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Article 6: Development Standards 12 <br /> Section 6.8: Landscaping, Buffers&Tree Protection <br /> (1) Existing trees, regardless of size, shall not be cut or otherwise damaged or <br /> destroyed within a primary tree protection area except as shown on an approved <br /> Landscape and Tree Preservation Plan, plot plan, or site plan. <br /> (2) Existing native, non-invasive and drought tolerant trees having a diameter of one <br /> foot or greater, as measured at diameter breast height�dbhj shall not be cut, <br /> damaged or destroyed within a secondary tree protection area except as shown <br /> on an approved Landscape and Tree Preservation Plan, plot plan, or site plan . <br /> (3) During construction activities, adequate protective measures shall be provided to <br /> minimize damage to existing trees and other vegetation. <br /> (4) All tree protection fencing shall be installed prior to any grading, construction <br /> traffic or activity taking place on site. <br /> (5) Tree protection fencing shall be a minimum of four feet in height, of durable <br /> construction, and shall be placed outside of the drip line of the tree(s)to be <br /> protected. <br /> {4}(6) Tree protection fencing shall be maintained on the site until all site work is <br /> completed. Protective fencing shall be removed prior to final site inspection for <br /> the certificate of completion. <br /> M(7) Logging mats shall be used in areas where drip lines or critical root zones may <br /> be disturbed during construction. <br /> {6}(8) Signs in English and Spanish shall be posted identifying the tree protection areas <br /> and shall state the area is not to be disturbed. Such protective devices shall <br /> effectively protect the critical root zones, trunks, and tops of trees to be retained <br /> and shall be maintained until all work has been completed. <br /> g4Lq Construction traffic, storage of vehicles and materials, soil compaction, filing, and <br /> grading shall not take place within the drip line of trees to be preserved. <br /> {8}JL0J Construction access to a site should be located where an existing or proposed <br /> entrance/exit is located. <br /> t;9}(11) A stabilized open area should be designated for storage of materials (including <br /> stockpiling of soil and gravel) and for parking construction vehicles and <br /> equipment. <br /> (C) Mitigation <br /> Where grading within a critical root zone of a tree cannot be avoided, the following <br /> measures shall be used to maintain the life of the trees affected by grading: <br /> (1) Avoid cut and fill around the entire circumference of the trunk of the tree; <br /> (2) Root prune a tree several months prior to any cuts within the critical root zone; <br /> (3) Prune tree limbs in an amount, which reflects the area of the roots to be severed, <br /> but in no case allow pruning to exceed 25% of the tree crown. Fertilize, if <br /> necessary and water the undisturbed root area of the tree; <br /> (4) Trees that are marked for preservation and for which utilities must pass through <br /> their critical root zones shall not have surface-dug trenches; and <br /> (5) Utilities shall be bored through critical root zone areas. Shared utility easements <br /> or trenches are encouraged. <br /> 6.8.5 Landscaping Standards <br /> (A) General Design Guidelines <br /> The following are guidelines and should be included where possible in the landscape <br /> plan,and shall be balanced against other objectives of this Section when reviewing a <br /> landscape and tree preservation plan. <br /> Orange County, North Carolina—Unified Development Ordinance Page 6-38 <br />