For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
APPROPRIATE NATIVE VEGETATION and APPROPRIATE NATIVE TREE. Those species of plants and trees identified and listed in publicly available sources as native plants for conservation, restoration, and landscaping by the State Department of Conservation and Recreation, for the Coastal Plain and Piedmont areas of the state, and suited to the soil, topography, and hydrology risk of a particular site.
APPROPRIATE NON-NATIVE VEGETATION and APPROPRIATE NON-NATIVE TREE. Those species of plants and trees not identified among native plants for conservation, restoration, and landscaping by the State Department of Conservation and Recreation, for the Coastal Plain and Piedmont areas of the state, but nevertheless suited to the soil, topography, and hydrology risk of a particular site, and not an invasion alien plant.
CALIPER. A measurement of the size of a tree equal to the diameter of the trunk six inches from the root ball.
COMMUNITY GARDEN. A public or community use area intended for the purposes of gardening.
COMMUNITY PLAY AREA. Public use areas, including school and athletic fields, composed of predominantly turfgrass intended for use for recreational purposes.
ENDANGERED PLANT. Any plant contained on the rare vascular plant list or rare nonvascular plant list maintained by the Division of Natural Heritage of the State Department of Conservation and Recreation or its successor.
INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT. A plant reproducing outside its native range and outside cultivation that disrupts naturally occurring native plant communities by altering structure, composition, natural processes, or habitat quality. INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS are those plants recognized and listed in publicly available sources as invasive alien plant species of the state by the State Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Zoning Administrator shall maintain a list of such plants.
LANDSCAPED AREA. The entire parcel less the building footprint, driveway, nonirrigated portions of parking lots, hardscapes such as decks and patios, and other nonporous areas. Water features are included in the calculation of LANDSCAPED AREAS.
LANDSCAPING. Any combination of living plants and nonliving landscape material (such as rocks, pebbles, sand, mulch, walls, fences, or decorative paving materials).
NATIVE PLANT. Those species of plants identified and listed in publicly available sources as native plants for conservation, restoration, and landscaping by the State Department of Conservation and Recreation, for the Coastal Plain and Piedmont areas of the state. The Zoning Administrator shall maintain a list of such plants.
NATURAL AREA. An area on a site that contains natural vegetation and that will be undisturbed during development and will remain undisturbed when the property is fully developed.
NATURAL COMMUNITY. A distinct and recurring assemblage of populations of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms naturally associated with each other and their physical environment.
RARE PLANT. A plant species that has been designated with a legally protected status such as “threatened” or “endangered”, or that is contained on the rare vascular plant list or rare nonvascular plant list maintained by the Division of Natural Heritage of the State Department of Conservation and Recreation or its successor.
REMOVE. To transport a native plant from the premises on which it has been growing.
THREATENED PLANT. Any plant species that is contained on the vascular plant watch list maintained by the Division of Natural Heritage of the State Department of Conservation and Recreation or its successor.
TREE. A self-supporting woody plant having a single trunk or a multi-trunk of lower branches, growing to a mature height of at least 12 feet.
TURFGRASS. Continuous plant coverage consisting of a grass species that is mowed to maintain an established height.
(1998 Code, § 46-131) (Ord. O-2009-04, passed 8-11-2009)