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Article 11 Environmental Standards
11-22 Activities Allowed Within Buffers
Wake County Unified Development Code
11-5
(2)
diffuse the flow of stormwater runoff, encourage sheet flow and avoid concentrated
discharge of stormwater into surface waters;
(3)
maximize the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to minimize adverse water
quality impacts; and
(4)
comply with all applicable standards and conditions of subsection 11-22-2.
11-22-2 Activities Allowed within Buffers
Only the activities listed below are allowed within required water supply watershed buffer areas:
(A)
Archeological activities, provided any vegetation removed is restored with vegetation of a
comparable assimilative capacity
(B)
Bridges, provided no alternative to their location in the buffer exists
(C)
Dam maintenance activities
(D)
Drainage ditches, roadside ditches, and stormwater outfalls, provided:
(1)
no alternative to their location in the buffer exists; and
(2)
a stormwater management facility is installed to control nitrogen and attenuate flow
before the conveyance discharges through the buffer
(E)
Drainage of a pond, provided a new vegetated water supply watershed buffer meeting the
purpose and requirements of this section is established along the new drainageway
(F)
Driveway crossings that access single-family dwellings, provided:
(1)
no alternative to their location in the buffer (including opportunity for shared
driveways) exists;
(2)
buffer disturbance is no more than 60 feet wide;
(3)
buffer disturbance is no more than 6,000 square feet in area (this area of disturbance
may occur on “both” sides of the buffer);
(4)
the driveway crosses the buffer at an angle as close to 90 degrees as possible (and not
less than 60 degrees);
(5)
side slopes do not exceed a 2:1 (horizontal to vertical) ratio (bridging and/or retaining
walls may be used to meet this and the disturbance width standard); and
(6)
all culverts are designed and constructed for the 25-year storm event or as otherwise
required by the Department of Environmental Services.