Morrisville Unified Development Ordinance - October 2019

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

Change in Use

a. Any change in use of an existing development shall be subject to these screening of exterior mechanical equipment standards to the maximum extent practicable.

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

B. Screening Standards

Roof-Mounted Mechanical Equipment

Mechanical equipment mounted on the roof of a building shall be screened from line of sight of adjacent streets, sidewalks, and greenways by a parapet wall, freestanding screen wall, or similar device. a. The screening shall incorporate materials, colors, and design that are visually consistent with the building’s architectural design. b. The height of the screening shall equal or exceed that of the mechanical equipment being screened. Ground- or Wall-Mounted Mechanical Equipment Mechanical equipment mounted on or near ground-level or on a building wall shall be screened from line of sight of adjacent streets, sidewalks, and greenways by any combination of adjacent buildings and durable and sight-obscuring walls, or in residential developments only, dense continuous hedges. (See Figure 5.13.1.B.2: Screening of Ground-Mounted Mechanical Equipment.) a. Screening walls shall incorporate at least one of the primary materials of the nearest wall of the primary structure on the lot.

Figure 5.13.1.B.1: Screening of Roof-Mounted Mechanical Equipment

Figure 5.13.1.B.2: Screening of Ground-Mounted Mechanical Equipment.

b. The height of the screening walls, fences, or hedges shall equal or exceed that of the mechanical equipment being screened.

Deviation of Standards

The Planning Director may approve deviations from the screening standards in this subsection on making one or more of the following findings: a. The deviation is necessary to comply with overriding life safety requirements or other regulations.

October 1, 2019

Morrisville, NC

Page 5-140

Unified Development Ordinance