Outdoor storage and disposal

A. Outdoor storage prohibitions. No materials or wastes shall be deposited in any manner that they may be transferred off the property by natural causes or forces. All materials or wastes which might cause fumes or dust or which constitute a fire hazard or which may be edible by or otherwise attractive to rodent or insects shall be stored outdoors only in enclosed containers.
B. Outdoor storage restrictions. The following limitation on the aboveground storage of certain materials shall be enforced:
- (1) Fuel tanks for energy or heating devices or appliances, tanks containing compressed natural gas, and the fueling of vehicles operated in association with a permitted use may utilize aboveground tanks, provided that they are located a minimum of 1,000 feet from any residential use, a hospital, an auditorium, or other building used for public assembly.
- (2) Loading or unloading operations located within 200 feet of and abutting residential districts shall not be conducted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or else shall be conducted entirely within an enclosed structure.
- (3) A fence, wall, hedge, landscaping, earth berm, natural buffer area, or any combination thereof shall be provided to obscure certain uses or portions of a specific use which by their nature are unsightly or which represent the potential to negatively impact adjacent properties. At minimum the following uses or features shall be screened from adjacent properties and from public view from a public street:
  - (a) Dumpster and trash-handling areas.
  - (b) Service entrances and utility areas.
  - (c) Loading docks or spaces.
  - (d) Outdoor storage of any materials, stock, or equipment.
C. Screening standards. Any screening utilized to fulfill the requirements of this section shall consist of an area no less than five feet in width to visually separate land uses. The following standards shall apply to all screening:
- (1) Maximum height at any point for a solid screening structure located along the property line: eight feet.
- (2) Maximum height in any required front yard for solid screening structure including earth berm: six feet.
- (3) Minimum height of any screening shall be five feet or a greater height if necessary to visually separate uses within the subject property from adjoining properties or public streets.
- (4) Height of any screening materials on a corner lot is controlled by vehicular sight distance consideration at the street intersections.
- (5) For every 50 feet of property line where screening is required, an evergreen tree of at least two inches in caliper at three feet from grade shall be planted and incorporated into the screening material.
- (6) Any earth berm used to fulfill the screening requirements shall be stabilized to control erosion and landscaped with grasses, shrubs and trees.
- (7) Shrubs used as screening materials shall be of evergreen varieties and shall be at least three feet in height and no farther than six feet apart when planted. Shrubs shall be of variety that an average height of five to six feet could be expected as normal growth within two years from the time of planting.
- (8) All manufacturing, storage, or similar uses shall be conducted within enclosed buildings, except that outside storage may be permitted if it is located directly to the rear of the principal building. It shall not occupy an area wider than the principal building and shall be adequately screened from public view by a fence or plant material. No storage shall be permitted above the height of the screen or fence.