Date: October 13, 2020 To: Members of the Durham Planning Commission Through: Sara M. Young, AICP, Acting Planning Director From: Jessica Dockery, AICP, Planning Manager Subject: Landscape Manual for Durham Revisions Summary The Planning Department staff have drafted proposed changes to the Landscape Manual for Durham, in conjunction with City Parks and Recreation, Stormwater and Urban Forestry, as well industry partners and members of the Durham Environmental Coalition. This memo provides a brief description of the proposed revisions. The staff will present more detail at the October Planning Commission meeting and request recommendations from the Planning Commission for the proposed revisions. Recommendation Staff recommends that the Planning Commission receive this information and approve the proposed revisions. Proposed Landscape Manual Revisions The Department is proposing: new formatting of the document for a cleaner look consolidated plant charts for ease of use removal of the separation of recommended and required techniques the addition of “Eco-Tips” to accompany the previous “Water-wise Tips” an expanded prohibited plant list, based on recommendations from Urban Forestry staff, the Durham Environmental Coalition, and NC State University Proposed Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Amendments In support of the Landscape Manual revisions staff is also proposing the following UDO text amendments: text changes to increase the percentage of native species required to be used in tree replacement areas, also in response to recommendations from the Durham Environmental Coalition a certification requirement for planting quality that requires a licensed landscaped architect or licensed landscape contractor to certify that the correct planting techniques, per the Landscape Manual and Unified Development Ordinance, were utilized. Future Updates 1 October 13, 2020 Landscape Manual for Durham Revisions The Department has also committed to updating the Landscape Manual on a five-year cycle going forward, unless significant industry changes necessitate revisions sooner. Staff Contact Jessica Dockery, AICP, CZO, Planning Manager, [email protected] or (919) 560-4137 ext. 28210. Attachments Attachment 1, Draft Landscape Manual for Durham 2020 Revisions Attachment 2, Landscape Manual Checklist for Plant Quality Attachment 3, Proposed UDO Text Amendments Based on Proposed Landscape Manual Revisions 2 Attachment 1-Draft Landscape Manual for Durham 2020 Revisions October 13, 2020 Landscape Manual for Durham, North Carolina Adopted December 6, 2005 Revised XX, 2020 Durham City-County Planning Department CONTENT 1. Introduction....................................................................................................................1 2. Landscape Plans..............................................................................................................3 3. Tree Preservation and Care Before and During Construction...........................................5 A. Tree Preservation ......................................................................................................................................5 B. Root Pruning Prior to Construction...........................................................................................................6 4. Selection of Plant Material..............................................................................................7 A. Plant Selection Practices and Plant Tables ................................................................................................7 B. Plant Material Quality Standards ..............................................................................................................8 C. Criteria for Determining Allowed Locations for Use of Ordinance-Required Plant Material ....................9 5. Successful Groundcover, Shrub, and Tree Installations..................................................11 A. Site and Soil Preparation .........................................................................................................................11 B. Plant Installation .....................................................................................................................................11 C. Fertilizing and pH Adjustment for Shrubs and Trees...............................................................................12 D. Watering Shrubs and Trees .....................................................................................................................13 E. Irrigation (as Applicable) .........................................................................................................................13 F. Mulching Shrubs and Trees .....................................................................................................................14 G. Staking Trees ...........................................................................................................................................14 H. Pruning Techniques for Trees..................................................................................................................15 I. Turf..........................................................................................................................................................15 J. Native Grasses.........................................................................................................................................16 6. Glossary........................................................................................................................18 7. Bibliography .................................................................................................................21 Figures and Tables Figure 1: Required Tree Planting Detail...................................................................................................................23 Figure 2: Recommended Tree Planting Within Right Of Way Detail .......................................................................24 Figure 3: Recommended Shrub Planting Detail.......................................................................................................25 Figure 4: Required Tree Protection Fence Detail.................................................................................................2526 Figure 5: Sample Area Example ...........................................................................................................................2527 Figure 6: Land Disturbance Tree Survey Example ...............................................................................................2528 Figure 7: Plant Table Key .....................................................................................................................................2529 Table 1A: Allowed Deciduous Trees ....................................................................................................................2530 Table 1B: Allowed Evergreen Trees.....................................................................................................................2562 Table 2A: Allowed Evergreen Shrubs...................................................................................................................2582 Table 2B: Allowed Deciduous Shrubs ................................................................................................................25129 Table 3: Trees Not Allowed for Ordinance-Required Planting Credit................................................................25171 Table 4: Other Plants Not Allowed for Ordinance-Required Planting Credit ....................................................25172 Table 5: Plants Prohibited for Any Use..............................................................................................................25174 Table 1A: Allowed Trees, Deciduous Canopy, Native to Durham Table 1B: Allowed Trees, Deciduous Canopy, Not Native to Durham i of 207 Table 1C: Allowed Trees, Evergreen Canopy, Native to Durham Table 1D: Allowed Trees, Evergreen Canopy, Not Native to Durham Table 1E: Allowed Trees, Deciduous Understory, Native to Durham Table 1F: Allowed Trees, Deciduous Understory, Not Native to Durham Table 1G: Allowed Trees, Evergreen Understory, Native to Durham Table 1H: Allowed Trees, Evergreen Understory, Not Native to Durham Table 2A: Allowed Shrubs, Evergreen, Native to NC Piedmont Table 2B: Allowed Shrubs, Evergreen, Not Native to NC Piedmont Table 2C: Allowed Shrubs, Deciduous, Native to NC Piedmont Table 2D: Allowed Shrubs, Deciduous, Not Native to NC Piedmont Editor’s Note (June 1, 2013): Please be advised that after this Landscape Manual was adopted by the Durham Joint City-County Planning Committee on April 3, 2013, the Durham City Council approved related changes to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that were effective on June 1, 2013. The changes include references to this Landscape Manual, and some landscape-related requirements that were moved into this document from the UDO. One example is a new required minimum root area for trees that is based on specific tree species in the Allowed Trees tables instead of a general UDO requirement based on the Development Tier in which the trees will be planted. As of June 1, 2013, the Durham Board of County Commissioners had not approved an amendment to the UDO that would make these changes effective in the County jurisdiction. Thus, for County jurisdictional purposes only, all information in this Manual is to be considered the recommended best