Morrisville Unified Development Ordinance - February 2021.2

Article 5: Development Standards Section 5.4. Tree Protection 5.4.7. Mitigation for Tree Removal

1. Construction Activity, Equipment, or Materials Storage No development activity—including grade changes, the operation or parking of heavy equipment, or the washing down of concrete or cement handling equipment, or the storage of fuel, chemicals, materials, supplies, or construction waste and debris—shall be allowed within the tree protection area. 2. Clearing of Vegetation Any clearing of vegetation within the tree protection area shall be only by hand. 3. Use of Retaining Walls and Drywells Retaining walls and drywells may be used to protect trees to be preserved from severe grade changes if venting adequate to allow air and water to reach tree roots is provided through any fill. 4. Structures and Hard Surfaces No structures or hard surfaces can be located within a tree protection area. 5. Fences and Walls Installation of fences and walls shall take into consideration the root systems of existing trees. Post- holes and trenches close to trees shall be dug by hand and adjusted as necessary to avoid damage to major roots. Continuous footers for masonry walls shall end at the point where major large roots are encountered and these roots bridged. (Ord. No. 2016-001, 05/10/2016) a. Trees within a Designated Protection Area (1) Each existing non-specimen tree that is removed pursuant to a reduction or modification of the minimum existing tree canopy retention standard or required per Section 10.4.2.D.3, Tree Replacement Required, shall be replaced with one or more trees with a minimum caliper of two inches each and a cumulative caliper equal to the DBH of the removed tree(s). (2) Each existing specimen tree that is removed pursuant to a reduction or modification of the minimum existing tree canopy retention standard or required per Section 10.4.2.D.3, Tree Replacement Required, shall be replaced with one or more trees with a minimum caliper of five inches each and a cumulative caliper equal to or greater than two times the DBH of the removed tree(s). (3) Required replacement tree(s) shall be planted and maintained in accordance with the planting standards in Section 5.12.3, General Landscaping Standards, and shall comply with all the standards in this subsection. b. Trees without an Established Protection Area (1) In cases where irreparable damage to or removal of existing trees takes place on a site that is subject to the standards in Section 5.4, Tree Protection, but where a tree protection area has not yet been established, a reforestation plan prepared by a North Carolina Registered Forester shall be prepared and provided to the Town. 5.4.7. Mitigation for Tree Removal A. Replacement Trees 1. Rate of Provision

Morrisville, NC

February 1, 2021

Unified Development Ordinance

Page 5-11