Subpart E. General Landscaping Standards
The landscaping standards of this subpart provide requirements, standards and options applicable to all other subparts and sections within this Article
- Plant Standards. Plant material shall: (1) meet the requirements of the latest edition of the American Standards for Nursery Stock (ANSI 260.1); (2) be healthy; and (3) be free of disease/insect infestation.
- Plant Material Size. Minimum plant size requirements are established to provide tree canopies and revegetate a site. Table 5.3 shows plant material size as required by this Chapter.
| Table 5.3. Tree and Shrub Requirements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree/Shrub Type | Height at Maturity (ft.) | Minimum Size at Planting | |
| Deciduous | |||
| Large Tree | ≥35 | 2 inches in caliper; 12 to 14 ft. in height | |
| Small Tree | <35 | 1 ½ inches in caliper; 8 to 10 ft. in height | |
| Shrub | >4 | 3 gallon container or 10 inch root ball; 18 inches in height | |
| Evergreen | |||
| Tree | >20 | 6 ft. in height | |
| Conical Tree | ≥ 15 | 3 gallon container or 10 inch root ball; 18 inches in height | |
| Shrub | >4 | 3 gallon container or 10 inch root ball; 18 inches in height | |
| Conical Shrub | ≥8 | 3 gallon container or 10 inch root ball; 18 inches in height | |
- Plant Material Placement. Plant material shall be permitted in the sight visibility triangle (see Figure 5F) provided the area within the sight visibility triangle remain permanently unobstructed between three (3) and ten (10) feet above grade.
Figure 5F. Sight Visibility Triangle Plantings
Not to Scale
Tree groupings and individual trees should be preserved. Preserved trees will be credited toward any requirement of this Article, and must be indicated on the site plan submitted.
- Tree Credit Rate. Preserved trees must be healthy and free of disease/insect infestation. Protection of critical root zone shall be required to ensure good health and condition (improper installation of protective measures will result in losing tree credits). Credits for preserving existing trees are indicated in Table 5.4. Critical root zone protection requirements are indicated in subsection B below.
- Critical Root Zone Protection. Critical root zone is the area around a tree calculated at a rate of one (1) foot radius for every one (1) inch of tree diameter. Protecting critical root zone involves installing tree protective fencing and (in some cases) silt fencing, as detailed below.
- Tree Protective Fencing. Tree protective fencing shall be installed (see Figure 5G and Figure 5H) around the critical root zone determined for each tree to be preserved.
Figure 5G. Tree Protective Fencing (Plastic)
Not to Scale
Figure 5H. Tree Protective Fencing (Post and Rail)
Not to Scale
- Silt Fencing. Where silt fencing is required for sedimentation/erosion control such silt fencing shall be installed as per North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) regulations. Improper installation of silt fencing and/or lack of fencing (where required) will result in losing tree credits.
- Tree Protective Fencing. Tree protective fencing shall be installed (see Figure 5G and Figure 5H) around the critical root zone determined for each tree to be preserved.
- Replacement of Credited Trees. If a credited tree dies within in one (1) year of the date of issuance of a zoning permit, it must be replaced by the current property owner with the number of trees for which credit was received. (Example: A tree (12 inch caliper) credited towards the landscaping requirements dies, so the developer must replace it with two (2) trees that meet the installation size requirements as outlined in §42- 183 - Plant Specifications).
Where plant material is unavailable or during times of drought/inclement weather, the plant material required may be bonded. All guarantees shall be accompanied by a written agreement (performance agreement) specifying the terms and the amount of the guarantee. Following receipt of an improvement guarantees application, the Zoning Administrator shall prepare formal recommendations as to amount and terms of the guarantees for improvements, including time of initiation and completion of the work (and a requirement that temporary or permanent seeding be installed to prevent sedimentation and erosion problems until required plant material is placed). The time of completion for work shall not exceed six (6) months. The Zoning Administrator shall verify that the amount of the guarantee is sufficient to provide adequate funds to the County to ensure, in the case of default, the installation of all required improvements not completed at the time of default. All guarantees shall comply with applicable statutory requirements and shall be satisfactory to the County Attorney as to form, sufficiency and manner of execution. Guarantees employing lending institutions shall be institutions which are licensed to do business in North Carolina.
Site conditions or other reasons may justify the need to request an alternative method of compliance with this Article. The Technical Review Committee may alter the requirements of this Article so long as existing/proposed landscape features of the development comply with the intent of this Article. Requests for alternative compliance shall be accepted where:
- Topography, geologic features, drainage channels, streams, existing natural vegetation, overhead utilities, underground utilities, lot limitations (size, space or unusual shape), unique relationships to other properties, or other conditions make it unreasonable to meet landscape requirements; or
- An alternative compliance plan is equal or superior to normal compliance in its ability to fulfill the intent of this Article.
