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Article 5: Development Standards
Section 5.12. Landscaping
5.12.7. Alternative Landscape Plan
Morrisville, NC
June 2013
Unified Development Ordinance - Public Hearing Draft
Page 5-129
2.
Along a development‘s frontage with a pedestrian ―Main Street,‖ one street tree shall be
provided for every 30 feet of frontage, or major fraction thereof, and the street trees shall be
spaced between 25 and 35 feet apart.
455
3.
Along a development‘s frontage with any other street, one street tree shall be provided for every
50 feet of frontage, or major fraction thereof, and the street trees shall be spaced between 40
and 60 feet apart.
456
4.
Where possible, small and medium trees shall be planted between large trees to accommodate
the canopy growth of large trees over time.
457
5.
Where necessary to accommodate utility lines, planned street widening, and streetscape
improvements, the Planning Director may allow variations in the spacing or location of required
street trees or allow understory trees be substituted for required street trees.
458
5.12.7.
Alternative Landscape Plan
459
A.
General
The Planning Director may approve an alternative landscape plan where a deviation from this the
standards in Section 5.7, Perimeter and Streetyard Buffers, or this
Section 5.12,is justified because of
site or development conditions that make strict compliance with such standards impossible or
impractical. The alternative landscape plan shall indicate how the proposed deviations are justified by
site or development conditions and illustrate how compliance with the standard(s) from which a
deviation is sought can be achieved to the maximum extent practicable. Conditions justifying approval
of an alternative landscape plan may include:
1.
Natural conditions, such as watercourses, natural rock formations, or topography;
2.
The likelihood that landscaping material would be ineffective at maturity due to topography,
placement, or other existing site conditions;
3.
Lot size or configuration;
4.
Infill development or redevelopment on small lots;
5.
The presence of existing utility or other easements;
6.
The potential for interference with public safety; and
7.
Other situations where strict adherence to the buffer or landscaping standards in this Ordinance
are determined impractical by the Planning Director.
B.
Submittal and Review
An applicant may submit an alternative landscape plan as part of an application for Conceptual
Master Plan Approval, Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat Approval, Minor Subdivision Plat Approval,
454
To provide some flexibility, this replaces the current requirement that trees be selected from the Street E Streetscape Design
Guidelines to a performance standard that references a list of appropriate trees in the administrative manual.
455
This reflects the current requirement that street trees along the ―Main Street‖ be spaced 30 feet apart, but breaks the
requirement into ratio and spacing range standards to provide some flexibility.
456
The current standards do not include any spacing standard for street trees along streets other than the ―Main Street.‖ This adds
suggested ratio and spacing range standards that are more lenient that those for the ―Main Street‖ frontage.
457
This new subsection recognizes that as street trees grow, expansion of their canopies will be hindered unless allowed to
overlap.
458
This new subsection provides the flexibility to accommodate overhead utility lines and streetscape improvements.
459
This is a new subsection intended to provide flexibility in those cases strict adherence to the perimeter buffer or landscaping
standards is impractical. It specifies several common circumstances where flexibility is frequently warranted—including
accommodation of underground utilities or easements/rights-of-way, protection of natural resources, small site size, or landscaping
nonconformities.