Authorizing Legislation for PUDs (Supporting Document for Bill No. 41-16)

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Section 21 -07.01 Landscape Regulations ARTICLE 7 GENERAL REGULATIONS SECTION 21 -07 GENERAL REGULATIONS Section 21 -07.01 Landscape Regulations. Intent - Landscaping is an essential element of the site design process and is an important feature in promoting the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare of the City of South Bend. Landscaping is intended to: mitigate incompatibilities between adjacent land uses; reduce the negative impacts of higher intensity land uses on less intense adjacent land uses; provide a critical visual and noise buffering effect between higher intensity districts and less intense districts; lessen the impact of development on the environment by reducing glare and heat buildup; and, break up large expanses of pavement so as to reduce impervious surface area, storm water run -off and the level of pollutants from non -point sources. (a) General Landscaping Provisions. (1) Applicability — Within the City of South Bend, all new developments and all additions to existing development (i.e., building additions, parking area expansions, etc.) shall provide landscaping as required by this Section for such new development or addition. (2) Location of Landscaping — Required landscaping areas shall consist of four (4) locations on a site: (i) landscaping of required perimeter yards or residential bufferyards; (ii) foundation landscaping; (iii) interior parking area landscaping; and, (iv) parking area screening. (3) Types of Landscape Screening — Three (3) types of landscape screening are provided for in this Section: (i) Type A: Open; (ii) Type B: Partial Screening; and, (iii) Type C: Full Screening. These three (3) types of landscape screening are intended to provide a progression of screening options suitable to a variety of landscaping and buffering needs between land uses and districts. (A) Type A: Open — The Type A: Open landscaping creates a pleasant visual experience but provides a minimal visual or sound barrier. Therefore, Type A: Open landscaping is intended for use on lots where the district of the abutting lots includes permitted uses with similar intensities, lights, sounds and regular operations and would have minimal, if any, negative impact on adjacent properties. Type A: Open landscaping requires a majority of the landscape materials to be of a shade tree variety with flexibility to add color, interest or heavier visual screening, if desired.