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7-1
SECTION 7
Summary of Mitigation to Address Secondary and
Cumulative Impacts
As described in Section 6, the Town of Morrisville is taking progressive steps to protect the
environment. The Town is experiencing substantial growth and has developed many
programs to balance the competing goals of this growth and environmental protection. In
addition, the Town is working with NCWRC and NCNHP to ensure important habitat areas
are protected. Table 7-1 (at the end of this section) summarizes the potential SCI to natural
resources and the mitigation in place to address them.
7.1
Topography and Floodplains
Clearing and grading undeveloped lands changes a development site’s topography. Wake
County reviews erosion and sediment control plans on behalf of the Town to minimize
grading in areas with steep slopes. The current Town floodplain ordinance protects FEMA-
regulated floodplains and their functions, mitigating for any impacts associated with
growth. Structures may be constructed outside the floodway, but base floor elevations must
be at least two foot above the 100-year flood level. Floodplains of smaller streams that are
not under FEMA’s jurisdiction are protected by the stream buffer ordinance. No structures
can be placed within the 50-foot-wide undisturbed stream buffer. The Town’s floodplain
overlay zoning district was also developed to keep development out of the floodplain.
Additionally, the Town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan guides policy to preserve and restore
natural areas, including floodplains.
The floodplain maps for the Planning Area and County are being updated; the updated
maps are likely to include rises in floodplain elevations in some areas, such that more areas
will be designated as floodplain and protected from development.
Impacts to wetlands will be minimized by stream buffers, floodplain protection, and other
development controls. While some wetland loss still occurs with permitting, overall SCI to
wetlands in the Planning Area will be minimized by limiting or prohibiting construction
and fill according to the Town’s floodplain and stream buffer regulations. By preserving
floodplains, their water storage capacity, habitat, filtration, and infiltration functions will
also be preserved.
7.2
Soils
Soil loss will be minimized during development through the implementation of the Town’s
erosion and sediment control program, which is implemented by Wake County.
7.3
Land Use
The Town is mitigating for land use changes by focusing development in appropriate areas.
The Town encourages development within its Town Center and Activity Center Districts by