A. General. Landscaping for site plans and subdivisions shall be designed to:

(1) preserve and enhance the visual identity of the site, neighborhood and Village as a whole;

(2) mitigate the potentially harmful effects of soil and vegetative disturbance, lighting, and noise;

(3) buffer incompatible uses;

(4) screen various improvements, including buildings, parking and loading areas, utilities and drainage structures, storage areas, etc. from streets and adjacent properties; and

(5) not conflict with traffic safety, light fixtures, electric and telephone lines or other utilities.

B. General site landscaping. Any part or portion of the site which is not used for buildings, accessory structures, loading or parking spaces or aisles, sidewalks and designated storage areas, and which does not contain existing vegetation to remain, shall be landscaped in accordance with an overall landscape planting plan, as approved by the Board. All landscaped portions of the site shall be maintained adequately throughout the year.

C. Protection of existing vegetation. Existing vegetation shall be preserved to the maximum extent practicable. The following shall apply:

(1) Snow fence or silt fence shall be installed at the limits of disturbance as shown on the approved development plans, which shall be at a sufficient distance to prevent disturbance of the root systems or branches of the vegetation to be preserved.

(2) Cut or fill near existing trees to be preserved shall require the installation of tree wells or retaining walls, as appropriate, to maintain the existing grade above the roots of the tree.

D. Buffers. A buffer in the form of landscaping, fences, berms and/or walls shall be provided by the developer of any nonresidential use which abuts a residentially zoned property, and by the developer of any multi-family residential use which abuts a property located in a single-family or two-family residential zone. Any buffer provided between properties shall be sufficient to provide visual separation during all seasons and to minimize the effects of headlights from vehicles, light from structures, noise and the movements of people and vehicles. The following provisions shall apply, provided that additional and/or more restrictive standards may be required by the zoning regulations, Article X of this chapter:

(1) When topographical conditions, existing vegetation or other conditions provide a sufficient buffer as determined by the Board, no additional buffer shall be required.

(2) Buffer widths shall be sufficient to accommodate the ultimate growth of any plantings in the buffer.

(3) Trees and shrubs used in a buffer shall be at least five (5) feet high at the time of planting.

(4) Buffers shall be protected from impact by motor vehicles, and from the negative effects of road salt and snow plowing. A curb,-bumper guard or the equivalent at least five (5) inches in height above the pavement shall separate buffers from vehicle use areas, provided that utility poles or railroad ties shall not be used.

A. Energy Conservation. Site plans and subdivisions shall be designed, to the greatest degree practicable, in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) Streets and lots shall be oriented in order to permit buildings to be constructed to maximize solar gain. Where possible, streets shall run in an east-west direction, and the long axis of a lot shall run in a north-south direction.

(2) Development shall take advantage of topographic conditions in order to permit buildings to be constructed to maximize solar gain and in order to provide protection from winter winds. Where possible, development shall be oriented to south-facing slopes.

(3) Existing vegetation shall be preserved, and new landscaping provided, to enable vegetation to provide protection from winter winds and summer sun. Where practical, evergreen trees shall be placed on the north and west sides of buildings, and deciduous trees placed on the south and east sides of buildings.

B. Waste removal and recycling. Every site plan shall show an area reserved for storage and removal of trash, refuse and recyclable materials, which shall comply with the following provisions:

(1) Such areas shall be accessible to solid waste trucks at all times.

(2) Areas for storage of trash or refuse shall be screened by an attractive and appropriate wall, fence and/or planting to obscure same from view of adjacent properties.

(3) New multifamily housing developments shall conform with the model ordinance promulgated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Community Affairs pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 1993, c.81 (C.13:lE-99.13a) regarding the inclusion of facilities for the collection or storage of source separated recyclable materials.