§ 503. Landscape and Buffers

A. General Standards. Landscaping shall be designed and installed to define, soften, or screen the appearance of off-street parking areas and storage areas from public rights-of-way and abutting properties, to enhance the physical design of buildings and site, and to minimize the encroachment of the proposed use on neighboring land uses. The landscape shall be preserved in its natural state, insofar as practicable, by minimizing tree and soil removal, retaining existing vegetation where desirable, and keeping any grade changes in character with the general appearance of neighboring areas.

B. Specific Requirements.

1. Plantings shall be used to screen and break up parking areas and plantings or fences shall be used to screen trash receptacles and unsightly storage areas from roadways and abutting properties.

2. Stone walls, tree rows and low-lying thickets shall be retained whenever feasible and kept in good repair. Breaks for roads, utility easements or fire lanes shall be the minimum necessary, but sufficient to provide emergency vehicles clear access to ponds, cisterns or other water sources.

3. Agricultural uses shall retain a buffer of natural growth at least fifty (50) feet wide around all wetlands and waterbodies except that access ways to the water may remain cleared.

4. Where plantings are required, existing materials shall be used whenever possible; plants susceptible to windburn shall not be used as screen hedges.

5. Ground covers or grasses not requiring fertilizers or frequent watering shall be used whenever feasible.