(A) Street classifications. Classification is the process by which streets are grouped into categories or classes according to the character of service provided. Factors that determine the classification of streets include the width of the roadway, continuity of alignment, spacing of intersections, frequency of the points of access, and traffic controls. Streets have two functions: to provide mobility and to provide access to land. There are four basic classifications: freeway, arterial, collector, and local.
(1) Local streets. Local streets provide access to adjacent land, provide service to travel short distances, provide the lowest level of mobility for through travel, and provide access service to other streets. Service to through traffic is discouraged. The minimum ultimate right-of-way width of local streets is 60 or 66 feet (depending on design), unless otherwise established through the subdivision approval process of § 151.191.
(2) Collector streets. Collector streets serve as intracounty travel corridors channelizing and distributing traffic to and from arterial and local streets. Collector streets often provide service by connecting urban areas, large developments, and other land uses of intracounty importance. The minimum ultimate right-of-way width of collector streets is 100 feet.
(3) Arterial streets. Arterial streets serve or connect major urban activity centers, are high volume travel corridors, provide for long trip desires, and form an integrated network providing intercounty and interstate service. Arterial streets channelize and distribute traffic to and from collector streets and freeways. Access to abutting land uses is subordinate to the provision of travel service for major traffic movements. The minimum ultimate right-of-way width of arterial streets is 120 feet.
(4) Freeways. Freeways serve or connect metropolitan areas, carrying the major portion of trips entering or leaving an urban area as well as the majority of through trips bypassing these areas. Freeways are high volume traffic corridors and carry a high proportion of the total area travel with a minimum of total mileage. Access to freeways is fully or partially controlled. The minimum ultimate right-of-way width of freeways is 200 feet.
(5) Designated freeways. Designated freeways are those streets so designated as provided for in 605 ILCS 5/8. Collector streets, arterial streets and freeways as classified by this chapter may all, in addition, be designated as designated freeways. Access to designated freeways shall be determined by the highway authority having jurisdiction over the designated freeway from which access is being taken. The minimum ultimate right-of-way width of a designated freeway shall be the same as for freeways.
(B) Street classifications map. See Appendix B.
(C) Street access.
(1) An access permit shall be obtained from the highway authority with jurisdiction over the street from which access is proposed to be taken. When the highway authority has not established access standards, the standards of the Lake County Division of Transportation shall apply.
(2) Each lot shall take access to an improved, approved street.
(D) Access easements.
(1) If a parcel is to be developed with any nonresidential land use, an access easement shall be provided by the property owner to adjoining properties which front on the same street and which may be developed or are developed with nonresidential land uses. Access easements shall have a minimum width of 30 feet and shall be situated parallel to the street right-of-way line abutting both parcels and at the ultimate right-of-way line unless otherwise established through the subdivision approval process. Access easements shall be maintained by the property owner.
(2) The Planning, Building and Development Director, after consultation and written consent of the highway authority having jurisdiction, may waive the requirement for an easement of access required above in those cases where unusual topography or site conditions would render the easement of no useable benefit to adjoining properties.
(3) The Planning, Building and Development Director, after consultation and written consent of the applicable highway authority, may approve the abandonment of an easement of access in those cases where adjoining parcels are subsequently developed with a residential use.
(E) Fire and emergency vehicle access. Fire and emergency vehicle access shall be provided in accordance with the Fire Code.
(Ord., § 9.5, passed 10-13-2009)