Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Master Management Plan

Article 5: Development Standards

Section 5.9. Building Organization and Design

5.9.1. Applicability

June 2013

Morrisville, NC

Page 5-62

Unified Development Ordinance - Public Hearing Draft

to the boundary of adjoining vacant land zoned to allow single-family attached, multifamily,

nonresidential, and mixed-use development.

The Planning Director, in conjunction with the Town Engineer, may waive or modify the

requirement for pedestrian cross-access on determining that such cross–access is impractical

or undesirable due to the presence of topographic conditions, natural features, or safety

factors.

Easements allowing cross-access to and from properties served by a pedestrian cross-access,

along with agreements defining maintenance responsibilities of property owners, shall be

recorded with the Register of Deeds for the county in which the properties are located before

issuance of a Building Permit for the development.

Walkway Design Standards

All sidewalks, internal walkways, and greenway/multi-use paths shall be designed and constructed in

accordance with standards in the Engineering Design and Construction Manual.

SECTION 5.9.

BUILDING ORGANIZATION AND DESIGN

5.9.1.

Applicability

Except as otherwise provided in this section, the

standards in this section apply to all new development

except single-family detached, duplex, manufactured

home, and single-family attached dwellings. Standards

in Section

5.9.3,

Exterior Facade Materials,

Section

5.9.6, Building Organization and Design Standards for

the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) District,

Section 5.9.7, Building Organization and Design

Standards for Town Center Development, apply to

single-family detached, duplex, and single-family

attached dwellings.

5.9.2.

Four-Sided Design

Although the front facade of a building is expected to be the primary focal point in terms of level of

architectural character and features, all sides of a building shall incorporate architectural detailing (e.g.,

windows, doors, accent materials, porches, and other features) that complements the front facade and

provides visual interest. Blank walls void of architectural detailing are prohibited.

5.9.3.

Exterior Facade Materials

Materials used for net facades, cornices, and architectural accents on buildings shall comply with the

standards in Table 5.9.2, Exterior Facade Materials. Within the Main Street (MS) and Historic Crossroads

Village (HCV) Districts, the standards in the table apply to all development.

COMMENTARY

Art. XIV repeats virtually the same standards at least

five times (for nonresidential buildings in general, for

office buildings over 2 stories, for other office buildings,

for industrial buildings adjoining community facilities, and

for other industrial buildings—with only relatively minor

variations for some of these building types. This section

consolidates these into a single set of general design

standards—except the standards addressing the

screening of equipment, containers, and service areas,

which are relocated to Section 5.10, Screening. Also, in

accordance with the Assessment Report (p. 26), these

building organization and design standards are also

applied to multifamily and mixed-use developments. At

the request of Town staff, they are not applied to single-

family attached developments. Variations of the general

standards applicable in the Town Center districts are

added at the end of the section.