Section 4-121 Traffic and Pedestrian Access
A. Pedestrian Circulation. The site plan must provide for a system of pedestrian ways within the development appropriate to the type and scale of development. This system must connect the major building entrances/exits with parking areas and with sidewalks, if they exist or are planned in the vicinity of the project.
1. The pedestrian network may be located either in the street right-of-way or outside of the right-of-way in open space or recreation areas. The system must be designed to link the project with residential, recreational, and commercial facilities, schools, bus stops, and existing sidewalks in the neighborhood or, when appropriate, to connect with amenities such as parks or open space on or adjacent to the site.
2. The system must be designed to link the project with residential, recreational, and commercial facilities, schools, bus stops, and existing sidewalks in the neighborhood or, when appropriate, to connect with amenities such as parks or open space on or adjacent to the site.
3. Sidewalks. Where a proposed project driveway interrupts an existing or planned public sidewalk, the sidewalk material must continue to be maintained across the driveway, or the driveway must be painted to distinguish it as a sidewalk.
B. Vehicular Circulation.
1. Adequacy of Roadway System. Vehicular access to the site must be on roads that have adequate capacity to accommodate the additional traffic generated by the development. The developer shall be responsible for the acquisition of any private easements necessary to provide adequate access to the proposed development. Each commercial/multi-family development shall provide for adequate traffic circulation based on average daily traffic (ADT) and the classification system below.
STREET CLASS | STREET CATEGORY | TRAVEL LANE WIDTH | PARKING LANE WIDTH | TOTAL IMPROVED WIDTH | CURB OR SHOULDER | GRADED AREAS OR SIDEWALK | SURFACE | ROW/EASEMENT WIDTH | MAXIMUM AVG. DAILY TRAFFIC (ADT) | DESIGN SPEED MPH |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | ARTERIAL | 12' | NONE | 60' | VERTICAL | SIDEWALK | 76' | 3,000+ | 55 | |
II | INDUSTRIAL | 12' | 12' | 48' | ROLLED | 64' | 3,000 | 40 | ||
III | COMMERCIAL | 12' | 8' | 40' | VERTICAL | SIDEWALK | 60' | 3,000 | 40 | |
IV | RESIDENTIAL COLLECTOR | 16' | NONE | 28' | VERTICAL | SIDEWALK | 2" W/6" BASE OR 3"W/4" BASE | 40' | 3,000 | 40 |
a. Any streets determined to be necessary to support the new development shall be constructed, by the developer, to the street classification and minimum design standards set below herein and adopted by the Town or any other standards adopted by the Town. Upon completion of any access roads to these standards, the roadway, upon acceptance by the Town, shall be dedicated to the Town as public right-of-way.
b. Vehicular access to the site must be on roads that have adequate capacity to accommodate the additional traffic generated by the development.
c. For developments which generate one hundred (100) or more peak hour trips based on the latest edition of the Trip Generation Manual of the Institute of Traffic Engineers, intersections on major access routes to the site within one (1) mile of any entrance road which are functioning at a level of service of C or better prior to the development must function at a minimum level of service D after development.
d. If any such intersection is functioning at a level of service D or lower prior to the development, the project must not reduce the current level of service. This requirement may be waived by the Site Plan Review Committee if the Committee determines that the project will not have an unnecessary adverse impact on traffic flow or safety.
e. A development not meeting this requirement may be approved if the applicant demonstrates that:
i. A public agency has committed funds to construct the improvements necessary to bring the level of access to this standard; or
ii. The applicant will assume financial responsibility for the improvements necessary to bring the level of service to this standard and will assure the completion of the improvements with a financial guarantee acceptable to the Town.
2. Access into the Site. Vehicular access to and from the development must be safe and convenient.
a. Any driveway or proposed street must be designated so as to provide the minimum sight distance according to the Town’s standards, to the maximum extent possible.
b. Points of access and egress must be located to avoid conflicts with existing truing movements and traffic flows. Shared entryways are strongly encouraged.
c. The grade of any proposed drive or street must be not more than +/- three percent (3%) for a minimum of two (2) car lengths, or 40 feet, from the intersection.
d. The intersection of any access/egress drive or proposed street must function:
i. At a level of service of C following development if the project will generate one thousand (1,000) or more vehicle trips per twenty-four (24) hour period; or
ii. At a level that will allow safe access into and out of the project if less than one thousand (1,000) trips are generated.
e. Where lot has frontage on two (2) or more streets, the primary access to and egress from the lot must be provided from the street where there is less potential for traffic congestion and for traffic and pedestrian hazards.
f. Where it is necessary to safeguard against hazards to traffic and pedestrians and/or to avoid traffic congestion, the applicant shall be responsible for providing turning lanes, traffic directional islands, and traffic controls within public streets. special care to be given to ensure traffic does not directly impact adjoining residential street system.
g. Access ways must be designated and have sufficient capacity to avoid queuing of entering vehicles on any public street.
h. The following criteria must be used to limit the number of driveways serving the proposed project:
i. No use which generates less than one hundred (100) vehicle trips per day shall have more than one (1) driveway onto a single roadway. Such driveway must be no greater than 30 feet wide.
ii. No use which generates one hundred (100) or more vehicle trips per day shall have more than two (2) points of egress to a single roadway. The combined width of all access ways must not exceed 60 feet.
3. Access Way Location and Spacing. Access way must meet the following standards:
a. Private entrances/exits must be located at least 120 feet from the closest unsignalized intersection and 160 feet from the closest signalized intersection, as measured from the point of tangency from the corner to the point of tangency for the access way.
b. Private access ways in or out of a development must be separated by a minimum of 120 feet where possible.
4. Internal Vehicular Circulation. The layout of the site must provide for the safe movement of passenger, service, and emergency vehicles through the site.
a. Nonresidential projects that will be served by delivery vehicles must provide a clear route for such vehicles with appropriate geometric design to allow turning and backing for a minimum of forty (40) foot wheelbase vehicles.
b. Clear routes of access must be provided and maintained for emergency vehicles to and around buildings and must be posted with appropriate signage (fire lane – no parking).
c. The layout and design of parking areas must provide for safe and convenient circulation of vehicles throughout the lot.
d. All roadways must be designed to harmonize with the topographic and natural features of the site. (Created by Resolution #1621 on 2/25/20; Created by Ordinance #403 on 2/25/20; effective 3/26/20)