Morrisville Unified Development Ordinance

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

C. Tree Protection Area Limitations and Requirements Except where authorized by the tree protection plan, encroachments into a tree protection area may occur only when no other alternative exists, and shall comply with landscaping best management practices and the following limitations and requirements: 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)

Mitigation for Tree Removal

5.4.7.

A. Replacement Trees

1.

Rate of Provision

a. Trees within a Designated Protection Area or Development Site Required to Retain or Protect Existing Tree Canopy. 2. Replacement trees shall be planted at the following rate. Per every 200 square feet needed to meet the minimum percentage, the following trees shall be planted: a. Two (2) shade trees

(1) One (1) shall be evergreen

(2) One (2) shall be deciduous

b. Two (2) deciduous understory trees

(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).

Morrisville, NC

October 1, 2021

Unified Development Ordinance

Page 5-10