Kenansville City Zoning Code
LANDSCAPING, BUFFERS
AND SCREENING
§ 152.270 INTENT AND PURPOSE.
(A) It is the purpose of this subchapter to require landscaping to minimize the adverse effects of certain land uses and outdoor activities upon their surroundings and to improve the appearance of parking areas, street frontages and pedestrian corridors within the community.
(B) It is further intended to preserve and enhance the aesthetic qualities, character, privacy and land values within the town.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018)
§ 152.271 GENERAL LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS.
(A) Applicability. These regulations shall apply to all land development activities within the town with the exception of the following activities:
(1) The construction, reconstruction, expansion or modification of a detached single-family dwelling on an individual lot;
(2) The construction, reconstruction, expansion or modification of no more than two attached dwelling units; provided that, each unit is constructed with an individual driveway and/or garage; and
(3) Land development activities within the Central Business District (CB) where structures are constructed within five feet of a lot line or would otherwise prevent the installation of required landscaping material due to adjacent structures or rights-of way.
(B) General requirements.
(1) Landscaping required by this subchapter shall comply with the minimum state or local sight distance requirements for street intersections and driveways, and shall not obstruct or impede public pedestrian routes including sidewalks and greenway trails. Safety and security concerns should receive prominent consideration during the selection and placement of landscape materials.
(2) Whenever any planting areas required by this subchapter are adjacent to motor vehicle surface areas or motor vehicle display areas, the planting areas shall be protected from motor vehicle intrusion or damage by active restraint devices, such as bollards, wheel stops or curbing.
(3) The soil surface of all planting areas required by this subchapter shall be stabilized to prevent erosion. In addition to required interior trees and shrubs, the soil surfaces of planting areas shall contain live groundcover, mulch, flowering plants, permeable pedestrian paver blocks or a combination thereof.
(4) All required plantings installed shall be nursery grown stock that is free from disease or growth problems, shall be indigenous to the county, and shall comply with the latest edition of the American Standards for Nursery Stock, published by the American Nurserymen’s Association and be consistent with the standards set forth by the Duplin County, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.
(5) The landowner is responsible for maintaining, mulching, watering and pruning all required plant materials. Any dead or missing plants must be replaced with new planting which meets the minimum installation dimension standards of this section. Plant replacement shall take place within one month of written notification by the Ordinance Administrator. In the event that plant material is severely damaged due to an unusual weather occurrence or other act of nature, or if replacement plantings are unavailable within one month of written notification, the landowner will have six months from the date of written notification to replace plantings. This time limit may be extended by the Ordinance Administrator if the area is under prolonged drought conditions, or if the particular type of plant material has a preferred planting season that would require extending the length of time.
(6) Where appropriate, the location of overhead utility lines shall be considered during the placement of required trees. The maximum mature height of required trees shall be determined as follows.
(a) Trees with a maximum mature height of less than 25 feet shall be used where they will be planted within 25 feet, measured horizontally, from overhead power lines.
(b) Trees with a maximum mature height of less than 35 feet shall be used where they will be planted within 35 feet, measured horizontally, from overhead power lines.
(c) Trees with a maximum mature height of greater than 35 feet may be used where they will be planted more than 30 feet, measured horizontally, from overhead power lines so long as they do not have a horizontal spread of more than 25 feet from the trunk.
(7) Fractional planting requirement calculations shall be rounded to the next higher whole number.
(8) Existing plant material within the required bufferyard may be included in the computation of the required plantings with approval of the Ordinance Administrator.
(9) A minimum five-foot radius containing no plant materials or structural elements other than groundcover plants shall be maintained around all fire protection equipment, including fire hydrants, post indicator valves and Siamese connectors. Obvious sight lines to the fire protection equipment shall be maintained at all times.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018) Penalty, see § 152.999
§ 152.272 STREET YARDS.
(A) A landscaped street yard shall be required for all activities subject to the requirements of this subchapter.
(B) Street yards shall conform to the requirements outlined below.
(1) Street yards shall be installed along all streets and located within 20 feet of the edge of the right-of-way.
(2) Street yard planting areas shall be a minimum of ten feet in width.
(3) Each streetyard shall contain a minimum of five trees and 20 shrubs per 100 linear feet of road frontage, excluding the width of driveways as measured at the right-of-way line.
(a) Each tree planted shall be a minimum of two DBH at the time of installation. Each shrub planted shall be a minimum of 18 inches in height at the time of installation and reach a minimum height of 36 inches within three years of installation.
(b) Trees and shrubs must be native species. No more than 50% of the shrubs planted to meet this requirement may be deciduous.
(c) Trees and shrubs must be distributed throughout the streetyard planting area as evenly as possible.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018) Penalty, see § 152.999
§ 152.273 STREET TREES.
Where new public or private streets are established through the major subdivision process, street trees shall be required to be planted on both sides of the street in accordance with the following standards.
(A) Trees planted to satisfy the requirements of this section shall have a minimum mature height of 20 feet.
(B) Trees shall be planted at intervals of 40 feet as measured from the center of the trunk.
(C) At the time of planting, each tree shall be a minimum of three DBH.
(D) Required trees shall be planted a minimum of five feet and a maximum of 15 feet from the edge of pavement.
(E) Along streets that are well-forested or new streets that are to be maintained in a forested condition by the developer, the requirements of this subchapter may be reduced or eliminated upon approval of the Ordinance Administrator to minimize grading and enhance preservation of existing, mature trees. Tree planting requirements may be modified where extreme topography would require excessive grading to meet the specific standards above.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018) Penalty, see § 152.999
§ 152.274 PARKING LOT LANDSCAPING.
To provide shade and to break up the visual appearance of large paved areas, landscaping shall be required.
(A) All parking lots subject to the requirements of this subchapter are required to contain landscaping as specified below.
(1) Parking lots with 12 or more spaces shall be landscaped with one tree for every 12 parking spaces.
(2) Parking lots shall contain landscape islands or peninsulas. Each shall be a minimum of ten feet wide. Each island or peninsula shall be planted with a minimum of one tree.
(B) (1) Landscaping shall be arranged so as not to obscure traffic signs or fire hydrants, or obstruct drivers’ sight distance within the parking area and at driveway entrances.
(2) All landscape areas shall be protected by raised curbs, parking blocks or other similar methods to prevent damage. Notwithstanding this requirement, alternative low impact design solutions shall be encouraged, such as areas for storm water infiltration, with incorporation of methods to prevent damage.
(3) Trees shall be planted at least three feet from curbs or the edge of pavement.
(C) Trees planted or preserved to satisfy streetyard, monumental tree preservation or buffer requirements may be used to partially satisfy the requirements of this subchapter.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018) Penalty, see § 152.999
§ 152.275 FOUNDATION PLANTINGS.
(A) Minimum standards. For all portions of buildings that are adjacent to motor vehicle use areas or internal driveways, foundation plantings shall be required and located between the building’s facades and the parking or drive isle curb. The minimum standards are required; however, it is encouraged that sites exceed the minimum whenever possible. The following minimum standards shall apply.
(1) The area of the building facade adjacent to the parking area or internal drive isle shall be computed and multiplied by a minimum of 20%. The resultant total square footage shall be planted as landscaped areas containing a minimum of one evergreen shrub per 20 square feet of planting area and one small flowering tree per 100 square feet of planting area.
(2) Each shrub planted shall be a minimum of 18 inches in height at the time of installation and reach a minimum height of 36 inches within three years of installation. Shrubs must be native species retains foliage to within six inches above ground level.
(3) Each tree planted to satisfy this subchapter shall be a minimum of two DBH at the time of installation.
(B) Exemptions. The following areas shall be exempted from the requirements of this section:
(1) Along the portions of buildings which contain drive-thru services (such examples would include, but not be limited to, pharmacies, banks, fast food restaurants and dry cleaners);
(2) On the rear side of a building when less than 10% of the total required parking is located in the rear of the building and the rear is not adjacent to any public right-of-way or interior driveway used by customers; and
(3) Along portions of buildings within the Central Business District (CB) which are constructed within two feet of a lot line.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018) Penalty, see § 152.999
§ 152.276 BUFFERS.
(A) Applicability.
(1) A landscape buffer area is required when any use in a commercial or office industrial or industrial district is adjacent to any agricultural and residential districts. Additionally, any principal non-residential and non-agricultural use permitted in the agricultural and residential zoning districts is subject to buffering requirements when adjacent to properties within the same districts.
(2) A buffer area is not required if the qualifying adjacent zoning districts are separated by a public right-of-way.
(3) A buffer area shall be required even when the adjacent agricultural and residential zoned property is undeveloped.
(B) Design and placement.
(1) The buffer area shall abut the applicable property line and plantings shall fall within the required buffer area width.
(2) Buildings, structures and parking lots may not encroach into the buffer area. Areas of ingress/egress may cross the required buffer areas perpendicularly.
(3) Storm water management measures, such as areas for infiltration or retention, may be located in the buffer area; provided, the planting requirements in the table below can still be met.
(4) Buffers may be used for passive recreation, such as pedestrian, bicycle or equestrian trails, as long as no plant material is eliminated, and the total width of the buffer shall be maintained.
(5) Required buffer plantings shall not be installed on cut or fill slopes with slope ratios greater than two to one (2:1). Where buffers include any part of a cut slope greater than ten feet in height, grading for such cut slope shall not encroach closer than ten feet to the property line.
(6) Plantings may be arranged formally or informally for a more natural effect.
(C) Buffer requirements. Buffer area types applicable to the following zoning districts are indicated in the table below.
District | Buffer Type | Min. Width | Min. Planting Required per 50 Linear Ft. |
AG, R-3, R-10 and R-15 | I | 10 ft. | 1 tree, 4 primary evergreen plants, 5 supplemental evergreen shrubs |
OI and GC | II | 15 ft. | 1 tree, 5 primary evergreen plants, 10 supplemental evergreen shrubs |
Industrial | III | 20 ft. | 2 trees, 8 primary evergreen plants, 10 supplemental evergreen shrubs |
(1) If any conflict exists between the buffer requirements as identified in this section and any use standards or zoning district regulations contained in other sections of this chapter, the buffer requirements in the other section shall apply.
(2) (a) Only trees which have mature heights exceeding 25 feet may be used for required buffer plantings.
(b) All trees used for buffer screening must be a minimum of two DBH at installation.
(c) All primary evergreen plants shall be a minimum of six feet in height at time of installation unless combined with an approved earthen berm, and shall be not less than ten feet in height at maturity.
(d) All supplemental evergreen shrubs shall be a minimum of 18 inches in height at installation and shall attain a minimum height of 36 inches three years after installation.
(D) Buffer alternatives.
(1) Berms may be constructed in a buffer area to supplement landscaping. Minimum landscaping requirements shall be reduced by 50% where a berm at least three feet in height is constructed for at least 85% of the length of the buffer area. The minimum buffer width shall be maintained.
(2) A privacy fence may be used to supplement landscaping. For the linear footage, a privacy fence is used, the minimum landscaping requirement shall be reduced by 75%. Minimum buffer width shall be maintained. To qualify for the reduction, privacy fences must meet the following requirements:
(a) Height: six-foot minimum;
(b) Placement: at least five feet from the property line; and
(c) Opacity: gaps between pickets must be no greater than one-half of an inch.
(3) Where the distance between the building, parking area or use is more than 200 feet from a side or rear lot line, the minimum landscaping requirement along that lot line may be reduced by 50%.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018) Penalty, see § 152.999
§ 152.277 RIPARIAN BUFFERS.
These standards are designed to regulate impervious surface cover in riparian areas in order to promote public health, safety and general welfare by protection of water quality through the control of non-point source pollution within riparian protection areas.
(A) Applicability. These standards shall apply to all development activity within the jurisdiction of this chapter which is located adjacent to a perennial or intermittent stream as depicted on the most recent version of the U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 (7.5 minute) map or U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Survey map covering the area in question.
(B) Exemption. When a perennial or intermittent stream is shown on the most recent version of the U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 (7.5 minute) map or U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Survey map covering the area in question, but no watercourse exists, the property owner or developer may seek administrative relief from the requirements this section by submitting site specific evidence that no watercourse exists.
(C) Buffer requirements. Riparian buffers shall be established and maintained according to the following specifications.
(1) Low-density development. When property adjacent to a regulated watercourse is developed with less than 24% impervious surface area, the following standards shall apply.
(a) Property adjacent to perennial streams. A 30-foot riparian buffer, as measured landward from the top of the stream bank shall be established. Within the first 15 feet of the top of the bank, no disturbance of the existing vegetation is allowed. The remaining width of the buffer area must remain free of impervious surfaces.
(b) Property adjacent to intermittent streams. A 20-foot riparian buffer, as measured landward from the top of the stream bank, shall be established. Within the first ten feet of the top of the bank, no disturbance of the existing vegetation is allowed. The remaining width of the buffer area must remain free of impervious surfaces.
(2) High density development. When property adjacent to a regulated watercourse is developed with greater than 24% impervious surface area the following standards shall apply.
(a) Property adjacent to perennial streams. A 50-foot riparian buffer, as measured landward from the top of the stream bank, shall be established. Within the first 30 feet of the top of the bank, no disturbance of the existing vegetation is allowed. The remaining width of the buffer area must remain free of impervious surfaces.
(b) Property adjacent to intermittent streams. A 30-foot riparian buffer, as measured landward from the top of the stream bank shall be established. Within the first 20 feet of the top of the bank, no disturbance of the existing vegetation is allowed. The remaining width of the buffer area must remain free of impervious surfaces.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018) Penalty, see § 152.999
§ 152.278 SCREENING.
Screening shall be required in order to conceal specific areas of high visual impact from both on-site and off-site views. Such areas shall be screened at all times, unless otherwise specified, regardless of adjacent uses, districts or other proximate landscaping material.
(A) Items to be screened. The following areas shall be screened:
(1) Outdoor trash storage (including recycling containers);
(2) Loading and service areas;
(3) Outdoor storage areas (including storage tanks); and
(4) Ground level mechanical equipment and utility meters.
(B) Screening methods.
(1) Vegetative material. Planting materials meeting the standards for a Type III buffer.
(2) Berms. Earthen berms shall measure at least two feet in height. Berms shall be covered with grass and shall be planted with other landscaping materials consistent with the requirements for a Type III buffer.
(3) Fencing. An opaque wooden fence, or a plastic, or vinyl designed fence that is configured to appear as an opaque wooden fence, measuring at least six feet in height, but not exceeding eight feet in height, that is consistent with the standards in §§ 152.215 through 152.221 of this chapter. When wood is utilized, only treated wood or rot-resistant wood, such as cypress or redwood, shall be used. Chain link, barbed wire, stock wire, hog wire, chicken wire and similar type fences are not permitted.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018) Penalty, see § 152.999