10.2 Buffer Areas
10.2.4 Buffer Width
| 1. | Buffer width is based on the following intensity classifications: | |
| Class 1 | Cemeteries, golf courses, passive recreational areas, wholesale nurseries, day care homes [note: large homes as defined by NCAC 3U.0102 (14)] | |
| Class 2 | Offices (3 stories or less), churches, schools, public facilities including playgrounds, ballfields, community swimming pools, and similar facilities, day care facilities, multifamily (developed at less than or equal to 16 units per acre and/or less than 12 units total). | |
| Class 3 | Neighborhood commercial and service activities, including but not limited to retail operations, restaurants (without drive-up windows), banks (without drive-up windows), convenience stores (without gasoline sales), offices (over 3 stories), multifamily (developed at greater than 16 units per acre). | |
| Class 4 | Commercial activities with higher vehicle activities, including but not limited to vehicle repair, service stations, drive-up window restaurants and banks, car washes, hotels and motels, shopping centers. Also, light manufacturing activities and research facilities. | |
| Class 5 | Heavy industrial uses, heavy manufacturing, truck terminals, mobile home sales, vehicle sales, heavy equipment sales, facilities involving outdoor storage and outdoor commercial recreation establishments. | |
| Required Width | |
|---|---|
| Buffer Intensity | Buffer Width |
| Class 1 | 10 feet |
| Class 2 | 20 feet |
| Class 3 | 30 feet |
| Class 4 | 50 feet |
| Class 5 | 80 feet |
| Required yard spaces may be used to meet buffer requirements. Buffers shall be planted in conformance with Sections 10.2.5 and 10.7. |
|
| 2. | No buffers shall be required for property in the CBD District. |
| 3. | The approving authority, at time of site plan approval, may reduce buffer widths and required plantings by up to 50% if the site plan indicates berming, alternate landscaping, walls, opaque fence or topographic features which will achieve the intent of this section and are designed to complement adjacent properties. Berms may not have a slope greater than 2 to 1 and must have a crown width of at least 2 feet. Reductions of more than 50% shall not be considered without written approval from the adjoining property owners. |
| REQUIRED BUFFER WIDTH IN FEET BASED ON BUFFER INTENSITY CLASSIFICATION AND ADJACENT PROPERTY USE AND ZONE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffer Intensity Class (BIC) | ADJACENT PROPERTY USE AND ZONE | ||||
| Developed Residential Zone * |
Vacant Residential Zone * |
Residential Use * in Nonresidential Zone |
Developed Multifamily Zone |
Vacant Multifamily Zone |
|
| BIC 1 | 10' | 5' | 5' | 10' | 5' |
| BIC 2 (NR) | 20' | 10' | 10' | 20' | 10' |
| BIC 2 (MF<12 total and/or <16 units/ac) |
20' | 10' | 10' | 10' | 10' |
| BIC 3 (NR | 30' | 15' | 15' | 15' | 15' |
| BIC 3 (MF 12+ total and 16+ units/ac) |
30' | 15' | 15' | 15' | 15' |
| BIC 4 | 50' | 25' | 25' | 50' | 25' |
| BIC 5 | 80' | 40' | 40' | 80' | 40' |
NR = Nonresidential MF = Multifamily
* Residential in this table refers to single-family, two-family and three-family residences only
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