Page 224 - Des Moines - Zoning, Planning and Design Ch 134, 135

135-5. lANDScAPe AND StreetScAPe DRAFT

Side and Rear Buffer

135-5.10 Side and Rear buffer 5.10.3 MeDiUM BUFFer
Refer to Figure 5.10-A for illustration of these
5.10.1 iNteNt & APPlicABilitY requirements.
A. intent. To minimize the impact that one zoning A. Application. The medium buffer is required for all
district may have on a neighboring district and to MX1, MX2, RX1, RX2, NX3, and IX district lots abutting
provide a transition between districts. any N or A district.
B. Applicability. The side and rear buffer is required B. Buffer Depth and location. The buffer shall be
of lots in the following districts: located along the lot line, a minimum 5 feet in depth,
1. Any MX, RX, CX, EX, I, or P districts abutting or measured from the lot line. The buffer may be
adjacent to N or A districts. interrupted to allow for the perpendicular crossing
2. NX3 district abutting or adjacent to N1, N2, N3, of driveways and walkways.
N4, N5 districts. c. Fence/Wall. A continuous fence or wall is required
3. NM districts abutting N1, N2, N3, N4, N5 districts. along the length of the buffer, located a minimum of
6” off the lot line.
c. location. The side and rear buffer shall be located 1. Height. The fence/wall shall be 6 feet in height,
along the applicable rear and/or side lot line within measured per the fence requirements in 135-
the rear or side yard of the lot. 5.13.
D. topography. When terrain contours exceed the 2. Material. A fence shall be constructed of wood,
minimum required screening height at the property vinyl, or a combination of wood and metal. A wall
line, either on private property in question or on the shall be faced or constructed of either brick or
adjoining parcel, no screening is required subject to stone. Other fence materials may be approved
the community development director’s approval
with a type 1 design exception per 135-6.2.
5.10.2 liGHt BUFFer 3. Opacity. The fence/wall shall be a minimum of
Refer to Figure 5.10-A for illustration of these 80% opaque.
requirements. 4. A landscape hedge may be permitted through
A. Application. The light buffer is required for the a type 1 design exception with agreement from
following: the abutting property owner in writing. The
1. All parking lots located abutting alleys across landscape hedge shall provide the same level of
from any N or A district opacity as a fence within 1 year of installation.
2. P districts abutting N or A districts. 5. Existing Vegetation and Topography. Existing
B. Buffer Depth and location. The buffer shall be vegetation and topography may be credited
toward buffer requirements per the community
located along the lot line, a minimum 5 feet in depth, development director.
measured from the lot line. The buffer may be
interrupted to allow for the perpendicular crossing of D. Buffer landscape.
driveways and walkways. 1. Shade Tree. One shade tree for every 40 linear
c. Buffer landscape. feet of buffer.
1. Shade Trees. One shade tree for every 40 linear 2. Existing Vegetation. Existing vegetation may be
feet of buffer. credited toward buffer requirements per the
2. Shrubs. A continuous shrub planting is required, community development director.
consisting of a single row of shrubs with a 5.10.4 HeAVY BUFFer
minimum mature width of 24 inches each, Refer to Figure 5.10-A for illustration of these
spaced no more than 36 inches on center, and requirements.
height maintained no more than 48 inches within A. Application. The heavy buffer is required for all
1 year of installation. MX3, CX, and I district lots abutting any N or A
3. Existing Vegetation. Existing vegetation may be district.
credited toward buffer requirements per the B. Buffer Depth and location. The buffer shall
community development director.
be located along the lot line, a minimum 10 feet
in depth, measured from the lot line. The buffer

135-5-12 DRAFT AuGuST 3, 2017