Report on Amendments to the Carrboro Land Use Ordinance for Implementation to the Facilitated Small Area Plan for Carrboro's Northern Study Area

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1 (g) The conceptual preliminary plan shall demonstrate that the proposed development will satisfy 2 the following objectives,as more particularly described in the remaining provisions of this chapter: 3 4 1. Protects and preserves all floodplains, wetlands, and steep slopes from clearing, 5 grading, filling, or construction (except as may be approved by the Town for 6 essential infrastructure or active or passive recreation amenities). 7 2. Preserves and maintains mature woodlands, existing fields, pastures, meadows, and 8 orchards, and creates sufficient buffer areas to minimize conflicts between 9 residential and agricultural uses. For example, locating houselots and driveways 10 within wooded areas is generally recommended, with two exceptions. The first 11 involves significant wildlife habitat or mature woodlands which raise an equal or 12 greater preservation concern, ad described in # 5 and # 8 below. The second 13 involves predominantly agricultural areas, where remnant tree groups provide the 14 only natural areas for wildlife habitat. 15 3. If development must be located on open fields or pastures because of greater 16 constraints in all other parts of the site, dwellings should be sited on the least prime 17 agricultural soils, or in locations at the far edge of a field, as seen from existing 18 public roads. Other considerations include whether the development will be 19 visually buffered from existing public roads, such as by a planting screen consisting 20 of a variety of indigenous native trees, shrubs and wildflowers (specifications for 21 which should be based upon a close examination of the distribution and frequency 22 of those species, found in a typical nearby roadside verge or hedgerow). 23 4. Maintains or creates an upland buffer of natural native species vegetation of at least 24 100 feet in depth adjacent to wetlands and surface waters, including creeks, 25 streams, springs, lakes and ponds. 26 5. Designs around existing hedgerows and treelines between fields or meadows. 27 Minimizes impacts on large woodlands (greater than five acres), especially those 28 containing many mature trees or a significant wildlife habitat, or those not degraded 29 by invasive vines. Also, woodlands of any size on highly erodible soils with slopes 30 greater than 10 percent should be avoided. However, woodlands in poor condition 31 with limited management potential can provide suitable location for residential 32 development. When any woodland is developed, great care shall be taken to design 33 all disturbed areas (for buildings, roads, yards, septic disposal field, etc) in 34 locations where there are no large trees or obvious wildlife areas, to the fullest 35 extent that is practicable. 36 6. Leaves scenic views and vistas unblocked or uninterrupted, particularly as seen 37 from public roadways. (For example, in open agrarian landscapes, a deep, "no- 38 build, no-plant" buffer is recommended along the public roadway where those 39 views or vistas are prominent or locally significant. In wooded areas where the 40 sense of enclosure is a feature that should be maintained, a deep "no-build, no-cut" 41 buffer should be respected,to preserve existing vegetation. 42 7. Avoids siting new construction on prominent hilltops or ridges, by taking 43 advantage of lower topographic features. 44 8. Protects wildlife habitat areas of special species listed as endangered,threatened,or 45 of special concern by the state or federal government. ...................................................................................-....................................................................................................................................................................................... Page 26 of 35