A. Landscaping. Exterior walls facing a street or highway shall be landscaped with groundcover, shrubs, vines, mounds and trees such that at least 50% of the height of the wall shall be screened from the adjacent public street within 2 years.

B. Type of Wall. Walls shall be constructed of graffiti-resistant solid brick or other material that requires minimum maintenance. A textured surface treatment that is compatible with and appropriate to the area for which it is proposed shall be provided.

C. Walls between properties. All property owners shall agree on the height and type of wall prior to approval from the City.

D. Height of Walls. Walls may exceed 8' in height, to a maximum of 12', provided they are adjacent to a public right-of-way as outlined above, and based on an approved noise study prepared by a licensed acoustical engineer that demonstrates the additional height is necessary in order to reduce noise levels at the property line to 65 dBA. An approved noise study shall include an analysis of potential impacts of sound transfer as a result of construction of a proposed wall.

E. The Planning Official may deny a request for a sound wall if it is determined that the proposed height and/or materials of the wall would not be in keeping with the visual character of surrounding properties, or that such placement would create a threat to public health and safety. (Ord. M-3643, 2004)