas, dumpster pads and lay down and storage areas all of which are unsightly and often cluttered and disorganized. In some community landscape code for instance, screening is required for off-street parking and for refuse storage facilities, all business, service, repair, processing, storage, or merchandise display conducted outside of an enclosed building. Theses site service areas shall be screened from adjacent streets and properties by means of an effective screening device of a height appropriate to its screening function. Appropriate screening devices may include solid decorative masonry walls, wood fences, earth berms, or tight evergreen hedges all of which shall reach the necessary height to effectively screen the area or facilities within two (2) years of planting, or a combination of the above.  Landscape screens are to be used to improve on site views from public streets, residential districts in some cases from lower intensity land use districts.