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Article 16 Landscaping and Tree Protection
16-10 Landscaping and Bufferyards
Wake County Unified Development Code
16-4
same zoning district. (See Sec. 16-10-2(I) for other instances in which bufferyards
are required).
(4)
No landscaping material will be allowed within a minimum radius of 3 feet around
any fire hydrant. Additionally, each fire hydrant must be provided with a minimum 3-
foot wide access, from the adjacent parking lot, driveway, or street, that is
unobstructed by any landscaping material (other than grass). Access roads must be
maintained so as to remain clear of all vegetation for a width of 20 feet and a height
of 13 feet 6 inches to allow for emergency vehicle access.
(5)
The buffers required by this section do not apply to temporary uses.
(C) Location of Bufferyards
Bufferyards must be located:
(1)
along the perimeter of a lot or parcel, but not within any portion of an existing or
planned road right-of-way; or
(2)
in instances where the area represented by a site plan is significantly less than the
total area of the lot of record, the Planning Director may permit the screening
required between the proposed use and adjacent lots to be located in a bufferyard
surrounding the smaller area provided that:
(a)
the depth of the bufferyard and type of screening provided for the smaller area
is equal to or greater than required by the bufferyard table of Sec. 16-10-2(D);
(b)
the bufferyards required in Sec. 16-10-2(D) are also provided around the
perimeter of the lot of record; and
(c)
the total area of the lot of record, less the smaller area represented by the
subject site plan, could meet the minimum requirements within the applicable
zoning district, if considered as if it were an independent lot of record.
(3)
Around the perimeter of a leased lot or parcel utilized for telecommunication towers.
A 40-foot, type C bufferyard is required.
[Amended on 1/22/2008 by OA 04-07.]
(D) Bufferyard Table
The following table establishes minimum bufferyard depth and screen (landscape planting)
standards. To determine the applicable requirements, first identify the class of the proposed
(new, changed, or expanded) use. Then identify the class of each adjacent existing use and
the zoning of each adjacent vacant lot. The intersection of the row associated with the
proposed use and the column associated with the adjacent use shows the minimum depth
and screening requirement; the number indicates the bufferyard depth (in feet) and the letter
indicates the type of screen required.