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Planning staff proposes tougher buffering and masonry fence standards; commission debates flexibility and exceptions
Summary
Staff brought a draft update to buffering and screening standards that would clarify when buffers apply, raise material and height expectations (masonry or precast walls; 6–8 feet), widen buffers for heavy commercial uses, and narrow discretionary reductions; commissioners pressed staff on wording, exceptions, berms, and when the commission or council should grant variances.
Planning staff presented draft amendments to the city’s buffering and screening standards and sought feedback from the Planning Commission on scope, materials and discretionary exceptions.
Staff told commissioners the existing compatibility paragraph has proven unrealistic and proposed replacing it with a purpose statement: to help mitigate potential negative impacts of commercial activities on adjacent residential areas. Commissioners recommended wordsmithing to clarify whether the code should aim to “mitigate or eliminate” impacts in the first clause.
The draft would make masonry, precast concrete or lightweight precast (commonly…
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