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Landsc~pe Buffer between Different Land-Use Zones: Some land uses naturally produce unsightliness. Commercial areas require parking, delivery, and storage, and industrial plants often need to store raw materials, finished products, and sometimes machinery and equipment outdoors. It is difficult, if not impossible, to make these areas attractive. Therefore, these land uses or areas need to be screened from viewers looking in from off site. This is especially important for land uses adjacent to residential zoning districts. In most zoning ordinances, some screening is required around commercial and industrial sites. This screening, however, may need to be increased or expanded in certain areas when the site is adjacent to more sensitive land use, particularly residential land-use. The purposes of such additional landscape and screening provisions include: . To protect the health, safety and general welfare. . To safeguard and enhance property values and to protect public and private investment. . To provide visual buffering and enhance the beautification of the City. . To aid in stabilizing the environment's ecological balance by contributing to the process of air purification, oxygen regeneration, groundwater recharge, and stormwater run-off retardation, while at the same time aiding in noise, glare, and heat abatement. . To provide for the buffering of residential areas from the noise, glare, and visual affects of non-residential uses . To create a transitional interface between uncomplimentary and incompatible land uses. Buffer Study Procedure: The design of the study required interactive plan and design review with impacted property owners by the City Planner and the City's landscape architect. The history of the neighborhood development land use, zoning, and comprehensive plan designation as well as the 10 year property values were charted. Video and photographic records were compiled for use during the design process and for future reference. Sound levels were recorded in the back yards and front yards of each affected residence to provide auditory benchmarks for the future. A landscape vegetation analysis was completed by the City landscape architect identifying type, size, age and quality of existing vegetation. The City Engineering Department reviewed topography in the study area for possible drainage problems. A series of computerized maps were created to retain the information and create a base map including vegetation, topography, existing structures, ownership records, tax values, fences, and storage/buffer areas. The landscape architect and planner then created prototype buffer designs that could be applied to the common boundary to improve the buffer. Implementation tools and strategies were identified, assuming the Master 2