(A) Purpose and intent. The purpose of this section is to further the county's Comprehensive Plan goals of preserving natural resources and rural character while pursuing improved economic self- sufficiency for all its citizens. Since progress toward these goals is often focused along the county's transportation corridors, these goals are best pursued through the promotion of development that is compatible with the design and capacity of the county roadways. These standards will:
(1) Encourage orderly economic development compatible with the county's goals and existing communities;
(2) Ensure a free flow of traffic and prevent congestion on the county's principal roads;
(3) Minimize adverse economic impacts on existing incorporated towns;
(4) Help create a convenient, attractive, and harmonious community.
(B) Roadways classified. Accordingly, the roadways of the county are classified into the following categories:
(1) Class I, Main Roads: U.S. Route 13 (Lankford Highway), Business 13, and State Route 184 (Stone Road);
(2) Class II, North/South Secondary Roads: State Rt. 600 (Seaside Road) and State Routes 618, 619, and 622 (Bayside Road);
(3) Class III, Neck Roads: All Bayside Neck roads, including State Route 183;
(4) Class IV, Village Roads: All roads which are within a Rural Village designated on the county zoning map and all secondary roads within one-half mile of the Rural Village zoning boundary;
(5) Class V, Subdivision Roads: All roads within recorded subdivisions;
(6) Class VI, Other Roads: All other named roads.
(C) Projects affected require unified plan of development. All proposed commercial and industrial projects shall address and resolve the following issues when any portion of the project, whether principal structure, parking area, accessory structure, or other element necessary to the performance of the principal use, is within 500 feet of a Class I, II, or III road, or within 200 feet of a Class IV road. The issues shall be addressed through a unified plan of development which includes a sketch plan to illustrate the project and a written statement of justification that fully and accurately identifies how the final site plan will address these elements:
(1) Access to Class I, II, III, IV roads shall be limited to one for ingress/egress and one for egress only/emergency use. No individual business within a project shall have direct access to these classes of roads. Individual businesses shall be served by streets internal to the project.
(2) Services including water supply, sewage disposal, and storm water management shall be designed to serve the whole project and in such a manner that water and sewer lines can easily be tied to public central services when such central services are available, or become available in the future.
(3) Yard requirements shall be as set forth in Appendix B except that setbacks from public rights-of-way for commercial projects may be relieved to 50 feet when business entrances for customers and parking areas are on the off-road side of the building(s), the building(s) are screened using the vegetation standards of § 154.2.105(D), and the project complies with all other requirements of this section.
(4) Utility lines including electric, telephone, cable television and other similar lines shall be located underground unless required by the utility company to be otherwise located. Junction and access boxes shall be screened with vegetation.
(5) Outside storage of salvage and unlicensed or inoperable vehicles or equipment is prohibited. If outside storage of other items or materials is required, it shall be screened from the view of any public road or adjoining property by perimeter screening placed according to this chapter.
(6) Driveways and parking areas must be in compliance with §§ 154.2.205 et seq. All commercial and industrial development is required by Chesapeake/ Atlantic Preservation District regulations to minimize impervious surfaces in order to promote infiltration of stormwater into the ground; therefore, grid and pervious pavers, or other suitable pervious materials may be used for any required driveway or parking area, and curb and gutters may be minimized through the use of grass strips and swales.
(7) Loading areas shall be designed so as to minimize visibility from every class of road or from any project perimeter which, at the time of construction, adjoins a residential zoning district.
(8) Exterior lighting shall be arranged so that light is directed in such a manner that it does not affect traffic adversely on any class of road and is directed on-site and away from adjoining properties. All exterior lighting shall not exceed 0.5 footcandles above background when measured at the lot line of any adjoining property.
(Ord. passed 4-12-2016)