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<br /> -14- <br /> 304. Buffering Techniques <br /> 1. Plant Requirements. Plants may be any <br /> combination of evergreen and deciduous <br /> trees and shrubs. Newly planted <br /> materials shall meet the minimum size <br /> standards indicated in the following <br /> table. In addition to trees and shrubs, <br /> all bufferyards shall be planted with <br /> lawn, native grasses, or evergreen <br /> ground cover unless ground cover is <br /> already established. A listing of the <br /> tree species recommended by the Texas <br /> Forest Service for the San Marcos Area <br /> is included in Exhibit A. <br /> MINIMUM PLANT SIZE <br /> Plant Size Size <br /> Canopy Trees 2.5 inch caliper <br /> Understory Tree 1.5 inch caliper <br /> Shrub 1.5 feet in height <br /> COMMENTARY: Caliper is the measurement <br /> of the size of a tree equal to the <br /> diameter of its trunk measured four (4) <br /> feet above the ground. Canopy trees <br /> generally attain a mature height of <br /> thirty (30) feet or more. Understory <br /> trees range between ten (10) and thirty <br /> (30) feet in height. <br /> 2. Wall Requirements <br /> A. Walls shall be solid masonry <br /> (poured concrete, concrete block, <br /> brick, rock, etc.) and shall be a <br /> minimum of six (6) feet in height. <br /> A combination of walls and earthen <br /> berms may be used to meet the <br /> minimum height requirement. <br /> B. As an alternative to solid masonry <br /> walls, decorative walls with small <br /> openings or heavy timber walls two <br /> (2) inches thick or greater may be <br /> built if the design is submitted to <br /> and specifically approved by the <br /> Director of Planning. If openings <br /> are included in walls, additional <br /> landscaping may be required to form <br /> an effective visual barrier. <br /> 305. Existing Materials <br /> Existing land and/or plants which otherwise <br /> meet the requirements of this section may be <br /> counted toward satisfying bufferyard <br /> requirements. The City Council in the zoning <br /> process or the Planning Commission in the <br /> platting process for a subdivision outside <br /> the city limits may, at its discretion, <br /> decrease the bufferyard width and plant <br /> material requirements if it determines that a <br /> proposed bufferyard with existing, <br /> undisturbed vegetation wholly or partially <br />