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TOWN OF MORRISVILLE
6-16
6.1.22
Miscellaneous Land Conservation Incentive Programs
Other, voluntary strategies exist at the Federal and State levels that provide incentives to
protect natural lands, wetlands, agricultural lands, and sensitive species habitat and forest
lands from development. These non-regulatory approaches include providing tax credits for
donating lands to specific organizations (usually land trusts) and providing funding for
various grants and trust funds to purchase or protect undeveloped lands. Note that there
are no existing agricultural use areas within the Town.
6.2
Local Regulations and Programs
Environmental protection is a cornerstone value for the Town. The Town has developed
several programs to meet its internal goals to provide a high-quality life for its residents.
The following summary addresses relevant regulations and programs from environmental
management and land use policy analysis perspectives. These local initiatives to prevent
impacts to natural resources will offset future impacts resulting from growth. These
measures to protect and preserve the natural environment are implemented through the
Town’s recently developed UDO. Table 6-2 summarizes local programs, and Table 6-3
illustrates the environmental resources protected by the various Town programs. Sections
following the tables provide additional detail on each program.
TABLE 6-2
Summary of Existing Local Programs
Program
Summary
Riparian Buffers
Protection
Unified Development
Ordinance
(UDO) 6
As a delegated authority for buffer protection, the Engineering Department is responsible
for stream origin determinations and implementation of the riparian buffer ordinance
.
The UDO requires that a 50-foot-wide undisturbed buffer be maintained on all
perennial and intermittent streams, lakes, and ponds indicated on the most recent
version of a USGS quadrangle topographic map or soil survey map.
Floodplain Protection
UDO 5.6
Hazard Mitigation
Plan
The goals of the hazard mitigation master plan, adopted in 2010, are to eliminate or
reduce losses of life and property from natural forces, such as water and wind. This
includes limiting development in the floodplain, developing structural mitigation
measures to prevent flooding, and providing natural resource protection.
The Town complies with the following FEMA requirements: no development or fill is
allowed in the floodway, and the bottom floor elevation must be 2 feet above 100-
year flood elevation.
Erosion and
Sediment Control
Program
Wake County implements the Town’s Erosion and Sediment Control Program. An
erosion and sediment control plan is needed for any disturbance of 1 acre or more.
Further information on Wake County’s Erosion and Sediment Control Program is
found in Appendix B. Key elements include soil stabilization in accordance with the
County’s Phase II stormwater permit and the use of Performance and Maintenance
Guarantee requirements.
The Town recently developed and adopted a new engineering, design, and
construction manual containing updated stormwater quantity and quality measures.