§ 21.45.130. Screening along major highways.

A.

Purpose and scope.

1.

Purpose. The purpose of this section is to protect visually the major entrances to the urbanizing areas of the municipality for the benefit of tourists and residents.

2.

Applicability. Except as provided in subsection 3 of this subsection, the requirements in this section apply to all lots in the PLI, R-3, R-4, R-O, PC, B-1A, B-3, B-4, I-1, I-2, I-3 and T use districts:

a.

Adjacent to the right-of-way of the New Seward Highway, or to streets serving as its frontage roads, south of 44th Avenue and north of Potter Road; or

b.

Adjacent to the right-of-way of the Glenn Highway, or to streets serving as its frontage roads, east of Boniface Parkway and west of Peters Creek.

3.

Exceptions. The requirements in this section do not apply to any lot:

a.

Whose area, less the setback area required under subsection B of this section, is less than the minimum lot area required in its use district;

b.

Whose depth, excluding all setbacks required under this title, is less than 100 feet; or

c.

That is used only for single-family residential purposes.

B.

Setback area; landscaping. No structure may be constructed or placed within 30 feet of the rights-of-way described in subsection A.2 of this section. Except at vehicular and pedestrian ingress and egress points, this 30-foot setback shall be maintained as follows: Natural vegetation shall not be disturbed, provided that, if that vegetation does not meet the standards for screening landscaping, screening landscaping shall be planted. The landscaping shall be maintained by the property owner or his designee.

C.

Signs. No new signs of any kind shall be permitted within the 30-foot-wide area mentioned in subsection B of this section that abuts either the New Seward Highway, the Glenn Highway or frontage roads adjacent thereto, except real estate for sale signs no larger than 18 inches by 24 inches. In addition to those sign restrictions imposed by the applicable zoning district, all allowable signs shall be restricted to those advertising products or services available on the premises. Signs which are flashing, blinking, fluctuating or animated shall not be allowed if they are visible from those portions of the Seward and Glenn highways described in this subsection. No sign shall exceed 30 feet in height.

D.

Loading and parking facilities. Except for customer parking, loading docks and off-street parking areas associated with new uses established on the properties abutting those portions of the Seward Highway, Glenn Highway or associated frontage roads described in subsection C of this section shall be located to the rear of those properties. If site development does not allow for these facilities in the rear, they shall then be effectively screened from the highways.

E.

Approval of site plan. Plans for access drives, screening fences, vegetative screens and parking and loading areas shall be reviewed and approved by the urban design commission to ensure conformance with the intent of this section. No building permit or land use permit shall be issued for construction on a lot subject to this section, except in accordance with a landscaping site plan conforming to this section approved by the urban design commission.

F.

Variances. A variance shall only be granted by the zoning board of examiners and appeals if the board finds that the intent of this subsection is maintained and provided that a recommendation of the urban design commission that the variance be granted is first received.

(GAAB 21.05.060.P; AO No. 85-23; AO No. 85-160, 1-8-86; AO No. 85-91, 10-1-85; AO No. 85-173; AO No. 86-19)