Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Master Management Plan - 2014

Article 5: Development Standards Section 5.8. Access and Circulation 5.7.6. Development within Required Buffers

adjoining properties establishing an alternative arrangement to share responsibility for providing a buffer in full accordance with the standards of this section. 321

5.7.6. Development within Required Buffers

A. The required buffer shall not contain any development, impervious surfaces, or site features (except fences or walls) that do not function to meet the standards of this section, unless otherwise permitted or required in this Ordinance. B. Walkways, trails, and other elements associated with passive recreation, as well as overhead and underground utility lines and low-impact stormwater management facilities, may be located within a required buffer if; 1. All required landscaping is provided; 2. The element, line, of facility crosses the buffer as close to a right angle as practicable; and 3. The Planning Director and Town Engineer determine that installation or maintenance of such element, line, or facility will minimize impacts on to required vegetation to the maximum extent practicable.

5.7.7. Alternative Configuration

The Planning Director may approve an alternative buffer location, width, or planting configuration through submittal of an alternative landscape plan (Section 5.12.7, Alternative Landscape Plan).

5.7.8. Credit Towards Other Required Landscaping 322

Required buffers, and the trees and other vegetation within such buffers, may be credited towards compliance with tree protection, common open space and public recreation area, landscaping, and screening requirements to the extent they comply with applicable standards in Section 5.4, Tree Protection, Section 5.5, Common Open Space and Public Recreation Area, Section 5.12, Landscaping, and Section 5.13, Screening.

SECTION 5.8. ACCESS AND CIRCULATION

COMMENTARY This section generally carries forward the access, connectivity, and street and sidewalk design standards in Chapter 5 (Streets) of the Design and Construction Ordinance, with the following modifications:  Define the level of access required  Strengthen connectivity and cross-access standards  Strengthen and expand access management standards  Expand bicycle and pedestrian access and circulation requirements in accordance with Transportation Plan recommendations  Allow cul-de-sacs only as an exception  Incorporate the street, bicycle, and walkway design standards and transit facility standards recommended in the Transportation Plan

5.8.1. Purpose

The purpose of this section is to ensure that development is served by a coordinated, multimodal transportation system that, to the extent practicable, permits the safe and efficient movement of motor vehicles, emergency vehicles, transit, bicyclists, and pedestrians within the development and between the development and external transportation systems, neighboring development, and local destination points such as places of employment, schools, parks, and shopping areas. Such a multimodal transportation system is intended to: A. Provide transportation options; B. Increase the effectiveness of local service delivery;

321 Morrisville‘s current buffer regulations require a proposed development to provide a buffer whether or not the adjoining existing development has already provided one. This provision is intended to avoid unnecessary double buffers by allowing the adjoining property owner to share buffer responsibility 50/50, or to mutually agree to an alternative sharing arrangement. 322 This is intended to clarify that buffers and vegetation within buffers can serve double duty in also meeting requirements for tree protection, common open space and public recreation area, landscaping, and screening.

Morrisville, NC

June 2013 Page 5-37

Unified Development Ordinance - Public Hearing Draft