(A) Intent.
(1) The intent of this section is to establish roadway access standards inclusive of driveways, shared drives, frontage and rear access and road related roadway geometric improvements and access control features.
(2) The compliance standards of this section are intended to minimize potentially hazardous traffic movements and related traffic conflicts, provide effective spacing standards between driveways and between driveways and intersections and to ensure reasonable access to properties within desired public safety standards. The provisions of this section shall apply during the site plan review process before Planning Commission approval.
(B) Driveway spacing.
(1) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, a COMMERCIAL DRIVEWAY is defined as any vehicular access, except those serving single family or two family residences or serving an essential public service structure.
(2) Minimum spacing (commercial). Minimum spacing between 2 commercial driveways on the same side of the roadway shall be determined based upon the posted speed limit along the parcel frontage. The minimum spacings indicated below are measured from centerline to centerline.
Posted Speed Limit (MPH)
|
Minimum Driveway Spacing (Feet)
|
25 | 130 |
30 | 185 |
35 | 245 |
40 | 300 |
45 | 350 |
50 | 455 |
(3) Left-turn conflicts. To reduce left turn conflicts, new commercial driveways shall be aligned with existing driveways across the roadway where possible. If alignment is not possible, driveways should be offset a minimum of 150 feet from existing driveways, measured centerline to centerline, on the opposite side of the roadway.
(4) Minimum spacing. Minimum spacing between proposed driveways and street intersections shall be subject to the following requirements. The following measurements are from the nearest edge of the driveway throat to the nearest edge of the intersection.
Location of Driveway | Minimum Spacing for Full Movement Driveway (Feet) | Minimum Spacing for a Channelized Right-Turn-In, Right-Turn-Out Driveway (Feet) |
On a major thoroughfare, intersecting street is a major thoroughfare | 250 | 125 |
On a major thoroughfare, intersecting street is not a major thoroughfare | 200 | 125 |
On a secondary thoroughfare | 125 | 75 |
On a collector street | 75 | 75 |
(5) Number of commercial driveways.
(a) The number of commercial driveways serving a property shall be the minimum number necessary to provide reasonable access and access for emergency vehicles, while preserving traffic operations and safety along the public roadway.
(b) Access shall be provided for each separately owned parcel. This access may be an individual driveway, shared driveway, or via a service drive. Additional driveways may be permitted for the property only as follows: 1 additional driveway may be allowed for properties with continuous frontage over 300 feet, and 1 additional driveway for each additional 300 feet of frontage, if the Planning Commission determines additional access is justified without compromising traffic operations along the public street. The applicant shall submit a traffic impact study if additional access is sought. All driveways shall comply with the spacing requirements set forth in this section.
(c) In making its determination on whether additional access is justified, the Planning Commission may refer to the following list of developments, that generate enough traffic to warrant consideration of additional access. Where possible, additional access points should be located on a side street, shared with adjacent uses, or designed for right-turn-in, right-turn-out only movements.
1. Multiple family developments with over 500 units.
2. Grocery store of over 30,000 square feet (GFA).
3. Shopping center with over 40,000 square feet (GFA).
4. Hotel or motel with over 400 rooms.
5. Industrial developments with over 300,000 square feet (GFA) or 350 employees, although a secondary entrance for trucks should be allowed.
6. Warehouses of over 750,000 square feet (GFA) or 350 employees.
7. Mobile home park with over 600 units.
8. General office building of 150,000 square feet (GFA) or 500 employees.
9. Medical office building of 60,000 square feet (GFA) or 200 employees.
10. Fast food restaurant of over 6,000 square feet (GFA).
11. Sit down restaurant of over 20,000 square feet (GFA).
(6) Shared driveways and service roads.
(a) Where the Planning Commission determines that reducing the number of access points may have a beneficial impact on traffic operations and safety while preserving the property owner's right to reasonable access, a shared driveway or service drive connecting 2 or more properties or uses may be required. In particular, service drives may be required where recommended in the Master Plan or corridor plan, near existing traffic signals or near locations having traffic volumes and along segments of roadway with a relatively high number of accidents or limited sight distance.
(b) Shared driveways and service drives shall be within a recorded access easement.
(c) The Planning Commission may allow temporary access where the service road is not completed if a performance bond or other financial guarantee is provided which assures the elimination of the temporary access upon completion of the service road. Occupancy permits shall not be issued until such financial guarantee has been submitted to the city.
(7) Driveway Width. The following standards shall apply unless engineering judgement determines that another dimension is more suitable for a particular site.
(a) The standard two-way commercial driveway design shall include 1 ingress lane and 1 egress lane with a combined width of 30 feet, measured from face of curb to face of curb.
(b) Where exit volumes are expected to exceed 1,000 vehicles per day, 100 during peak hours, or in areas where it is determined that undesirable motorist delays will occur, 2 egress lanes may be required. Such driveways shall include 1 15-foot wide ingress lane and 2 11.5-foot wide egress lanes (1 marked exclusively for left turns). In areas where significant pedestrian/bicycle travel is expected, the egress and ingress lanes shall be separated by a 6 to 10 foot wide median with a pedestrian refuge area.
(c) Where driveways are to be located on a road segment having a high accident rate or significant traffic congestion/delays, or where left run access is available through alternative means of access, the Planning Commission may require driveway design and signing which prohibits certain turning movements.
(d) For access arrangements which include 2 one-way driveways, such as a right-turn-in and right-turn-out only arrangements, each driveway shall be 16 feet wide, measured perpendicular to the curb, and angled to minimize the disruption of traffic flow.
(8) Engineering judgement. Engineering judgement shall be utilized to determine the necessary throat length, but in no case shall it be less than 25 feet.
(9) Angle of commercial driveways. Commercial driveways shall be on a 90 degree angle with roadway unless physical modification and/or directional signs are used to enforce intended one-way operations or restricted movements.
(10) Deceleration and acceleration lanes and tapers. Deceleration and acceleration lanes and tapers where warranted by either through traffic conditions or expected high driveway volumes shall be used to avoid the disruption in the flow of traffic.
(1993 Code, § 82-407) (Ord. passed 2-12-2001; Ord. passed 9-10-2001(3))
Editor's note:
Ord. of Feb. 12, 2001, § 82-474, set out provisions intended for use as § 82-471. At the City Clerk's request, these provisions have been included as § 82-407.