Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Master Management Plan - 2014

Article 5: Development Standards Section 5.12. Landscaping 5.12.3. General Landscaping Standards

3. All landscape plant materials shall be of standard quality or better, true to name and type of species or variety. 4. The use of drought-tolerant vegetation native to the Morrisville area is strongly encouraged (see the list of acceptable native plant species in the Administrative Manual). 5. Required landscaping areas shall be protected from vehicular damage by the installation of curbing, wheel stops, or extra width in the landscaping strip. 423 B. Existing Vegetation 424 The use of existing healthy, well-formed canopy trees, understory trees, evergreen trees, and shrubs shall be maximized wherever practical to comply with these landscaping standards. The use of existing vegetation shall be credited towards meeting tree protection standards (Section 5.4), perimeter and streetyard buffer standards (Section 5.6) and the landscaping standards in this section provided the vegetation meets those standards, is protected before and during development of the site in accordance with Section 5.4.7, Tree Protection During Development Activity, and is maintained thereafter in a healthy growing condition. C. Stabilization 425 All required landscape planting areas shall be stabilized and maintained with turf, ground covers, or other approved materials to prevent soil erosion and allow rainwater infiltration. D. Easements 426 Nothing except ground cover shall be planted or installed within any underground or overhead utility, drainage or gas easement, or within three feet of a fire protection system, except in accordance with the consent, standards, or guidelines of the utility provider, easement holder, or the Town, as appropriate. E. Berms 427 1. Berms shall be at least one and one-half feet high, with side slopes not exceeding a ratio of three horizontal feet to one vertical foot, and with a crown at least two feet wide. 2. Berms proposed to be placed along street rights-of-way shall be designed and constructed to provide adequate sight distances at intersections and shall not impair safe operation of vehicles. 3. In no case shall berms be located or designed so they damage the roots or trunks of existing healthy vegetation designated to be preserved. 4. Berms shall not be located or designed so as to block or divert a natural drainage flow on to or off of any other land. All berms shall comply with the following standards:

F. Time for Installation of Required Landscaping

1. Installation Before Certificate of Compliance/Occupancy 428

All required landscaping (including ground cover) shall be installed in accordance with the required planting standards set forth in this section prior to issuance of a Certificate of

423 This carries forward the standard in Part C, Art. IX, Sec. 4.5.B. 424 This expands a general requirement that existing vegetation be retained within buffers (Part C, Art. IX, Sec. 4.2). 425 This slightly expands the standard in Part C, Art. IX, Sec. 4.5.C. 426 This simplifies the standards in Part C, Art. IX, Sec. 4.7 and avoids the need to amend the standard if Cary should revise its standards for plantings in water and sewer easements. 427 This incorporates the dimensional standards in Part C, Art. IX, Sec. 7.2.E of the current Zoning Ordinance, adding standards relating to sight distance obstructions and relationship to existing vegetation to be preserved. 428 This reiterates the general rule that required landscaping (as well as all other element of a development) must be completed before issuance of a Certificate of Compliance/Occupancy.

June 2013 Page 5-122

Morrisville, NC

Unified Development Ordinance - Public Hearing Draft