Article 5: Development Standards
Section 5.12. Landscaping
5.12.3. General Landscaping Standards
Morrisville, NC
June 23, 2017
Unified Development Ordinance
Page 5-123
(Ord. No. 2016-001, 05/10/2016)
D.
Allowed Deviation of Standards
Deviations from the landscaping standards in this section may be authorized in Section
2.5.19, Administrative Adjustment,Section
2.5.20,Alternative Equivalent Compliance,
or Section
5.12.6, Alternative Landscape Plan.(Ord. No. 2014-051, 11/10/2014)
5.12.3.
General Landscaping Standards
A.
New Planting Standards
Required vegetation shall be planted in accordance with
American Standards of Nursery Stock guidelines.
At the time of planting, vegetation included as part of
required landscaping shall comply with the following size
standards:
a.
Shade trees shall have a caliper of at least three and
one-half inches and be at least 14 feet in height
above ground level. They shall be capable of
attaining a height of at least 35 feet and a crown
diameter of at least 30 feet at maturity.
b.
Understory trees shall have a caliper of at least two
inches and shall be at least eight feet in height above
ground level.
c.
Shrubs shall be upright in nature and at least 18 inches
in height above ground level. They shall be capable
of attaining a height of at least 30 inches within three
years after planting.
d.
Grasses and groundcovers do not have a required
minimum.
All landscape plant materials shall be of standard quality
or better, true to name and type of species or variety.
The use of drought-tolerant vegetation native to the
Morrisville area is strongly encouraged (see the list of
acceptable native plant species in the Administrative
Manual).
Required landscaping areas shall be protected from vehicular damage by the installation of
curbing, wheel stops, or extra width in the landscaping strip.
(Ord. No. 2016-001, 05/10/2016)
B.
Existing Vegetation
The use of existing healthy, well-formed canopy trees, understory trees, evergreen trees, and shrubs
shall be maximized wherever practical to comply with these landscaping standards. The use of existing
vegetation shall be credited towards meeting tree protection standards
(Section 5.4), perimeter and
streetyard buffer standards
(Section 5.6)and the landscaping standards in this section provided the
vegetation meets those standards, is protected before and during development of the site in accordance
with Sectio
n 5.4.6, Tree Protection During Development Activity,and is maintained thereafter in a healthy
growing condition.
Figur
e 5.12.3.A:Minimum new planting
standards.