1.

This Appendix is divided into topics, generally by location in the proposed site or development. Each topic corresponds to a different subsection. Every development shall have all of the following kinds of landscaping as indicated in the sections below. Flexibility in administration of this Appendix is required. For example, if a commercial development provides exterior and street-side buffers, parking lot landscaping the Town Council may waive the requirement for foundation plantings.

The topics/subsections are:

Exterior Buffers and Street Yards

Parking Lot (Vehicular Use Area) Landscaping

Foundation Plantings

Fences and Walls

Loading Area Requirements

Miscellaneous - Combination Use

Plant Species / Planting / Maintenance

2.

Exterior Buffers and Street Yards

Buffer Requirements: The following Tables indicate the minimum landscape planting requirements for a development site. Table 1 provides the required landscaped areas along streets. Table 2 shows the required buffers on all sides of a property except the street side. Table 3 shows the required width of each type of buffer and the number of trees and shrubs that must be planted or preserved in each 100 linear feet of buffer or street yard. The arrangement of plants within each landscaped area should be integral to the design concept of the project as a whole, as well as responsive to the landscapes of adjacent properties. The room required for plants to develop their natural form, especially large trees, should also be considered when determining plant spacing. Allowing greater than minimum planting widths can therefore provide more landscape design flexibility. To meet planting height requirements, the Town Council, in its discretion, may approve the use of a landscaped earthen berm, or fences or walls or a combination of berms fences and walls. The minimum size of plants at installation is shown in Table 4 and the expected height at maturity is shown in Section 8.

TABLE 1: Required Landscaped Street Yards

TABLE 2: Required Landscape Buffers on All Property Boundaries except for Streets

(1)

Adjacent land uses and vacant lands include uses and land across a street from the proposed use.

(2)

Existing uses included uses approved as part of development for which Special Use Permit or Zoning Permit has been issued.

(Ord. No. 2024-012-O, § 1, 10-8-24)

The landscape area locations shown in the following chart refer to whether the landscape areas are adjacent to a street or adjacent to some other property line (internal).

TABLE 3: Plants Per 100 Linear Feet of Landscape Area

(1)

Minimum distance between property line and structure or parking lot/internal driveway to be used for landscape area. The minimum distance can be reduced depending upon the location of the property and the type of landscape and/or the utilization of an architectural treatments such as walls and earth berms.

(2)

Refers to property line. "Internal" refers to Table 2 above. "Street" refers to Table 1 above.

(3)

Can be combined with parking lot landscaping requirements adjacent to property line.

TABLE 4: Size of Plants at Installation

Minimum planting sizes are listed below. Larger sizes may be required, however, for specific screening or landscaping applications:

3.

Parking Lot (Vehicular Use Area) Landscaping.

a)

Parking Lot Landscape Requirements and Standards: All parking lots shall be landscaped as set out in this Appendix.

b)

Except for single- or two-family dwellings, all parking facilities, unless located entirely underground, shall meet the following minimum landscaping requirements:

Parking facilities, unless located on or within a structure, shall be separated from the exterior wall of a building, exclusive of a paved pedestrian walkway or entranceway or loading area, by a landscape strip (park strip) at least five (5) feet in width, which shall be planted with a groundcover.

c)

Driveway and Median Requirements: Entry drives and medians separating lanes of traffic shall be a minimum of 4' in width measured from the back of paved roadway, or curb. Islands and medians within a public right-of-way must be approved by the Town or the North Carolina Department of Transportation where appropriate.

Trees and shrubs required for interior planting can be planted within required property line planting areas. These plants, however, cannot be counted to meet both property line and interior planting requirements.

d)

Landscaping Parking Lots (Vehicular Surface Areas).

All vehicular surface areas containing more than four spaces shall be landscaped in accordance with the following minimum standards:

1)

At least nine percent of the gross paved area of a parking facility shall be landscaped and located in the interior. For purposes of this section, interior shall mean the area within the parking facility curb or pavement and extensions that create a common geometric shape such as a square, rectangle or triangle.

2)

Trees and shrubbery planted pursuant to this section shall include at least one tree a minimum of eight feet in height and six shrubs at least 18 inches in height at planting.

3)

In support of the above, the following standards shall apply to interior plantings:

i.

All plantings shall be evenly distributed throughout the parking facility so that no parking stall shall be located farther than 50 feet from the trunk of a tree.

ii.

All interior plantings shall be curbed or otherwise physically protected.

iii.

Consecutive parking spaces shall incorporate landscape peninsulas no more than 15 spaces apart and at least the ends of all parking rows. Peninsulas shall contain at least 100 square feet in area and at least eight feet in width, measured from back of curb/barrier to back of curb/barrier.

4)

For parking facilities containing five to 24 spaces or stalls, a perimeter landscape strip may be provided in lieu of interior landscaping, subject to the following requirements:

i.

The minimum width of such strip shall be five feet.

ii.

For every 50 linear feet or fraction thereof the perimeter landscape strip shall contain one canopy tree of at least five feet in height, and a continuous row (at least six) of evergreen shrubs.

iii.

Where a perimeter landscape strip overlays a street yard or buffer yard required elsewhere in this section, the more stringent requirements shall apply.

All perimeter landscaping strips shall be planted with a combination of live vegetation, groundcover, grass, trees, and/or shrubs. Vegetation planted pursuant to this section shall be maintained to ensure continued growth.

5)

Where more than 200 parking spaces are required, planting areas may be interspersed throughout the site so that no parking stall shall be located farther than 75 feet from the trunk of a shade tree in a planting area with two or more trees, provided a minimum planting area of 400 square feet or more is provided.

6)

The Town Council may waive all or part of the requirements of this section for any facility which is limited to periodic or intermittent use for vehicular parking, such as parking lots for churches or recreational facilities, provided the facility is completely covered by grass or otherwise presents a landscaped effect.

7)

The Town Council may waive the requirements of this section for temporary parking lots when determined that a waiver is necessary to relieve hardship and will not violate the purposes of this section. Any such waiver shall not exceed one (1) year.

8)

In providing the landscaping required in this Appendix, the retention of existing significant vegetation is and shall be encouraged.

4.

Foundation Plantings.

For all portions of buildings, which are adjacent to parking facilities or internal drive aisles, foundation plantings shall be required and located between the buildings face 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 standard shall apply:

a)

The area of the building face adjacent to the parking area or internal drive isle shall be calculated and multiplied by a minimum of 12%. The resultant total square footage shall be planted as landscaped areas of sufficient variety, height, and approved by the Planning Department.

b)

Exemptions from these requirements may be granted when the following circumstances exist or when any of the following conditions are proposed on the site:

1)

For those portions of buildings which have drive-up windows or services along any side or rear of the building. (Such examples would include but not be limited to Pharmacies, Banks, Fast Food Restaurants, Dry Cleaners, and Photo shops.)

2)

On the rear side of a building when less than 10% of the total required parking is in the rear of the building and the rear is not adjacent to any public right-of-way.

If the requirements of this section conflict with any other requirements from other sections of this ordinance, the more stringent shall apply.

5.

Fences and Walls.

a)

See Section 17-435 Building Setbacks for permissible structures in setbacks.

b)

A fence, wall or shrubbery screen (collectively referred to in this section as "fences") may be in any yard for the purposes of privacy and/or security, provided the requirements of this section are met. For the purposes of this section, lots located within a planned unit development shall be considered residential if the primary use of the lot is residential, and nonresidential if the primary use of the lot is nonresidential.

c)

The following types of fences are allowed:

1)

Open picket fence,

2)

Post and rail fence,

3)

Solid plank fence,

4)

Wrought iron fence,

5)

Brick or stone (solid or pierced) fence, and

6)

Open wire fencing (such as hurricane and chain link). Except as otherwise provided by this section, open wire fencing in a front yard or adjacent to a street in a residential zoning district shall be screened from view from nearby public streets using a planted hedge.

d)

Restrictions on placement and dimensions of fences.

1)

Solid plank, brick or stone fences in front yards may not exceed four (4) feet in height.

2)

Solid plank, brick or stone fences in side or rear yards may not exceed six (6) feet in height.

3)

Open picket, post and rail, wrought iron or open wire fences in front, side or rear yards may not exceed six (6) feet in height.

4)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a solid fence up to eight (8) feet in height shall be permitted between any residential use and any business, commercial or industrial use.

5)

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections c)3) and 4) of this section, an open wire fence up to ten (10) feet in height shall be permitted for safety reasons around towers, electrical substations, and similar uses. At a minimum, the bottom four (4) feet of such fencing shall be screened from view from nearby public streets using a planted hedge.

6)

No fence, post or required hedge shall be installed to obstruct visibility at a street intersection or driveway entrance. See also Section 17-435 "Building Setback Requirements."

7)

A fence used primarily for recreational purposes (for example golf driving ranges) may exceed the height limits established in this section, but a special use permit will be required for any such fence.

8)

No open wire fencing of a type that could inflict injury from casual contact (such as barbed wire fencing) is permitted below a height of seven (7) feet in any zoning district.

9)

The height of a fence and vegetative screen shall be measured from the average level of the ground adjacent to the fence or screening.

10)

Fences shall be maintained, level and plumb.

i.

Fences must be erected with the posts, supports, stringers and all unfinished materials facing the owner's property and residence or other primary structure.

ii.

A zoning permit is required before erecting a fence.

iii.

A fence must be completed within ninety (90) days of the issuance of the certificate of zoning compliance.

iv.

Minimum Berm Size and Slope: Earth berms used for screening shall have a minimum crown width of 2', maximum side slopes of 3:1, and be covered with approved vegetation.

6.

Loading Area Requirements.

a)

All loading areas shall have a minimum width of 12' and be screened from public rights-of-way and all adjacent properties.

b)

All standards applicable to landscaping parking lots shall be required of loading area screening, and the screening height shall be a minimum of 6' above existing grade.

7.

Miscellaneous - Combination Use.

a)

In determining the screening requirements that apply between a combination use and another use, the permit-issuing authority shall proceed as if the principal uses that comprise the combination use were not combined and reach its determination accordingly, relying on Table 1 above and interpreted in the light of Table 4.

b)

When two or more principal uses are combined to create a combination use, screening shall not be required between the component principal uses unless they are clearly separated physically and screening is determined to be necessary to satisfy the standard set forth in Table 1.

c)

Utility Service Area Requirements: All utility service areas, adjacent to, or affixed to buildings, shall be screened from public right-of ways and all adjacent properties.

d)

All standards applicable to landscaping parking lots shall be required of utility service areas, and the screening height shall be equal to or greater than the structure to be screened.

e)

Landscaping shall be located to provide adequate access and work space for the utility structure. The installation of plants with thorns or pointed leaves is discouraged adjacent to the service area.

f)

Existing vegetation can be used to satisfy some or all of the landscaping requirements. In these cases, the existing vegetation shall be in good health and be protected during the development process.

8.

Plant Species / Planting / Maintenance.

a)

Large Trees: All trees reaching a mature height of thirty-five (35) feet or more shall be planted a minimum of:

1)

3½ feet from back of curb, or edge of street pavement and driveways (allow for any proposed future street widening);

2)

3½ feet from sidewalks and other paved pedestrian surfaces except where urban conditions would prohibit any planting;

3)

10 feet from all buildings;

4)

15 feet from street lights, utility poles and above-ground utility wire;

5)

10 feet from all underground utilities; and

6)

10 feet from utility vaults and ground level utility surfaces.

b)

Small Trees: All trees reaching a mature height of less than 35 feet shall be planted a minimum of:

1)

10 feet from back of curb, or edge of street pavement, and driveways (allow for any proposed future street widening);

2)

2½ feet from sidewalks and other paved pedestrian surfaces;

3)

5 feet from all buildings;

4)

10 feet from street lights and utility poles;

5)

5 feet from all underground utilities; and

6)

5 feet from utility vaults and ground level utility structures (10 feet from door side).

c)

Tree Species Restrictions:

1)

Above Ground Utility Wire: The following tree species, due to the brittleness of their wood, shall not be planted within 25 feet of any existing or proposed above-ground utility line:

2)

Public Rights-of-Way: No trees, which by the nature of their fruit, root system, brittleness of wood or susceptibility to disease are deemed undesirable by the Town, shall be planted on any public right-of-way. Those trees included in the preceding list along with the following represent the majority of restricted trees:

3)

Sewer Lines and Retention/Detention Basins: The following tree species shall not be planted within 25 feet of any stormwater or wastewater sewer line:

Acer spp. Maples

Salix spp. Willows

Ulmus spp. Elms

No woody plant material of any kind shall be planted or be permitted to become established in any retention or detention basin. In addition, an area free of woody plants shall be maintained to provide service access to all retention and detention basins.

d)

Recommended Species:

The following list includes trees and shrubs hardy in Johnston County. However, because of the large number of site-specific variables (exposure, moisture, soils, etc.), all plants on this list may not prosper on any given site. The Town recommends that applicants contact a landscape professional for assistance with plant selection. In addition, there are many plants not included in this list that are suitable for Johnston County landscapes if they are appropriately sited, and the Town encourages their use. Whatever plants are selected, sources for the plants should be located during the site/development design process to assure that when a plan is approved, it can be realized.

The list is broken down into three sections: 1) large trees; 2) small trees; and 3) shrubs, that correlate with the categories found in the Town's landscape requirements. Small trees are particularly well suited for planting where there are space limitations (such as under utility lines, near buildings, and in undersized planters). In the list of shrubs, those plants preceded with an asterisk ( ^* ) are evergreens that routinely will reach six feet in height within two growing seasons if properly sited, and therefore are for fulfilling the County's landscaping requirements, such as between parking lots and residential properties, and around loading zones.

Shrubs listed with two asterisks ( ^** ) are typically somewhat smaller and are generally appropriate components of a planting plan to fulfill the County's landscaping requirement between parking lots and public rights-of-way. Most un-designated shrubs need to be used with fences or on earth berms to satisfy specific landscaping requirements, but can be considered as a part of required landscape areas when planted along with larger materials.

LARGE TREES

SMALL TREES

SHRUBS

e)

Landscape Installation and Maintenance Specifications:

1)

Materials Requirements. The American Standard for Nursery Stock published by the American Society of Nurserymen shall be used for determining caliper, heights, widths and ball sizes, unless otherwise specified for all plants. Plant material shall be free of any diseases, funguses or insect infestations.

2)

Planting Requirements:

i.

Planting Seasons. Trees and shrubs should be planted prior to May 15 and after September 15.

ii.

Weather Conditions. Digging and planting operations shall be performed only when the soil temperature at each planting area and of all backfill materials is above 32 degrees F.

iii.

Following a period of precipitation, planting operations shall resume only when the full depth of the planting pits top twelve has satisfactorily drained.

3)

Handling Plant Materials. Provide shade and a light watering to all delivered material during dry weather and mulch the balls of B&B materials if they are to remain unplanted for over 24 hours. Heel in bare root plants immediately upon delivery.

4)

Excavating Planting Pits. Excavate and completely remove all soil from planting pits. Prevent water from entering excavated areas. If water does collect remove it immediately to maintain a dry condition always.

Depth of planting pit should be equal to or slightly less than the height of the planting ball.

Loosen and roughen the sides of the planting pit to facilitate the movement of roots into the surrounding soil.

Do not place gravel in the bottom of the planting pit to provide extra drainage unless a drainage outlet is provided.

5)

Setting Balled-and-Burlapped and Container Plants. The top of the plant root ball should be set level with the finished grade after settlement. All plant material greater than 3 feet in height should be set plumb regardless of the slope of finished grade. Plants smaller than 3 feet in height may be set perpendicular to the slope.

6)

Setting Bare Root Plants. Prune all large roots which are bruised or broken with a clean cut before planting. Place bare root plants in proper position in the center of the pit on compacted backfill. Carefully work loose, friable backfill in among roots and thoroughly settle with water.

7)

Staking Trees. Provide support for all trees 10 feet high or taller unless planted in sheltered environments.

Do not use ground-to-tree guy wires to secure a tree.

Secure trees using vertical stakes. Drive the stakes into the ground outside the planting pit.

Webbing, hose-protected wire or other material that will not abrade or become imbedded in trunk shall be used for constraining line. Provide slack in each constraining line.

Maintain tree support for a period of one year after planting. Support should be removed after one year unless tree is excessively weak.

8)

Pruning Requirements.

i.

General Pruning. Pruning shall consist of the removal of dead, dying, diseased, interfering, obstructing and weak branches and selective thinning to lessen wind resistance and improve the appearance of trees and shrubs.

ii.

The following pruning specifications are recommended:

All cuts shall be made close to the trunk or parent limb without leaving a protruding stub and without cutting into the branch collar or the branch bark ridge. Clean cuts shall be made always.

Directional pruning and drop-crotch pruning shall be used to prune live branches.

Trees limbs too heavy to handle by hand shall be precut above the final cut to prevent splitting or peeling of the bark. Where necessary to prevent tree or property damage, branches shall be lowered to the ground with ropes or equipment.

Treatment of cuts and wounds with tree wound dressing is discouraged except for cosmetic purposes in highly visible areas. If such treatment is made, materials non-toxic to the cambium layer must be used and care shall be taken to treat only the exposed wood with a thin coat of dressing.

Climbing spurs shall not be used unless the tree is dead or is to be removed.

9)

General Maintenance Requirements.

i.

Plant Establishment. All newly planted trees and shrubs shall receive water at a minimum rate of one inch per week from a combination of natural rainfall and irrigation between June 1 and October 1 for a minimum of one year after planting.

ii.

Landscape Maintenance Schedule. To assure healthy plant growth, the property owner shall provide services necessary to maintain and enhance the grounds. This should include weeding edging, watering, removal or dead/unattractive plant materials, and general clean-up of the grounds.