Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Master Management Plan - 2014

Article 5: Development Standards Section 5.13. Screening 5.13.1. Screening of Exterior Mechanical Equipment

Site Plan Approval, or Construction Plan Approval, as appropriate. The Planning Director may approve an alternative landscape plan if it meets the purpose and intent of the perimeter and streetyard buffer standards in Section 5.6 or the landscaping standards in this Section 5.12, as appropriate. Additional review fees are assessed to cover the Town‘s additional costs in reviewing alternative landscape plans Allowable deviations from the perimeter standards in Section 5.6 and the landscaping standards in this Section 5.12 include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Reduced Planting Rates due to Existing Public Facilities An adjustment to planting locations or reduction of up to 20 percent in the total number of required trees or shrubs may be allowed when underground connections to public facilities or public utilities, or public easements or rights-of-way, are located upon or in close proximity to the parcel. A reduction in the count or spacing standards by up to 20 percent may be allowed when desirable in terms of enhanced protection of existing natural resources, greater consistency with the goals of the comprehensive plan, or a site design that exceeds the quality of what would otherwise result under a strict application of the standards in this Ordinance. Reduction in Standards due to Site Size A reduction in the count, configuration, or location of required landscaping materials may be allowed in cases where a lot is nonconforming in terms of dimensional requirements or setbacks, or in cases of redevelopment on existing small lots, is not capable of supporting the minimum amount of landscaping material required. 4. Upgrading of Nonconforming Landscaping An adjustment to planting locations or spacing may be allowed in conjunction with an upgrading of nonconforming buffer or landscaping in accordance with Section 9.7, Nonconforming Site Features. 3. 2. Reduction in Standards due to Nature of Parcel

C. Allowable Deviations

SECTION 5.13. SCREENING

COMMENTARY This section carries forward and consolidates current requirements and standards for screening of exterior mechanical equipment, loading and service areas, and dumpsters and similar containers. It modifies those standards to allow alternative means of screening.

5.13.1. Screening of Exterior Mechanical Equipment 460

A. Applicability 461

1. Except for single-family detached, duplex, and manufactured dwellings, all new development shall

460 This carries forward the screening standards for roof-top mechanical equipment in Part C, Art. XIV, Sec. 3.1, 3.3.A(i), and 4.1 of the current Zoning Ordinance, with the modifications noted in subsequent footnotes. 461 The current standards require all nonresidential development except industrial uses to screen rooftop equipment and require all nonresidential development (including industrial uses) to screen ―utility equipment.‖ In the Assessment Report (pp. 26, 40, and 53), we note the Land Use Plan‘s emphasis on encouraging higher quality development and recommend that these screening standards be generally applicable. This subsection expands the current standards to apply them to all new development except single- family, duplex, and manufactured home dwellings. But in recognition that industrial uses (and agricultural uses) involve relatively few visitors, it limits the requirement to screen equipment from on-site walkways to single-family, multifamily, institutional, commercial, and mixed-use developments (i.e., all nonresidential uses except industrial uses). The current Zoning Ordinance does not define mechanical equipment or utility equipment. To clarify what must be screened, this subsection lists out examples of what is typically considered exterior mechanical equipment subject to screening.

June 2013 Page 5-130

Morrisville, NC

Unified Development Ordinance - Public Hearing Draft