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Article 16 Landscaping and Tree Protection
16-10 Landscaping and Bufferyards
Wake County Unified Development Code
16-17
(b)
Upright shrubs must have a minimum height of 15 inches at the time of
planting.
(c)
Shrubs may not be planted closer than 3 feet on-center or closer than 3 feet to
planted trees.
(6) Minimum Height at Maturity
Trees and shrubs must be of a variety that has a minimum mature height that will
meet the minimum screening requirements for which they were chosen. Deciduous
canopy trees must be of a species that will reach a minimum height of 35 feet at
maturity. Deciduous understory trees must be of a species that will reach a minimum
height of 15 feet at maturity. Evergreen trees must be of a species that will reach a
minimum height of 35 feet at maturity. Evergreen understory trees must be of a
species that will reach a minimum height of 20 feet at maturity. Shrubs must be of a
species that will grow to a minimum height of 36 inches at maturity.
(C) Fences, Walls and Berms
(1) Fences and Walls
Fences and walls must be screened over at least 50% of their exterior face area by
plantings that provide year round screening to obstruct the view of the fence or wall
from adjacent properties. This may be achieved with a tight evergreen hedge that is
one-half (½) the height of the fence or wall; or by using plants other than the
evergreen hedge meeting the above requirement, provided that figures on the average
mature height and spread of each species to be planted are submitted with the site
plan for approval by the Planning Director. The plantings required by this section
may be included in the totals listed in the various options that are established in Sec.
16-10-2(F). In evaluating the allowance of plant variations, the Planning Director
must also give due consideration to the use of fences, walls, or berms.
(2) Berms
Berms must be planted with trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, or other groundcover. Part
of a berm may be devoted to a nonliving screen such as a fence or wall.
(3) Location of Required Planting Materials
Whenever a wall, fence or berm is proposed, the placement of the required plant
materials (other than that required by 16-10-3(C)), in relation to the wall, fence or
berm, must take into consideration such factors as the intensity level of the proposed
use, the degree of dissimilarity of the proposed use to the adjacent use, the site
topography, the road curvature and other factors. The applicant may propose the
location of the wall, fence or berm and the amount of the landscaping material that
will be placed on each side of the wall, fence or berm. The Planning Director must