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Article 5: Development Standards
Section 5.12. Landscaping
5.12.3. General Landscaping Standards
June 2013
Morrisville, NC
Page 5-122
Unified Development Ordinance - Public Hearing Draft
3.
All landscape plant materials shall be of standard quality or better, true to name and type of
species or variety.
4.
The use of drought-tolerant vegetation native to the Morrisville area is strongly encouraged (see
the list of acceptable native plant species in the Administrative Manual).
5.
Required landscaping areas shall be protected from vehicular damage by the installation of
curbing, wheel stops, or extra width in the landscaping strip.
423
B.
Existing Vegetation
424
The use of existing healthy, well-formed canopy trees, understory trees, evergreen trees, and shrubs
shall be maximized wherever practical to comply with these landscaping standards. The use of existing
vegetation shall be credited towards meeting tree protection standards (Section 5.4), perimeter and
streetyard buffer standards (Section 5.6) and the landscaping standards in this section provided the
vegetation meets those standards, is protected before and during development of the site in
accordance with Section 5.4.7, Tree Protection During Development Activity, and is maintained
thereafter in a healthy growing condition.
C.
Stabilization
425
All required landscape planting areas shall be stabilized and maintained with turf, ground covers, or
other approved materials to prevent soil erosion and allow rainwater infiltration.
D.
Easements
426
Nothing except ground cover shall be planted or installed within any underground or overhead utility,
drainage or gas easement, or within three feet of a fire protection system, except in accordance with
the consent, standards, or guidelines of the utility provider, easement holder, or the Town, as
appropriate.
E.
Berms
427
All berms shall comply with the following standards:
1.
Berms shall be at least one and one-half feet high, with side slopes not exceeding a ratio of three
horizontal feet to one vertical foot, and with a crown at least two feet wide.
2.
Berms proposed to be placed along street rights-of-way shall be designed and constructed to
provide adequate sight distances at intersections and shall not impair safe operation of vehicles.
3.
In no case shall berms be located or designed so they damage the roots or trunks of existing
healthy vegetation designated to be preserved.
4.
Berms shall not be located or designed so as to block or divert a natural drainage flow on to or
off of any other land.
F.
Time for Installation of Required Landscaping
1.
Installation Before Certificate of Compliance/Occupancy
428
All required landscaping (including ground cover) shall be installed in accordance with the
required planting standards set forth in this section prior to issuance of a Certificate of
423
This carries forward the standard in Part C, Art. IX, Sec. 4.5.B.
424
This expands a general requirement that existing vegetation be retained within buffers (Part C, Art. IX, Sec. 4.2).
425
This slightly expands the standard in Part C, Art. IX, Sec. 4.5.C.
426
This simplifies the standards in Part C, Art. IX, Sec. 4.7 and avoids the need to amend the standard if Cary should revise its
standards for plantings in water and sewer easements.
427
This incorporates the dimensional standards in Part C, Art. IX, Sec. 7.2.E of the current Zoning Ordinance, adding standards
relating to sight distance obstructions and relationship to existing vegetation to be preserved.
428
This reiterates the general rule that required landscaping (as well as all other element of a development) must be completed
before issuance of a Certificate of Compliance/Occupancy.