The Planning Commission shall review site plans according to the following standards relating to vehicle access and circulation. The purpose of specific access standards is to increase traffic safety, lessen congestion, provide adequate access, promote community character, and ensure orderly development.
(a) The Planning Commission shall have the authority to require a frontage road or service drive for contiguous parcels along Polk Road, Oceana Drive, State Street or on other streets as deemed necessary. The Planning Commission shall also have the authority to limit the number of driveways for a site, to require that parking lots on contiguous parcels be connected, that driveways for contiguous parcels be shared, and that opposite driveways be directly aligned. In determining whether the above or other access control measures are necessary, the following criteria shall be considered:
(1) The type and location of commercial uses on the site and adjacent to the site.
(2) The location, size and design of existing and proposed parking areas.
(3) The existing and projected traffic volume on the roadway and adjacent roadways.
(4) Compatibility between adjacent land uses and likelihood of change or expansion.
(5) Number of parcels involved, location of lot lines and amount or road frontage.
(6) Topography and site distance along adjacent roadways and on the site.
(7) Distance from intersections.
(8) Location of driveways opposite the site.
(9) Width of roadway and number of lanes.
(10) Environmental limitations (steep slopes, water, or vegetation).
(11) Sufficient building setback.
(b) For uses along Polk Road, Oceana Drive, State Street, and other streets as deemed necessary, the following regulations shall apply:
(1) A maximum of one driveway shall be provided to an individual parcel or to a contiguous parcel under the same ownership when the property in question has no other reasonable access to another abutting street or access road. Additional driveways may also be permitted in accordance with the driveway spacing standards herein. A one-way in, one-way out driveway system may be permitted if it is demonstrated that traffic circulation on site and off site will not create hazardous situations.
(2) Temporary direct access to Polk Road, Oceana Drive, State Street and other streets as deemed necessary may be granted in instances where access roads or adjoining parcels are not yet developed. A temporary driveway permit shall specify the future means of access, location if known, and date the change will be made. This temporary access agreement shall be recorded with the County Register of Deeds.
(c) Driveways Permitted. Driveways for a parcel shall be permitted based on the amount of road frontage for that parcel as follows, except that the Planning Commission may modify this in the interest of public safety based on the criteria in subsection (a) hereof.
Frontage | Driveways Permitted |
Less than 300 feet | 1 |
300 to 600 feet | 2 |
More than 600 feet | 3 |
(d) Driveway spacing from intersections shall be determined during site plan review in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation for driveways along Polk Road and Oceana Drive.
(e) Waivers and Modifications. The Planning Commission shall have the authority to waive or modify the requirements of this section when strict adherence to them would result in unreasonable access to the site. In waiving or modifying these requirements, the criteria of subsection (a) hereof shall be used.
(Ord. 182. Passed 5-12-98.)