Morrisville Unified Development Ordinance - May 2020

Article 5: Development Standards Section 5.4. Tree Protection 5.4.4. Tree CanopyRetention

retained and protected in accordance with Table 5.4.4.A, Existing Tree Canopy Retention Standards, based on the proposed type of development and the percentage of the site covered by existing tree canopy and the priorities established in Section 5.4.4.B, Priority Retention Areas. (See example application in Table 5.4.4.A: Existing Tree Canopy Retention Standards.)

Table 5.4.4.A: Existing Tree Canopy Retention Standards

Minimum Percentage of Existing Tree Canopy Cover to be Retained

Existing Tree Canopy Cover [1]

Single-Family Attached, Group Living and Multifamily Development

Nonresidential and Mixed-Use Development

92% up to 100% 84% up to 92% 76% up to 84% 68% up to 76% 60% up to 68% 52% up to 60% 44% up to 52% 38% up to 44% 30% up to 38% 22% up to 30% 14% up to 22% 6% up to 14%

19% 21% 23% 25% 27% 29% 31% 33% 35% 37% 39% 41%

10% 11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 16% 17% 18% 19% 20% 21%

0% up to 6%

n/a

n/a

Notes: [1] Existing tree canopy cover is the percentage of a development site (excluding proposed street rights-of-way, existing utility easements, and natural water surface areas) that is covered by existing tree canopy before development or land disturbing activity.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES:

(1) The tree survey establishes that 80% of a 100,000-square-foot multifamily development site is covered by existing tree canopy. Because 80% falls within the 76% up to 84% range, the minimum required tree canopy retention for the site is 23% of the existing canopy from mature deciduous trees. This equates to 18.4% of the total development site (80,000 x 23%), yielding a tree protection area of approximately 18,400 square feet. (2) On the same sized multifamily development site, the tree survey established that only 20% of the site is covered by existing from mature deciduous trees. Because 20% falls within the 14% up to 22% range, the minimum required tree canopy retention is 39% of the existing tree cover. This equates to 7.8% of the total development site (20,000 x 39%), yielding a tree protection area of 7, 800 square feet.

(Ord. No. 2016-001, 05/10/2016)

Morrisville, NC

May 26, 2020

Unified Development Ordinance

Page 5-7