Safe, efficient, and convenient circulation and access to and between developments should be provided for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic. By creating a safe continuous network of pedestrian walkways within the Old Montgomery Gateway District development and adjacent Heritage District development, pedestrians will feel more inclined to safely walk (rather than drive) between stores. A pedestrian network that offers clear circulation paths from the parking areas to building entries creates a friendlier, more inviting image.
(A) Pedestrian access and circulation. Pedestrian facilities shall be designed to meet the following standards:
(1) Sites that are more than two acres shall emphasize pedestrian orientation by creating attractive pedestrian spaces that are landscaped and include other appropriate elements to facilitate pedestrian activity. Efforts should be made to incorporate public open spaces into the design of the development.
(2) All commercial developments shall provide attractive well marked pedestrian links between parking and buildings. The connections shall be clearly marked to provide safe access across traffic lanes and landscaped areas. Such walkways shall utilize decorative paving at key locations.
(3) All commercial buildings shall be public accessible via a path or walkway from a public sidewalk.
(4) Any sidewalk or walkway shall be designed to connect to adjacent walkways of either existing or future development.
(5) All redevelopment along Montgomery Road and Main Street in the OMG must comply with the streetscape master plan for the Heritage District.
(6) Streetscape design elements and materials used to construct new public walkways, connecting sidewalks and streetscape enhancements may vary from the Heritage District standards provided that such variations are complementary to the Heritage District standards.
(7) Parking area design shall include provisions for pedestrian access from parking areas to building entrances.
(B) Vehicular access and circulation. Vehicular access and circulation shall be designed to meet the following standards:
(1) Primary vehicle entrances. The number and location of vehicle entrances to a commercial development shall be consistent with the City Access Management Standards, § 94.18. The specific locations of primary vehicle entrances are subject to review by the City Engineer and the approval of the Planning Commission and will be based on the following factors to promote good traffic management practices:
(a) A site shall not be separated into additional tracts or plats to artificially allow additional access points.
(b) The development shall minimize the number of curb cuts with shared access being preferred.
(c) Provide adequate improvements to the right-of-way to handle increases in traffic generated by the development. These improvements may include but are not limited to, turn lanes and traffic control devices.
(d) Where possible, access points should align with previously-approved or constructed access points on the opposite side of the street to reduce conflict points.
(2) Internal vehicle circulation. Safe and efficient internal circulation shall be provided. Where possible internal vehicle circulation should be designed as follows:
(a) Streets internal to the development should be designed with a hierarchy of circulation: major access drives from Montgomery Road and/or Main Street shall have no parking for a distance of 150 feet from Montgomery Road and/or Main Street, while on-street parking shall be encouraged on secondary streets which connect to major access drives.
(b) Internal driveways or aisles that are intersected by crossing traffic should either have their centerlines aligned or be offset by at least 60 feet.
(3) On-site truck traffic/loading and circulation. Every development is required to provide on-site loading and delivery facilities. Where on-site loading and delivery facilities are located adjacent to customer parking and pedestrian areas.
(a) Truck circulation paths shall be designed with adequate curve radii and maneuvering room so that trucks do not fully obstruct traffic flow in the public right-of-way during loading.
(b) Loading areas must be designed such that trucks do not partially or fully obstruct traffic flow on Montgomery Road or Main Street during loading activities.
(4) Connections to adjacent non-residential uses. To the maximum extent feasible vehicular and access connections shall be provided between adjacent non-residential development parcels.
(Ord. 7-2006, passed 4-19-06; Am. Ord. 16-2013, passed 11-6-13; Am. Ord. 9, 2018, passed 7-11-18; Am. Ord. 2, 2022, passed 4-6-22)