(a) Generally. The overall circulation system should be designed to create a functional circulation pattern for safe and convenient access not only for pedestrians but for vehicles as well. The primary concern should be as follows:
(1) To minimize auto intrusion into the neighborhood unit;
(2) To separate roads carrying higher volumes at higher speeds from residential units; and
(3) To maximize convenience and auto access to each dwelling unit.
(b) Access. The access to townhouse and multi-family developments may be a hierarchy of roads or a single point of access. The hierarchical classification system may consist of the following types.
(1) Driveway. The primary purpose of the driveway is to conduct traffic to and from parking areas and local or collector streets. The driveway is usually dead-end, with no through traffic.
(2) Local road. A local road is a short street or cul-de-sac. The primary purpose of the local road is to conduct traffic to other streets within the township hierarchy of streets.
(c) Street intersections and driveways.
(1) Driveways onto local or collector streets should be located a minimum of 50 feet and 70 feet, respectively, from the closest intersecting street.
(2) Driveways entering opposite sides of any street should be laid out either directly opposite one another or with a minimum offset of 150 feet between their centerlines.
(3) Driveways shall be a minimum of 24 feet in width and provide an adequate turnaround for emergency vehicles.
(4) Driveways shall not intersect any street opposite a through street.
(5) For driveway intersections, at a point 15 feet from the curb line there shall be a clear sight distance in both directions of 75 feet for local streets and 200 feet for collector streets measured from the point of intersection. No object greater than two and one-half feet in height and no other object that would obscure the vision of the motorist shall be permitted within this sight triangle.
(6) Multiple intersections involving the junction of more than two streets or driveways shall be avoided.
(7) Driveways and streets shall be laid out to intersect as nearly as possible at right angles.
(d) Right-of-way and cartway widths.
(1) Right-of-way widths for streets serving townhouse and multi-family developments should be adequate to provide required street pavements. As needed, additional width may be provided to accommodate sidewalks, utilities, drainage facilities, landscaping, street furniture and grading.
(2) Where street rights-of-way are required, their design shall conform to the standards in § 1236.03.
(3) All townhouse and multi-family developments with more than 30 units shall provide two points of access.
(4) See § 1236.03(g) for provisions relating to culs-de-sac.
(e) Parking area.
(1) Parking facilities shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 1284 of the Township Zoning Code.
(2) Parking areas shall be designed with careful regard to orderly arrangement, topography, amenity of view, ease of access and as an integral part of the overall site design.
(3) Parking areas shall be varied in width and direction to fit unusual spaces, to match the arrangement of clusters, and to improve their visual image.
(4) The parking spaces provided for the various types of residential development may be, but need not be, limited to the form of a garage, car port, or parking area.
(5) When parking spaces are provided in front of buildings, there shall be no more than 16 spaces in a row without a landscape interruption.
(6) Parking areas with 20 or more cars should be designed according to Chapter 1284 of the Township Zoning Code.
(7) The design standards listed in Table 3 below shall be required for all off-street parking facilities. The minimum dimensions of stalls and aisles shall be as follows:
Table 3 | ||||
Maneuvering Aisle | ||||
Position | Stall Width (ft.) | Stall Depth (ft.) | One-Way (ft.) | Two-Way (ft.) |
90 degrees | 9 | 18 | 20 | 24 |
60 degrees | 9 | 18 | 18 | 20 |
45 degrees | 9 | 18 | 16 | 18 |
30 degrees | 9 | 18 | 14 | 18 |
Parallel | 8 | 23 | 12 | 18 |
(8) Parking areas shall be designed to permit each motor vehicle to proceed to and from the parking space provided for it without requiring the moving of any other motor vehicles.
(9) All parking spaces shall be marked so as to provide for orderly and safe parking.
(10) All dead-end parking areas shall be designed to provide sufficient back-up area for the end stalls of the parking area.
(11) No less than a five-foot radius of curvature should be permitted for all curblines in parking areas.
(12) The maximum grade of parking areas shall not exceed 6%.
(13) All parking areas shall have a minimum six-inch faced concrete curb in locations approved by the Township Engineer.
(Ord. 668, passed 10-17-1990)