|
Intro |
|
Previous |
|
Next |
|
Up |
|
|
|
|
This subsection provides flexibility and presents alternative ways to meet the standards set forth in this Ordinance, while encouraging the preservation of existing healthy vegetation and innovation in site design. The incentives provided below are discretionary and are subject to approval by the Planning Director, unless otherwise noted.
(A) Existing healthy vegetation and the area of land used to maintain the vegetation may be counted toward meeting the performance criteria for buffers, streetscapes, and vehicular use areas set out in Sections 7.2.3, 7.2.4, and 7.2.6.
(B) A five to 20 percent reduction in the number of parking spaces required on the site shall be allowed to the extent that the reduction in the amount of required pavement will preserve existing healthy trees in an undisturbed, natural condition. The amount of reduction can be determined only after taking into consideration any unique site conditions and the impact of the reduction on parking needs for the use, and must be agreed upon by both the applicant and Town staff.
(C) The Town Council
may reduce the width of required streetscapes and
buffers to no less than ten feet. Buffer reductions between uses
may be considered based on the use of innovative site/building design
concepts. The Council may make exceptions to this minimum width for
development within
the
(1) An average buffer/streetscape width that equals the width of the required buffer/streetscape may be approved, provided that all of the following requirements are met:
(a) The buffer/streetscape average equals the required width (for example, a required 50-foot buffer could average a minimum of 50 feet in width.)
(b) In no case shall a buffer/streetscape that is adjacent to single-family residential development be less than 30 feet in width.
(c) All buffer/streetscape areas that are less than the required minimum width must include additional vegetation, walls/fencing, and/or other measures to ensure that the buffer streetscape meets its intended purpose of achieving desired screening.
(D) The area used for preserving existing healthy vegetation (specimen trees preferred) within the site may be used as credit for required perimeter buffers, interior buffers, and/or streetscapes at a rate of 1.5 times. For example, if the area taken up by the preserved vegetation is 1,200 square feet, then the applicant may deduct an area equal to 1,800 square feet from other required landscape/buffer areas. However, the application of this subsection is subject to the limits provided under subsection (C) above. In addition, the area removed from required perimeter buffers or streetscapes should not contain specimen trees. Area taken up by preserved vegetation includes the area under the tree canopies.
(E) Interior buffer areas may be relocated provided that:
(1) The square footage of area is relocated elsewhere on the site (preferably to save more existing vegetation).
(2) Parking lot landscape areas are designed in a combined linear fashion instead of as small, isolated pockets of vegetation.
(F) The required streetscape along thoroughfares and major collectors can be reduced to ten feet, and building setbacks from the streetscape to zero when buildings are placed close to the street inside Mixed Use Centers.
Cary, NC Land Development Ordinance On-line VIC Version - This site last updated 3/4/2008
Note: This is not the official version of the Cary Land Development Ordinance