Morrisville Unified Development Ordinance - October 2019

Article 5: Development Standards Section 5.7. Perimeter and Streetyard Buffers 5.7.5. Location of Buffers

Location of Buffers

5.7.5.

A. Required buffers shall be located along the outer perimeter of the lot containing the proposed development, just inside its boundary with the adjoining property or street right-of-way/easement. Where an access or utility easement runs along that boundary and the easement precludes or restricts provision of required screening, the required buffer shall be located along the interior boundary of the easement. B. Where a perimeter buffer meeting the standards in this section has already been provided by the adjoining existing development, the proposed development can provide 50 percent of the minimum buffer width and screening required in Section 0 for the requisite buffer type provided a written agreement between the owners of the adjoining properties establishing an alternative arrangement to share responsibility for providing a buffer in full accordance with the standards of this section is approved by the Planning Director and recorded in the appropriate county Register of Deeds.

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

Development within Required Buffers

5.7.6.

A. The required buffer shall not contain any development, impervious surfaces, retaining walls (including easements), 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:

All required landscaping is provided;

The element, line, of facility crosses the buffer as close to a right angle as practicable; and

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.

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

Alternative Configuration

5.7.7.

The Planning Director may approve an alternative buffer location, width, or planting configuration through submittal of an alternative landscape plan (Section 5.12.6, Alternative Landscape Plan).

Credit Towards Other Required Landscaping

5.7.8.

A. Required buffers, and the trees and other vegetation within such buffers, may be credited towards compliance with common open space and public recreation area, and landscaping, requirements to the extent they comply with applicable standards in Section 5.5, Common Open Space and Public Recreation Area, and Section 5.12, Landscaping. B. Existing trees retained on a site in accordance with the standards in Section 5.4, Tree Protection, can be credited towards the perimeter and streetyard buffer standards provided the trees meet the minimum size at time of planning standards in Section 5.12.3.A, New Planting Standards, and the trunks are physically located within ten feet of the required perimeter or streetyard buffer boundary.

(Ord. No. 2014-051, 11/10/2014)

Morrisville, NC

October 1, 2019

Unified Development Ordinance

Page 5-47