Orange County NC Website
Article 6: Development Standards21 <br /> Section 6.8: Landscaping, Buffers&Tree Protection <br /> (b) In addition to the trees required on-site, a hedge of at least three feet in <br /> height at maturity shall be installed to provide a continuous opaque <br /> landscape barrier for the purpose of reducing glare and visual <br /> distractions to passing motorists and to adjacent properties. Berms <br /> and/or fences or a combination of all three may also be utilized. <br /> berms,(c) For security purposes, hedges, and/or fences shall not exce <br /> throe and one half foot when adjacent to public rights of ways 7 <br /> (d)(c) The provisions of this subsection shall not be applicable in the following <br /> situations: <br /> (i) Where any off street parking, loading or other vehicular use area <br /> will be entirely screened visually, from any point of view, by an <br /> intervening building or structure from abutting property; <br /> (ii) When differences in topographic elevation eliminate the visual <br /> impacts of the off-street parking, loading or other vehicular use <br /> areas to adjacent roads or properties; and/or <br /> (iii) Where planting and/or fencing is required for screening between <br /> certain non-compatible land uses. <br /> (2) Interior Landscaping <br /> (a) All Off-Street Parking Areas <br /> The following landscaping requirements shall apply to all off-street <br /> parking areas: <br /> (i) Under no circumstances may any parking space be located more <br /> than 60 feet from the trunk of a canopy tree. <br /> (ii) All trees and other landscape materials required shall be <br /> installed in accordance with the provisions of this Section. <br /> (b) Off-Street Parking Areas With More Than Ten Spaces <br /> In addition to the requirements established in subsection (a) above, the <br /> following interior landscaping requirements shall apply to all off-street <br /> parking areas with more than ten parking spaces and within the interior <br /> of the parking area. <br /> (i) Terminal Islands <br /> a. No more than ten parking spaces shall be permitted in a <br /> continuous row without being interrupted by a terminal <br /> landscape island. <br /> b. Terminal Islands shall have a minimum of 300 square <br /> feet. <br /> C. Each terminal landscape island shall be planted with a <br /> minimum of one canopy tree, as well as shrubs, and <br /> ground cover in accordance with the following detail. <br /> (ii) Minimum Landscaped Area <br /> a. Not less than 5% of the interior of any parking, loading or <br /> other vehicular use area shall be landscaped. <br /> b. The location of the required interior landscaping is at the <br /> option of the owner or developer and may include <br /> median strips and required terminal islands. <br /> 'This is relevant when sidewalks are present but that is not currently a county requirement. If anything, higher <br /> perimeter plantings will allow for greater screening ability. Required sight triangles will protect visibility concerns <br /> at driveways. <br /> Orange County, North Carolina—Unified Development Ordinance Page 6-47 <br />