Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Master Management Plan - 2014

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Article 5: Development Standards
Section 5.5. Common Open Space and Public Recreation Area
5.5.1. Common Open Space
June 2013 Morrisville, NC
Page 5-14 Unified Development Ordinance - Public Hearing Draft
2. Allowable Common Open Space Areas
The features and areas identified in Table
shall be credited towards compliance with the open space set-aside standards of this section.
They are listed generally in the order of priority.
Table
Area Counted as Common
Open Space
Description Design and Maintenance Requirements
Natural Resource and Hazard Areas
Natural water features (including
lakes, ponds, rivers, streams,
rivers, wetlands, drainageways),
riparian buffers, flood hazard
areas, existing tree canopy and
specimen trees, steep slopes, and
important wildlife habitat areas,
including such areas used for
required public recreation area
 Preservation of any existing natural resource and
hazard areas shall have highest priority for locating
open space.
 Maintenance is limited to the minimum removal and
avoidance of hazards, nuisances, or unhealthy
conditions.
 See tree protection standards (Section 5.4).
Active Recreational Areas
Land occupied by areas and
facilities used for active
recreational purposes, such as
pools, playgrounds, tennis courts,
jogging trails, ball fields, and
clubhouses, including required
public recreation area
 Land shall be compact and contiguous unless used to
link or continue an existing or planned open space
resource.
 Areas shall have at least one direct access to a building
or to a street, bikeway, or walkway accessible to the
public or the development‘s occupants and users.
Stormwater Management Devices
Up to 75 percent of land area
occupied by stormwater
management devices (including
retention and detention ponds and
other bioretention devices), when
such features are treated as an
open space site amenity
 To qualify, stormwater management devices shall
support passive recreation uses by providing access
and pedestrian elements such as paths and benches.
Formal Plantings and Gardens
Formally planned and regularly
maintained open areas that
provide passive recreation
opportunities, including arranged
plantings, gardens, gazebos, and
similar structures, as well as roof
gardens
 Formal plantings and gardens shall have at least one
direct access to a building, or to street, bikeway, or
walkway accessible to the public or the development‘s
occupants and users.
 Such features shall be oriented to surrounding
development.