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Article 11: Interpretation and Definitions
Section 11.5. Terms and Uses Defined
11.4.2. Exceptions and Variations
Morrisville, NC
June 23, 2017
Unified Development Ordinance
Page 11-49
L
OT
, Z
ONING
A parcel or contiguous parcels of land that is indicated by the owner or applicant at the time of
application acceptance as being a cohesive development site. An example of a zoning lot is the lots
(including outparcels) comprising the development site for a major shopping center.
L
OW
I
MPACT
D
EVELOPMENT
A manner of land development that seeks to protect waterways, habitat, baseflow, and groundwater
recharge. Low Impact Development also protects water quality by minimizing the pollutant loading to
waterways from developed areas.
L
OW
S
OLAR
G
AIN
/L
OW
E
MITTANCE
(L
OW
E) W
INDOW
Low solar gain, low-emittance (Low-E) refers to windows designed to suppress radiative heat transfer
through the use of a microscopically thin, virtually invisible, metal or metallic oxide layer coating,
reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
L
OWEST
A
DJACENT
G
RADE
(LAG)
For purposes of floodplain management, the elevation of the ground, sidewalk or patio slab
immediately next to the building, or deck support, after completion of the building.
L
OWEST
F
LOOR
For purposes of floodplain management, the lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including
basement). An unfinished or flood resistant enclosure usable solely for parking of vehicles, building
access or limited storage in an area other than a basement area is not considered a building's lowest
floor provided that such enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable
non-elevation design requirements of this article.
L
UMEN
A quantitative unit measuring the amount of light emitted by a light source. A lamp is generally rated in
lumens.
LUX
A unit of illuminance on a surface one meter from a uniform point source of light of one candle and
equal to one lumen per meter. (1 LUX = 0.0929 foot-candle)
M
AIN
S
TREET
Specialized accessways that primarily function to accommodate pedestrian access to and within
concentrations of higher intensity retail and mixed land uses, such as the Town Center and activity center
districts. They are designed with attractive pedestrian-friendly streetscapes that promote walking,
bicycling, and transit. To accommodate high pedestrian activity, they generally provide limited direct
driveway access to abutting development, relying instead on side street access to rear parking facilities.
M
AINTAINED
F
OOT
-C
ANDLES
Illuminance of lighting fixtures adjusted for a maintenance factor accounting for dirt build-up and lamp
output depreciation. The maintenance factor used in the design process to account for this depreciation
cannot be lower than 0.72 FC for high-pressure sodium and 0.64 FC for metal halide and mercury
vapor.