LANDSCAPING - SCREENS/BUFFERS - SIDEWALKS

Primary Contact - Planning Department - (828) 323-7422

Development Assistance Center - (828) 323-7410
  

Landscaping

Landscaping is intended to ensure attractive views of a property and to screen the amount of light and sound that may carry from one property to another. Landscaping is also to moderate temperatures of impervious areas and to abate glare from parking lots. It can filter automotive exhaust and encourage the preservation of stands of existing trees and their root zones.

Click Here to Download Hickory's Landscape Manual

Click Here to Download a Sample Landscape Plan

Parking Lot Landscaping

All new parking lots require that landscaping plans be submitted with the site and civil plans when a new building permit is being requested for business or multifamily use. If a building is being expanded or renovated to over half the building's tax value, landscaping plans must also be included with the request.

In general in a new development, each parking space must be within 60 feet of a tree trunk. All trees planted in a parking lot must be 8 feet in height and 2 1/2 inches in caliper at the time of planting and have an expected mature height of 35 feet. All required shrubs must be 18 inches in height at the time of planting with an expected height of 30 inches within three years. You can contact the Planning Department at 323-7422 with specific questions.

Parking lot landscaping contains many different possibilities and opportunities and everyone is encouraged to review Section 10.11 of the Land Development Code before designing their landscaping plan.

Screens/Buffers

Buffers and screens are used to reduce the impact of a use of land on adjacent areas, which are of a significantly different character, density, or intensity. A buffer consists of a horizontal distance from a lot line, which may only be occupied by screening, underground utilities, retention areas, and landscaping and fencing materials. The more different the use of the adjoining property, the wider the buffer must be.

Screens can be made from landscaping, fencing, berms, or combinations thereof. As with buffers, the more different the use of the adjoining property, the more dense the screen must be. Again, as with buffers there are many different combinations of screens that can be used and it is suggested the designer review Section 10.11 of the City of Hickory Land Development Code before submitting a site plan.

Open Storage

The City of Hickory has a new ordinance that requires most outdoor storage of materials to be screened from public view. Methods of compliance include relocating the materials, modifying existing fence or using landscape screening/buffering. Businesses that store their goods outside will have three years to comply with this ordinance. Seasonal goods may be exempt by obtaining a 120-day seasonal sales permit (one per year). To learn more about this ordinance, please call the Development Assistance Center at 323-7410 or the Planning Department at 323-7422. You can also review Sections 7.3 and 7.4 of the City of Hickory Land Development Code.

 

Sidewalks

The City of Hickory has adopted a Sidewalk and Bikeway Master Plan and a policy requiring that certain sidewalks be constructed as part of any development that requires five or more parking spaces. When five parking spaces are required and the location is shown on the master plan as having a sidewalk the developer must install a five-foot wide sidewalk along the entire frontage of the property.

Such sidewalks shall conform to the Manual of Practice and shall be generally located within the street right of way. Where location within the right of way is infeasible due to significant street trees, severe roadside topography, conflicts with utilities, or other special conditions, the sidewalk may be located within dedications or easements provided by the property owner outside of the street right of way. Once again it is suggested that the designer review Section 10.11 of the City of Hickory Land Development Code. Further information may be obtained from the Planning Department at 323-7422 or the Development Assistance Center at 323-7410.