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Article 16 Landscaping and Tree Protection
16-10 Landscaping and Bufferyards
Wake County Unified Development Code
16-5
Bufferyard Depth and Screening (feet/screen type)
Class of Proposed Use
Residential
Nonresidential
Low-
density
[1]
Medium-
density [2]
High-
density
[3]
Low-
intensity
[4]
Medium
intensity
[5]
High-
intensity
[6]
Class of Adjacent Existing Use
Low-density residential [1]
NA
20/E
30D
40C
60/B
80/A
Medium-density [2]
NA
NA
20E
30D
40/C
60/B
High-density residential
[3]
NA
NA
NA
20E
30/D
40/C
Low-intensity nonresidential [4]
NA
NA
NA
NA
20/E
30/D
Medium-intensity nonresidential [5]
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
20/E
High-intensity nonresidential [6]
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Zoning of Adjacent Vacant Lot
R-80W, R-80, R-40W, R-40, R-30, R-20
NA
20/E
30/D
40/C
60/B
80/A
R-15, R-10, RHC, HD
NA
NA
20/E
30/D
40/C
60/B
R-5, RMH
NA
NA
NA
20E
30/D
40/C
OI, GB
NA
NA
NA
NA
20E
30D
HC, RA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
20E
I-1, I-2, AD-1, AD-2
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA—no bufferyard required
[1] A low-density residential use is a residential use with a density less than 3 dwelling units per acre.
[2] A medium-density residential use is a residential use with a density between 3 and 6 dwelling units per acre.
[3] A high-density residential use is a residential use with a density of more than 6 dwelling units per acre.
[4] A low-intensity nonresidential use is a nonresidential use with a floor area ratio (gross floor area/site area) no greater than
0.15 and an impervious surface coverage no greater than 30%.
[5] A medium-intensity nonresidential use is a nonresidential use with a floor area ratio (floor area/site area) greater than 0.15 but
no greater than 0.30, or an impervious surface coverage greater than 30%, but no greater than 60%.
[6] A high-intensity nonresidential use is a nonresidential use with a floor area ratio (floor area/site area) greater than 0.30 or an
impervious surface coverage greater than 60%.
[7] The buffers listed in the table above may not be reduced except as expressly authorized by Sec. 16-10-2(G) or Sec. 16-10-
2(H) or by the granting of a variance in accordance with Sec. 19-26.
[8] Child Care Center Class “A” must provide a 20’ bufferyard with Class C screen
[9] Child Care Center Class “B” must provide a 20’ bufferyard with Class E screen
[Amended on 7/21/2008 by OA 04-08.]
(E) Overlap with Required Setbacks
In the event that bufferyard depth requirements conflict with zoning district setback
requirements, the stricter standard governs.
(F) Screen Types
(1) Landscape Plan Variations
(a)
The quantities of plant materials noted below represent the number of
deciduous canopy trees, full size evergreen trees, deciduous understory trees,
evergreen understory trees, and shrubs that are necessary to create the type of
screen specified. These stated quantities represent the number of each plant
type (e.g.
—
deciduous canopy tree or shrub) that is necessary to achieve the
specified type of screen.
(b)
The Planning Director has the authority to allow variations in the mix of plants
required, up to a maximum of 25% of the total required number of each type of
tree (i.e.
—
deciduous canopy tree, evergreen tree, deciduous understory tree, or
evergreen understory tree) and up to a maximum of 35% of the shrubs