Morrisville Unified Development Ordinance - April 2019

Article 5: Development Standards Section 5.5. Common Open Space and Public Recreation Area 5.5.1. Common Open Space

C. Required Open Space Area

Required Total Common Open Space Area A development shall provide the minimum area of common open space identified in Table 5.5.1.C.1, Required Total Common Open Space Area, based on the development’s base zoning district and use classification.

Table 5.5.1.C.1: Required Total Common Open Space Area

Minimum Total Common Open Space Area (as percentage of lot area) Transit-Oriented

Use Classification

Development (TOD) and Town Center Districts

All Other Districts

Mixed-Uses

5% 5% 5% 5%

15% [1]

Institutional Uses

10% 10%

Commercial Uses (includes Animal Related Uses)

Industrial Uses

5%

Notes: [1] If residential dwelling units are proposed, the Minimum Total Common Open Space Area is reduced to 5%. (Ord. No. 2015-002, 04/29/2015; Ord. No. 2015-066, 07/28/2015; Ord. No. 2016-001, 05/10/2016) Allowable Common Open Space Areas The features and areas identified in Table 5.5.1.C.2, Allowable Common Open Space Areas shall be credited towards compliance with the open space set-aside standards of this section. They are listed generally in the order of priority.

Table 5.5.1.C.2: Allowable Common Open Space Areas

Area Counted as Common Open Space

Description

Design and Maintenance Requirements

Natural Resource and Hazard Areas

Natural water features (including lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, rivers, wetlands, drainageways), riparian buffers, flood hazard areas, existing tree canopy and specimen trees, steep slopes, and important wildlife habitat areas, including such areas used for required public recreation area

• Preservation of any existing natural resource and hazard areas shall have highest priority for locating open space. • Maintenance is limited to the minimum removal and avoidance of hazards, nuisances, or unhealthy conditions.

Active Recreational Areas

• Land shall be compact and contiguous unless used to link or continue an existing or planned open space resource. • Areas shall have at least one direct access to a building or to a street, bikeway, or walkway accessible to the public or the development’s occupants and users.

Land occupied by areas and facilities used for active recreational purposes, such as pools, playgrounds, tennis courts, jogging trails, ball fields, and clubhouses, including required public recreation area

April 23, 2019

Morrisville, NC

Page 5-14

Unified Development Ordinance