(A) Purpose and intent. The Comprehensive Plan identifies certain arterial roadways as important gateways and areas of economic opportunity. Additionally, these streets serve a vital traffic carrying function for Bargersville and surrounding communities. The intent of the Arterial Corridor Overlay District is to establish specific requirements to preserve roadway capacity and safety; ensure that development does not inhibit future improvements to these roadways; minimize individual driveway access; protect property values along the corridors; promote economic development; minimize distractions and establish a high quality and inviting image at the entrances to the community.
(B) Applicability.
(1) Boundaries. The Arterial Corridor Overlay District applies to all property along the entire length and within 500 feet of the centerline on either side of SR 135, SR 37, and CR 144. If any parcel, building, structure, or improvement is only partially located within the overlay district, then the provisions of this overlay apply to the entire parcel, building, structure, or improvement, unless otherwise waived by the Plan Commission.
(2) Relation to underlying district. The requirements of this district amend and supersede those imposed on the same lands by the underlying districts.
(3) Regulated development. The regulations of this overlay district apply in the circumstances cited below.
(a) Construction of any new building or structure;
(b) Enlargement or expansion of any existing non-residential building or structure by more than 20% of its gross floor area;
(c) Proposed subdivision of land for non-residential uses; or
(d) Proposed construction or expansion of a parking lot by more than five spaces.
Farms and single-family homes are exempt from these regulations unless there is a change in use to a non-farm or non-single-family use.
(4) The BZA determines if the standards of this overlay apply to the entire lot or if they may be limited to only improvements proposed after the effective date of this chapter. The following factors are considered:
(a) The extent and location of the proposed improvements (e.g., buildings, parking, landscaping, drainage, etc.) on the parcel.
(b) The extent of conflicts in applying the standards of this overlay with existing and/or planned improvements.
(C) Uses. All uses permitted in the underlying zoning district are permitted except the following uses, that are prohibited within the overlay:
(1) Adult businesses;
(2) Bulk storage of petroleum items not used for on-site manufacturing;
(3) Manufacture, use, or storage of explosives;
(4) Manufactured home park;
(5) Manufactured home sales;
(6) Off-premise signage;
(7) Penal or correctional institution;
(8) Retail sales, service and repair, special handling;
(9) Salvage and wrecking;
(10) Sanitary landfill;
(11) Self-storage facility;
(12) Slaughterhouse or rendering plants.
(D) Spatial requirements. The minimum requirements for lot area, width, height, and setbacks for the underlying district apply, except as modified in Table 2-1.
Table 2-1: ACO Dimensional Requirements
| ||||
Yard | Min. Setback1 |
Min. Height | ||
Parking2 |
Building | Flat Roof | Pitched Roof | |
Front | 35 ft. | 35 ft. | 14 ft. | 16 ft. |
Side3 | 5 ft. | 20 ft. | ||
Rear3 | 5 ft. | 20 ft. | ||
Notes: 1 Front setbacks along SR 135 are measured from a point 65 feet from the centerline of the street. 2 Parking refers to areas devoted to parking, drive aisles, loading facilities, vehicle maneuvering areas, and pads for trash enclosures. Entry drives into the site from the abutting street(s) or driveways/access streets connecting to adjoining properties may cross this setback area. 3 Where a side or rear yard in a non-residential district abuts a residential use in a residential district, the parking and building setbacks must be increased to a minimum of 25 feet. | ||||
(E) Site design standards.
(a) Trees must be planted at a rate of at least one tree per 20 linear feet of street frontage. At least 20% of the required trees must be evergreens. No more than 30% of any one species can be used.
(b) Shrubs must be planted at a rate of at least one shrub per ten linear feet of street frontage. The shrub species used must have a mature height of at least 48 inches. At least 20% of the required shrubs must be evergreens. No more than 30% of any one species can be used.
(c) Clustering of trees and shrubs is encouraged. All areas not containing trees or planter areas must be covered with grass or other living groundcover. To the extent practical, all plant material should be native plant species.
(d) Existing vegetation may be counted toward the requirements of § 154.110(D)(10).
(e) Detention/retention areas are permitted within the landscape area if they do not hamper the effectiveness of the screening provided by the landscaping. To the extent possible, detention/retention areas should have a natural shape and be integrated with the landscape design.
(2) Signs. In addition to the signage requirements of §§ 154.110 to 154.113, within the overlay freestanding signs are limited to ground signs with a maximum height of six feet. The area surrounding the base of the sign must be landscaped with shrubs, ground cover and/or other materials that complement the sign but do not obstruct visibility of the sign or vehicles entering or exiting adjacent driveways. Electronic changeable message signs may be contained within the ground sign, in accordance with the applicable requirements of §§ 154.110 to 154.113.
(3) Lighting. Site lighting should be of cohesive design, materials, and color throughout the site. Light standards cannot exceed the building height, or 25 feet, whichever is less. When light standards are within 90 feet of a residential use or district, they cannot exceed a height of 15 feet. All lighting must use concealed or shielded light fixtures.
(4) Parking. All parking requirements of §§ 154.110 to 154.113 must be met. No more than 20% of all parking spaces may be located within the front yard. All other parking must be in the side or rear yard. However, if a frontage road connecting to the adjoining properties on either side of the subject site is constructed in the front yard parallel to the arterial street, all required parking may be placed in the front yard, if a landscape greenbelt at least 15 feet wide is provided between the parking area and the frontage road (see § 154.110(G)).
(5) Other site design requirements.
(a) Outdoor storage may be permitted after special exception approval, if allowed within the underlying zoning district. The outdoor storage area must be in the rear yard and must be screened on all sides with a solid fence, wall, or landscaping (see § 154.110(H)).
(b) Loading and unloading areas are prohibited in any yard abutting a street. Loading docks cannot face a street and must be screened to block views from any adjacent street or residential district (see § 154.110(H)).
(F) Building design standards. The requirements of this section apply to all residential and non-residential buildings within the Arterial Corridor Overlay District, except single and two-family dwellings that are regulated by § 154.147.
(1) The following exterior materials are permitted within the overlay: brick, masonry, stone, glass curtain walls or glass block, or exposed aggregate, bush-hammered, sand blasted or similarly finished concrete (including precast concrete panels).
(2) At least three exterior materials, colors, or patterns are used on a building facade.
(3) Doors, windows, or other architectural features must be used to break large wall planes into smaller components. Building facades oriented to and visible from an adjacent right-of-way cannot have unbroken wall planes longer than 30% of the length of the facade.
(4) Permitted roofing materials include architectural shingles, standing seam metal, and rubber membrane (flat roofs only).
(5) Pitched roofs must have a minimum pitch of 4 (vertical units): 12 (horizontal units). Flat roofs are permitted if they are surrounded by a parapet in proportion to the supporting walls that conceals roofmounted mechanical equipment.
(6) Rooftop equipment, excluding vents and stairwell accesses, visible at ground level from the centerline of abutting public right-of-way, must be screened from view through use of parapet walls, screens, or other building elements or design features.
(7) Drive-through service windows must be placed on the side or rear building facades.
(8) Entrances to service bays for vehicle repair businesses must be oriented away from view of any arterial street. Vehicle repair and service uses must take place within a fully enclosed area of the building.
(9) Chain-link fences and unpainted or unfinished block walls are prohibited. Walls and fences visible at ground level from a public right-of-way or an adjacent parcel must be architecturally finished (i.e., brick, wood, or textured concrete masonry units).
(10) Properties with multiple tenants or multiple structures must provide pedestrian connections between tenants and structures via walks or paths at least five feet wide. Where applicable, walks or paths must align with and connect to adjacent properties.
(G) Access management standards.
(1) All driveways serving attached single-family, multi-family, commercial, office, institutional or industrial uses ("commercial driveways"), must comply with the requirements of this section.
(2) Driveway locations must minimize interference with the free movement of traffic, provide adequate sight distance, and provide the most favorable driveway grade.
(3) Driveways must be located entirely within the frontage of the premises unless otherwise approved by the town or INDOT, as applicable. Driveways, turn lanes, or acceleration/deceleration lanes located on adjoining property will not be approved unless the property containing these improvements is dedicated as public right-of-way
(5)
The minimum spacing between a commercial driveway and another commercial driveway or street intersection within the overlay is based upon posted speed limits along the parcel frontage. The minimum spacing indicated in Table 2-2. is measured from centerline to centerline of the driveways.
Posted Speed Limit (mph) | Arterial Street | Collector or Local Street |
(5) To reduce left-turn conflicts, new commercial driveways must be aligned with those across the street, where possible. If alignment is not possible, driveways must be offset from those on the opposite side of the street a minimum of 250 feet along arterial streets and 150 feet along collector and local streets. These standards may be reduced by the Plan Commission where there is insufficient frontage and shared access with an adjacent site is not feasible. Longer offsets may be required depending on the expected inbound left-turn volumes of the driveways.
(6) In the case of expansion, alteration, or redesign of an existing driveway where it can be demonstrated that preexisting conditions prohibit adherence to the minimum spacing standards, the Plan Commission may modify the driveway spacing requirements. Modifications should be the minimum relief necessary. Spacing of a full-access driveway cannot be less than 75 feet, measured centerline to centerline.
(7) The number of commercial driveways serving a single property is the minimum number necessary to provide reasonable access and access for emergency vehicles, while preserving traffic operations and safety along the public street.
(8) Access must be provided for each separately owned parcel. Access may be via an individual driveway, shared driveway, or service drive. More than one driveway may be permitted for property if:
(a) It has continuous frontage sufficient to satisfy the spacing requirements of Table 2-2;
(b) The Plan Commission determines additional access can be provided without compromising traffic operations along the public street; and
(c) The Plan Commission determines there are no other reasonable access alternatives such as: shared driveways, connected parking lots, frontage roads, frontage roads or other alternate access routes.
(9) Commercial driveways must be designed according to the standards of the Town of Bargersville or INDOT, as applicable.
(10) For high traffic generators or commercial driveways along streets experiencing or expected to experience congestion, the Plan Commission may require two egress lanes to provide separate right and left turns out of the site.
(11) Where a boulevard entrance is proposed by the applicant or required by the Plan Commission, a curbed island must separate the ingress and egress lanes. The entrance must be designed to accommodate the largest vehicle to use the driveway. The island must have a minimum area of 180 square feet.
(12) Where noted above or where the Plan Commission determines reducing the number of access points is beneficial while preserving the property owner's right to reasonable access, a shared commercial driveway, or frontage road connecting two or more properties or uses may be required. Frontage roads may be required near existing traffic signals or at locations having potential for future signalization and along street segments with a relatively high number of crashes or limited sight distance.
(13) Shared commercial driveways and frontage roads must be within right-of-way or a recorded access easement. A draft of the access easement must be provided to the Plan Commission for review and approval prior to approval and recording.
(14) The Plan Commission may allow temporary access for up to 18 months where the frontage road is not completed if a financial guarantee is provided assuring the elimination of the temporary access upon completion of the frontage road (see § 154.161). Building permits cannot be issued until the financial guarantee has been submitted.
(15) Frontage roads are generally parallel to the front property line and may be located either in front of, adjacent to, or behind principal buildings. In considering the most appropriate alignment for a frontage road, the Plan Commission considers the setbacks of existing buildings and anticipated traffic flow for the site. The frontage road should be placed away from the arterial to provide safe, efficient traffic flow and operation. The distance between the roadway traffic and the first internal movement must meet the minimum requirements shown in Table 2-3. For sites with high volumes or heavy truck traffic located on high volume roadways, the required distance may be increased to avoid interference with the arterial traffic flow. If no other design alternatives exist, the Plan Commission may permit lesser separation distances if a right-in/right-out entrance is used. Interior driveways must accommodate at least 100 feet of vehicle stacking.
(16) Access easement. If not located within public right-of-way, the frontage road must be within an access easement at least 40 feet wide permitting traffic circulation between properties. The access easement must meet the requirements of § 154.152(E).
(17) Construction standards. Frontage roads must have a curb and gutter and be constructed per the town standards for public streets, except a frontage road may have a minimum pavement width of 24 feet.
(18) Parking. The frontage road is intended exclusively for circulation and not as a parking maneuvering aisle. The Plan Commission may require the posting of "no parking" signs along the frontage road. In reviewing the site plan, the Plan Commission may permit temporary parking in the easement area where a continuous frontage road is not yet available if the layout allows removal of the parking for the future extension of the frontage road.
(19) Access to frontage road. The Plan Commission approves the location of all access points to the frontage road based on the driveway spacing standards listed in Table 2-2.
(20) Elevation. The required site plan must indicate the proposed elevation of the frontage road at the property line. The town maintains a record of all frontage road elevations so their grades can be coordinated. Once constructed, the elevation of the frontage road must be provided to the town for its records (see § 154.141).
(21) Landscaping. The area between a frontage road and the public right-of-way must be landscaped as specified in § 154.110(F).
(22) Maintenance. Each property owner is responsible for maintenance of the easement and frontage road.
(Ord. 2022-17, passed 7-19-2022)