a. Roof-mounted mechanical equipment shall be screened by a parapet wall or similar feature that is an integral part of the building’s architectural design.

b. The parapet wall or similar feature shall be sufficient to screen the mechanical equipment from all sides when viewed from ground level.

c. The color of roof-mounted equipment and vents shall comply with exterior color standards in Section 5.7.F(5), Building Color, and compatible with the roof or adjacent wall color, screened, or integrated into the design of the structure.

d. Facilities for the operation of active or passive solar energy systems and other alternate energy systems shall be exempt from the screening requirements.

a. Outdoor ground-mounted mechanical equipment (e.g., subpanels, air conditioners, heating, cooling and ventilating equipment, kitchen hoods and vents, swimming pool equipment, pumps and heaters, propane tanks), and all other mechanical equipment shall be located where it is not visible from public open space, public trails, public streets, or from adjacent properties to the maximum extent practicable.

b. In cases when ground-mounted mechanical equipment is visible from a public open space, public trail, public street, or adjacent property, the equipment shall be screened from view by a solid wall or fence or a vegetative screen that satisfy the following criteria:

c. Screening of ground-mounted solar energy equipment is not required when it can be clearly demonstrated that required screening would reduce the efficiency or effectiveness of the solar energy equipment.

a. Outdoor loading, service, and refuse areas shall be integrated into the building design if possible, or shall be located where they are not visible from public open space, public trails, public streets, or from adjacent properties, to the maximum extent practicable.

b. In cases when loading, service, and refuse areas are visible from a public open space, public trail, public street, or adjacent property, the loading, service, and refuse areas shall be screened from view by a solid wall or fence a minimum of eight feet in height that incorporates at least one of the primary materials and colors of the nearest wall of the primary building (but excluding unfinished CMU block). Dense, mature landscaping may be used to satisfy the screening requirement with approval by the Director, providing the screening achieves a similar level of screening as the previous options. (See Figure 5-7.)

a. Outdoor storage areas that are adjacent to a residential zoning district, a lot containing a residential use in a mixed-use zoning district, public open space, public trail, or public street, shall be screened from view by a solid wall or fence. Dense, mature landscaping may be used to satisfy the screening requirement with approval by the Director, providing the screening achieves a similar level of screening as the previous options.

b. The wall or fence shall be a minimum of six feet in height, but in any event the wall or fence shall be higher than the screened outdoor storage and 100 percent opaque.

c. The fence or wall design shall incorporate at least one of the primary materials and colors of the nearest wall of the primary building (but excluding unfinished CMU block). [Ord. 2023-03 § 1 (Exh. A), 4-25-23; Ord. 2021-03 § 1, 6-8-21].