Access for subdivision lots shall meet the standards of this section.
B. Access to primary arterials. Where a subdivision borders on or contains an existing or proposed primary arterial, the Planning Commission may require that access be limited by one of the following means:
1. The subdivision of the lots so that the rear of the lot backs onto the primary arterial and fronts onto a local street that is parallel to the primary arterial, and screening shall be provided within a strip of land along the rear property line of such lots;
2. A series of cul-de-sacs, or loop street entered from and designed, generally, to be at right angles to an access street that is at some distance from and parallel to the arterial street, with the rear lines of their terminal lots backing onto the arterial; and
3. A marginal access or service road (separated from the primary arterial by a landscaped and/or decoratively fenced grass strip and having access thereto at widely spaced suitable point.)
C. Access to collector streets. Where possible, lots in single-family residential subdivisions fronting on collector streets shall be avoided and lots at the corners of intersections between local and collector streets shall front on the local street and have driveway access to it only and not to the collector street. In multiple-family residential area entrances to group parking lots shall have access only to collector streets (where possible) and such entrances shall be widely separated from each other.
D. Access to local streets. Generally, single- family residences have only one driveway providing access to the local street on which it fronts.
E. Reserve strips of land. The creation of reserve strips of land shall not be permitted adjacent to a proposed street in such a manner as to deny access to the proposed street from adjacent property if such street is a local service street rather than a collector or arterial street.
F. Driveway access to arterials or collectors. Lots in residential subdivisions shall not in general have access directly from an arterial or collector. Where a subdivision borders on or contains an existing or proposed arterial the Commission may require that access to such streets be limited by one or more of the following means:
1. The subdivision of residential lots so that they back onto the arterial and front onto a parallel subdivision street; no access shall be permitted to the collector or arterial from any lots, and screening may be required in a planting strip inside the rear property line of such lots; (See Figure 8-3)
2. A series of cul-de-sacs, U-shaped streets, or short loops entered from and designed generally at right angles to such a parallel street, with the rear lines of their terminal lots backing onto the arterial;
3. A marginal access or service road, i.e. a perimeter street, separated from the arterial by a planting or grass strip and having access thereto at suitable points, however, marginal access or service roads shall generally be discouraged in residential subdivisions.
G. Minimum external access. Street access for a subdivision shall be provided to an adequate (as determined by the Commission) abutting pre-existing street (“perimeter street”) as follows:
1. A subdivision with fewer than 40 lots shall have at least one street access onto an adequate perimeter street.
2. A subdivision with 40 lots or more shall have at least two street accesses onto adequate perimeter streets. The street accesses may be off of different perimeter streets, or shall be spaced no less than 300 feet from one another on the same perimeter street.
3. A subdivision with 200 lots or more warrants at least three street accesses onto adequate perimeter streets. The Commission shall require construction of that third access or an adequate alternate provision, as may be appropriate to the site.
4. Stub streets to adjacent undeveloped property are required but shall not substitute for perimeter street access unless a variance/waiver is granted by the Commission.
5. External access requirements for multi-family and commercial developments shall be determined as part of the Development Plan process.
H. Minimum internal access. No more than 40 lots shall gain access to a perimeter street via a single point within a subdivision.
(1980 Code, Ch. 154, § 4.13) (Ord. 2001-4, passed 3-27-2001; Am. Ord. 2020-31, passed 11-10-2020)