(A) Required Landscaping on Single-Unit Residential Lots
(1) Minimum requirements shall be written out on the approved development plan; however, no specific landscape plan is required for individual lots.
(2) Landscaping for individual lots shall be installed or secured for a future planting date prior to the Certificate of Occupancy permit.
(3) Existing vegetation on individual lots shall be retained to the maximum extent possible.
(4) A ten (10) foot wide landscape area meeting the Type B buffer standard shall be provided on each lot where rear yards back up to each other or are visible from other rear yards.
(B) Required Foundation Plantings for Non-Residential Buildings
With the exception of building in the Town Center district, foundation plantings are required on all non-loading and non-service sides of non-residential buildings unless approved through a Statement of Architectural Compatibility (see Section 7.7.4).
(C) Standards for New Planting
(1) All trees shall be at least eight (8) feet high above ground level and a minimum of two (2) inches in caliper at the time of installation, and shall have an expected mature height based on the buffer type.
(2) All shrubs shall be healthy, at least twenty-four (24) inches in height above ground level and shall reach the height required for performance within five (5) years after installation.
(3) The standards for all trees and shrubs, including the minimum height, root ball size, number of branches, and width, shall conform with the American Standard for Nursery Stock published by the American Association of Nurserymen for that type of tree or shrub at the time of installation.
(4) The selection and planting of trees and shrubs shall conform to the standards set forth in the Community Appearance Manual and Standard Specifications and Details Manual. Trees intended for use in areas that are ten (10) feet wide or less and are adjacent to impervious surfaces shall be species that are suited to use in urban environments (i.e., reflected heat, limited pervious area, limited moisture) and are not shallow rooted, so as to avoid future damage to sidewalks and paved areas.
(D) Irrigation
(1) The use of irrigation systems and lawn turf is generally discouraged, but may be permitted if connected to a private well, other private water source, or public reclaimed water system.
(2) If automatic irrigation systems are permitted, moisture sensor regulators, soil moisture sensors, or drip irrigation shall be used.
(3) Irrigation systems may connect to the main water connection for the building unless otherwise restricted through other Town ordinances or policies.
(4) The above provisions shall also apply to all landscape areas required in parking and vehicular use areas per Section 7.2.6.
(E) Design Standards for Berms
All berms used in a perimeter buffer (or in a streetscape) shall meet the following design standards:
(1) The slope of all berms shall not exceed a two to one (2:1) ratio (horizontal to vertical), shall have a top width at least one-half (½) the berm height, and a maximum height of four (4) feet above the toe of the berm. The Planning Director shall approve all berms. Berms proposed to be greater than four (4) feet in height may be permitted by the Director if the four (4) foot maximum height is not practicable due to physical site constraints, such as topography, presence of stream buffers or other natural features, or lot dimensions; or due to presence of existing development or infrastructure.
(2) Proposed berms to be placed over an existing or proposed utility easement(s) shall be approved by the Development Review Committee.
(3) All berms, regardless of size, shall be stabilized with a ground cover or other suitable vegetation according to the Town's Standard Specifications and Details
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(4) The Directors of Public Works, Transportation and Facilities, and Planning shall approve all berms proposed to be placed along street right(s)-of-way. Such berms shall be designed and constructed to provide adequate sight distances at intersections and along all other roads.
(5) Berms proposed to satisfy the buffer requirements specified in subsection 7.3.2 shall be vegetated as required by this section. Berms must be stabilized with ground cover to prevent erosion and sedimentation. Use of berms as a substitute for existing healthy vegetation is strongly discouraged. However, if berms are allowed to replace existing vegetation that already meets the standards contained in this section, then they must also meet the buffer standards and must be approved by the Planning Director.
(6) Berms shall in no case damage the roots of existing healthy vegetation designated to be preserved.
(F) Easements
Nothing shall be planted or installed within an underground or overhead utility easement or a drainage easement without the consent of the Town and the easement holder at the time of site plan approval.
(G) Designated Utility Corridors
In order to reduce the damage to root systems of existing vegetation within streetscapes, buffers or any other tree save areas, designation of planned utility connection corridors is required to be shown on all development plans to coordinate the location of electrical, telephone, cable, and other similar utilities.
(H) Additional Requirement for Clear-Cut Sites or Sites with Removed Vegetation in Required Vegetation Protection Areas
Larger trees up to four (4) inches in caliper and/or up to double the amount of the required number of trees and shrubs may be required by the Planning Director if the site and/or the required vegetation protection areas specified in this Ordinance were clear cut within five (5) years prior to submittal of a development plan.
(I) It is recommended that all common areas and similar areas used as general unspecified open space be stabilized using warm season grasses or planted with trees to increase canopy cover.
(J) Variety of Plant Species Required
No single species of tree shall constitute more than twenty-five (25) percent of the plant material of its type installed on a single development site. This restriction may be modified by the Planning Director on sites smaller in size than two (2) acres provided that an acceptable variety of plant material is proposed.
(K) Soil Amendments Required
Soil amendments shall be specified and used to improve the quality of soil used as planting media for trees. This requirement applies to all development, except for residential single-unit lots. Common areas of subdivisions and townhouse developments are subject to the requirements of this section.
(1) A registered Landscape Architect shall provide a recommended soil amendment schedule based on the existing soils found on-site and the type of plant material proposed. This schedule shall be included as part of the required landscape plan submitted as part of a development plan.
(2) Prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, a certified statement shall be provided to town staff Cary Site Inspector attesting to the fact that the soil amendment schedule was followed as specified in the approved development plan. This statement shall be certified by a registered landscape architect, certified arborist, or other such specialist.
(L) Reforestation of Cut and Fill Slopes
Where portions of a site have been graded due to, but not limited to, topography, cut and fill slopes associated with road and/or parking lot construction; with transitional perimeter grading; or with the installation of major utilities, and other similar areas, the development plan shall contain a reforestation plan prepared by a landscape architect, a certified arborist, a registered forester, or another such professional specialist. The reforestation plan shall conform to the following standards:
(1) Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) seedlings shall be installed on a staggered grid with a spacing of ten (10) feet within a row and fifteen (15) feet between rows.
(2) Alternate tree species or planting arrangements may be approved by the Planning Director in response to site-specific characteristics that dictate such a change.
(3) The plantings required by this subsection shall not be subject to the requirements of subsections (J) and (K) above.
(M) Separation from Utility Appurtenances
In order to prevent conflicts and allow for appropriate maintenance, canopy trees shall be placed at least ten (10) feet from electrical transformers and twenty (20) feet from light poles.