Buffer Yard

Minimum Length- length of property line facing a conflicting land use zoning district.

Minimum Width- width of buffer will vary based upon intensity of use variation between land uses. Refer to zoning district buffer matrix for exact width and planting composition. Minimum width of buffer yard is ten (10) feet, residential and maximum width is one hundred (100) feet industrial. Class A, B, C and D buffers are created.

Minimum Area- length times width of planting area. Area coverage may be adjusted to site conditions and property line tree preservation as long as square footage requirement is met with approval of landscape administrator.

Planting Area Character- level to sloping graded planting area with built up plant beds and spot or grove planted trees.

Minimum Planting Area- per Class A tree shall be two hundred (200) square feet, Class B tree shall be one hundred (100) square feet, Class C tree shall be fifty (50) square feet. Large container shrubs and B&B shrubs shall have a planting area as required by the landscape architect. Seven (7) gallon shrubs shall have an area a minimum of sixteen (16) square feet, three (3) gallon shrubs shall have a minimum area of four (4) square feet, one (1) gallon shrubs or ground covers shall have a minimum areas of two and one half (2.5) feet, and four (4) inch container stock shall have an area of one (1) square foot to grow in.

Minimum Plant Bed Design- planting beds for Class C trees, small trees, shrubs, and ground covers are required for all residential and commercial buffers. These buffer planting beds shall be composed of a raised planting bed a minimum of twelve (12) inches deep over a scarified sub base and composed of an amended planting mixture, mulched with a minimum of two (2) inches of aged pine bark mulch and top dressed with one (1) inch of pine bark straw to prevent washing. Soil mix fertilizer amendment and chemical weed control composition shall be as the landscape architect may specify.

General Planting Standard- the buffer yard planting standard as seen in the zoning district buffer chart and shall contain the required minimum number of three Class A trees, Class B trees, Class C trees, shrubs, and ground covers for every one hundred (100) feet of length of the buffer yard planting area. Shrubs and ground cover must cover a minimum sixty (60) percent of the buffer yard planting area. Turf grass, decorative gravel or hardwood mulch shall cover the remainder.

Spacing- per Class A trees shall be forty (40) feet on center, Class B trees shall be spaced thirty (30) feet on center, Class C trees shall be spaced ten to fifteen (10 to 15) feet on center. Large container shrubs and B&B shrubs shall be planted as required by the landscape architect. Seven (7) gallon shrubs shall be spaced four to six (4-6) feet on center, three (3) gallon shrubs shall be spaced two to three (2-3) on center, one (1) gallon shrubs or ground covers shall be spaced eighteen to twenty-four (18-24) inches on center, and four (4) inch container stock shall be planted twelve (12) inches on center.

Planting Configuration- may be geometrically formal or informal as the landscape design plan shall so show and as the site may so suggest. With tree credit utilization, the design should be informal and naturalized.

Minimum Plant Size- Class A shall be thirty (30) gallon, 3” caliper, 10-12’ tall, Class B trees shall be twenty-five (25) gallon, 2” caliper, 8-10’ tall, multi-trunk or standard. Class C trees shall be 4-6” tall at time of planting. B&B shrubs shall be thirty-six to forty-eight (48) inches tall upon planting, seven gallon shrubs shall be a minimum of thirty-six (36) inches tall at time of planting, three (3) gallon shrubs shall be a minimum of twenty-four (24) inches tall at time of planting and all one (1) gallon shrubs shall be a minimum of fifteen (15) inches tall at time of planting. All plants must conform to these standards or the general plant material size specifications of the American Nursery & Landscape Association which ever is greater.

Other-trees shall be staked with approved staking kit with a self irrigating ‘alligator bag’ attached during the first ninety (90) days. All landscape beds shall be weed free. In some land use conflict areas masonry walls, wood fencing and earth berms may be used to allow for a decrease in the width of the buffer.