Chapter 18.33
SCREENING AND LANDSCAPING REGULATIONS
Sections:
18.33.020 Safety standards applicable to required screening and landscaping.
18.33.040 Standards applicable to required screening.
18.33.050 Height standards applicable to required screening.
18.33.060 Measurement of height of screening.
18.33.070 Required landscaping.
18.33.080 Special regulations applicable to landscaping along designated scenic highway.
18.33.090 Standards applicable to required landscaping.
18.33.010 Purposes.
The provisions of DMC 18.33.010 through 18.33.090, inclusive, shall be known as the screening and landscaping regulations. The purpose of these provisions is to prescribe standards for screening, fences, walls, and landscaping within the City of Dixon for the conservation and protection of property, the assurance of safety and security, the enhancement of privacy, the control of dust, the abatement or attenuation of noise, and the improvement of the visual environment, including the provision of a neat appearance in keeping with neighborhood character. [Ord. 13-008 § 2; Ord. 13-009 § 2(1).]
18.33.020 Safety standards applicable to required screening and landscaping.
A. Safety Standards. Required fences, walls, other screening and landscaping, whether provided in accordance with the provisions of DMC 18.33.030 and 18.33.070 or provided in addition to those provisions, shall be subject to review by the Director of Public Works in the following areas:
1. Within ten (10) feet of the point of intersection of:
a. A vehicular accessway or driveway and a street; or
b. A vehicular accessway or driveway and a sidewalk.
2. Within twenty (20) feet of the point of intersection of two (2) or more vehicular accessway, driveways, or streets. [Ord. 13-008 § 2; Ord. 13-009 § 2(1).]
18.33.030 Required screening.
A. Commercial and industrial districts: along all zone boundaries, other than streets, where the building site abuts residential zoning districts.
B. Professional office districts: along all zone districts, other than streets, where building site abuts residential districts and around parking and maneuvering areas that would otherwise be visible from a street except that such screening shall be located no closer than ten (10) feet from the property line where street side landscaping is required by the provisions in this section.
C. Automotive and equipment use types: on building sites with automotive and equipment use types, regardless of zoning, along all zone boundaries, other than streets, where the building site abuts residential zoning districts or the agricultural district. Notwithstanding the provisions of DMC 18.33.040, only masonry walls shall be used.
D. Parking facilities: along unenclosed off-street parking facilities whenever such facilities are located across the street from property used or zoned for residential use and less than fifty (50) feet from such street, or located less than five (5) feet from property used or zoned for residential use.
E. Nonresidential uses in residential districts: on building sites with nonresidential uses located in residential zoning districts along all property lines abutting residences. For the purpose of this subsection, nonresidential use shall not include home occupations. [Ord. 13-008 § 2; Ord. 13-009 § 2(1).]
18.33.040 Standards applicable to required screening.
Unless otherwise provided by DMC 18.33.030, required screening shall be subject to the following standards:
A. Screening Types. A screen shall consist of any combination of the following types:
1. Walls. A wall shall consist of concrete, stone, brick, tile or similar type of solid masonry material a minimum of four (4) inches thick.
2. Berms. A berm shall be not more than twenty (20) feet in width at the base. It shall be constructed of earthen materials and it shall be landscaped.
3. Fences, Solid. A solid fence shall be constructed of wood, masonry or chain link type fence combined with plant materials or wood slats to form an opaque screen.
4. Fences, Open. An open weave, mesh or chain link type fence.
5. Planting. Plant materials, when used as a screen, shall consist of compact evergreen plants. They shall be of a kind, or used in such a manner, so as to provide screening having a height which meets the requirements set forth in DMC 18.33.050 and a minimum width of two (2) feet, within eighteen (18) months after initial installation. The Planning Director shall require that the screens in either subsection (A)(1), (2) or (3) of this section be installed, if after eighteen (18) months after installation, plant materials have not formed an opaque screen or if an opaque screen is not maintained.
B. Signs and Sign Supports. No signs or sign supports shall be permitted on any required screening. [Ord. 13-008 § 2; Ord. 13-009 § 2(1).]
18.33.050 Height standards applicable to required screening.
In accordance with the provisions of DMC 18.33.020, or in addition to those provisions, fences, walls and other screening shall be subject to the following height standards; provided, however, that wherever the provisions of DMC 18.33.040 apply, those provisions shall govern:
A. Commercial, Professional Offices and Medical Districts. Required screening, except for plant material, shall not be more than six (6) feet in height.
B. Industrial Districts. Required screening, except for plant materials, shall not be more than eight (8) feet in height.
C. Automotive and Equipment Type Uses. Notwithstanding the provisions of an applicable zone, for fences, walls and other screening on any building site within an automotive and equipment use type, required screening shall not be more than eight (8) feet in height.
D. Parking Facilities. Notwithstanding the provisions of an applicable zone, for screening around an unenclosed off-street parking facility, as specified in DMC 18.33.030(D), required screening shall not be more than six (6) feet in height.
E. All Other Building Sites. Fences, walls, and other screening on building sites not subject to the regulations of subsections A through D of this section shall be subject to the following height limits:
1. Within Required Front Yard. The maximum height shall be three (3) feet within any required front yard.
2. Within Required Side Yard. The maximum height shall be six (6) feet to within ten (10) feet of a side property line adjoining a public street. Fences within the ten (10) foot side yard adjacent to a street shall be a maximum height of three (3) feet.
3. All Other Areas. In all cases other than those specified in subsection (E)(1) of this section, screening shall not be more than six (6) feet in height.
F. Public Safety Facilities. Screening height standards shall not be applicable to any public safety facility, as defined by DMC 18.02.010(D). [Ord. 13-008 § 2; Ord. 13-009 §§ 2(1), (29); Ord. 18-004 § 3.]
18.33.060 Measurement of height of screening.
The height of fences, walls and other screening shall be measured above the actual adjoining level of finished grade, except that where there is a difference in elevation on opposite sides of such fence, wall or other screening, the height shall be measured from the highest original elevation. Notwithstanding these requirements, where the finished elevation of the property is lower at the boundary line, or within five (5) feet inside the boundary line, than an abutting property elevation, such change in elevation may be used in lieu of, or in combination with, additional screening to satisfy a screening requirement. Where screening is required along a public or private street and the roadway elevation is higher than the property in question, the Planning Director may require screens to be higher than permitted by the applicable height limit. [Ord. 13-008 § 2; Ord. 13-009 § 2(1).]
18.33.070 Required landscaping.
The following landscaping shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the regulations of DMC 18.33.090:
A. Neighborhood Shopping and Professional Office Districts.
1. Boundary Landscaping. Boundary landscaping is required for a minimum depth of ten (10) feet along all property lines abutting streets except for the area required for street openings.
2. Additional Landscaping. Additional landscaping, equal to at least seven percent (7%) of the total area of the building site, is required and a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of such landscaping shall be located in the area devoted to parking.
3. Trees. At least two (2) street trees are required for each fifty (50) feet of street frontage or fraction thereof. Trees species are encouraged to be from the City’s approved street tree list.
B. Industrial District.
1. Boundary Landscaping. Boundary landscaping is required for a minimum depth of eight (8) feet along all property lines abutting streets except for the area required for street openings.
2. Vehicle Storage and Parking Areas. In addition to the landscaping required by subsection (B)(1) of this section, not less than five percent (5%) of any vehicle storage or parking area shall be landscaped in addition to, or in conjunction with, DMC 18.36.020(C)(1).
3. Additional Landscaping. All portions of the building site, exclusive of structures, parking areas, recreational uses, driveway and walkways, shall be landscaped.
4. Trees. At least one (1) street tree is required for each fifty (50) feet of street frontage or fraction thereof. Tree species are encouraged to be from the City’s approved street tree list.
C. Highway Commercial and Service Commercial Districts.
1. Boundary Landscaping with Vehicular Easement. Where a vehicular easement is created parallel to a street, it shall be separated from such street by landscaping at least five (5) feet wide except for the area required for street openings.
2. Boundary Landscaping without Vehicular Easement. Where a vehicular easement is not created parallel to the street, landscaping at least ten (10) feet wide shall be installed along and adjacent to the ultimate right-of-way line of any abutting street except for the area required for street openings.
3. Trees. At least two (2) street trees are required for each fifty (50) feet of street frontage or fraction thereof. Tree species are encouraged to be from the City’s approved street tree list.
D. Nonresidential and Multiple-Family Uses in Residential Zoning Districts. Where nonresidential and multiple-family uses are located in residential zoning districts, landscaping shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the following provisions and the provisions of DMC 18.33.090:
1. Area. Landscaped areas shall comprise a minimum of twenty percent (20%) of all building sites and shall include as a minimum:
a. A fifteen (15) foot wide area along all street frontages; and
b. A ten (10) foot wide area along all interior property lines.
2. Trees. At least two (2) street trees are required for each fifty (50) feet of street frontage or fraction thereof. Tree species are encouraged to be from the City’s approved street tree list.
3. Off-Street Parking. Landscaping of off-street parking areas shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
a. Ends of parking rows capped with a landscape planter to define rows;
b. A maximum distance of thirty-five (35) feet between planted areas located along parking rows.
E. Single-Family Use in One (1) Family Residential District.
1. Front Yard. The front yard of all new single-family homes shall be xeriscaped or landscaped and irrigated.
2. Trees. At least one (1) street tree is required for each fifty (50) feet of street frontage. Species shall be selected from the City’s approved street tree list.
F. Automotive and Equipment Use Types. Notwithstanding the provisions of an applicable zoning district, on any building site with an automotive and equipment use the following landscaping shall be required in accordance with the regulations of DMC 18.33.090. Boundary landscaping is required for a minimum depth of ten (10) feet along all property lines abutting streets except for the area required for street opening and the area within four (4) feet on either side of street openings. [Ord. 13-008 § 2; Ord. 13-009 §§ 2(1), (30).]
18.33.080 Special regulations applicable to landscaping along designated scenic highway.
In reviewing landscape plans, the minimum landscaping requirements of DMC 18.33.070 may be increased or otherwise modified by the Design Review Committee in order to meet the following objectives:
A. Uses which by their nature will detract from the scenic qualities of a particular designated route should be screened as much as practicable.
B. Landscaping should not obstruct significant views.
C. Landscaping should harmonize with the natural landscaping of the site. [Ord. 13-008 § 2; Ord. 13-009 § 2(1).]
18.33.090 Standards applicable to required landscaping.
All required landscaping shall conform to the following requirements:
A. Required landscaping materials are defined as follows:
1. Shrubs, of one (1) gallon size or larger;
2. Street trees, of fifteen (15) gallon size or larger, and double staked;
3. Ground cover; and
4. Decorative nonliving landscaping materials such as sand, stone, gravel, wood or water may be used to satisfy up to thirty percent (30%) of required landscaped area when approved by the Design Review Committee.
B. Separation. 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.
C. Existing Vegetation. Every effort shall be made to incorporate on-site trees and shrubbery into the required landscaping.
D. Maintenance. Required landscaping shall be maintained in a neat, clean and healthy condition. This shall include pruning, mowing of lawns, weeding, removal of litter, fertilizing, replacement of plants when necessary, and the regular watering of all plantings by use of an automatic landscape irrigation system.
E. Reduction of standards prescribed in this chapter is as follows:
1. The Design Review Committee may reduce these standards by not more than fifty percent (50%) when adherence to these standards would be impractical due to:
a. Location of existing structure;
b. Special site organization requirements;
c. Topography; and
d. Novel or experimental techniques of design or land development.
2. The Design Review Committee may waive partially or completely these standards in cases where the existing building abuts street property line or is within five (5) feet of the street property line.
F. Parking Area Shading.
1. All surface parking areas shall be landscaped with sufficient trees so that, upon those trees reaching fifteen (15) years of age, the stalls and back-up areas are at least forty percent (40%) shaded on June 22nd of each year when the sun is directly overhead. Any species of trees used to achieve such shading shall be resistant to disease and parasites common in Dixon such as Dutch elm disease and mistletoe.
2. The Planning Commission shall adopt, by resolution, regulations for the implementation of this subsection, including, but not limited to, standards for determining landscape maturity and measuring anticipated shade coverage. [Ord. 13-008 § 2; Ord. 13-009 § 2(1).]