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<br />Page 6 of 7 <br /> <br />Setbacks function in two ways in regards to buffering. <br />Firstly, as noted in the petitioner's letter, a relatively large <br />tract is required in order to achieve the maximum allowable lot <br />coverage of 50%. This has the direct effect of lowering <br />development densities adjacent to non-industrial areas with the <br />lower density providing a degree of buffering. The second <br />function comes into play in locations where residentially zoned <br />property abuts Business Industrial property. Footnote #2 of <br />section 7-601 states: <br /> <br />No buildings, parking areas, loading docks, <br />outside storage, or refuse containers will be <br />allowed in such setback areas. These areas <br />are to be landscaped with trees, shrubs and <br />ground cover, with a planting plan required to <br />be submitted and approved by the enforcement <br />officer. <br /> <br />The question that must be asked is, would the higher <br />densities and smaller landscaped areas (abutting residential zones) <br />provide an adequate buffer? <br /> <br />Another function of Business Industrial setback relates to <br />the types of uses permitted in B.I. Zones. The majority of <br />Business Industrial uses involve some aspect of warehousing and <br />therefore some degree of heavy truck traffic. Business Industrial <br />setback areas (except for specific exceptions such as discussed <br />above) are intended to be utilized for truck parking and <br />maneuvering. <br /> <br />In reviewing the parking requirements of Section 10-600 and <br />especially the off-street loading requirements of Section 10-700, <br />one major concept becomes apparent that is, the Zoning Ordinance <br />intention to "alleviate or prevent congestion of the public right- <br />of-way and so to promote the safety and general welfare of the <br />pUblic." <br /> <br />In summation, the thrust of this argument is as follows. In <br />order to accommodate the on-site parking, loading dock and <br />maneuvering requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, setbacks <br />comparable to those presently in effect would be necessary on most <br />tracts of property. The alternative would be "congestion of the <br />public right-of-way" which the Ordinance seeks to avoid. Further, <br />this means that the only setback areas which can be readily reduced <br />are those which cannot be used for parking or <br />