General and specific impact mitigation measures as approved by the Board of Supervisors as a result of the public hearing on the environmental assessment and mitigation report shall be utilized to mitigate adverse impacts of each major roadway project. Mitigation includes measures to (1) avoid the impact altogether by not taking a certain action or selected elements of a proposed action, (2) minimize impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation, (3) rectify the impact by repairing, rehabilitating or restoring the affected environment, (4) reduce or eliminate the impact over time by preservation and maintenance activities during the life of the action, or (5) compensate for the impact by replacing or providing substitute resources or environments. The following mitigation measures shall be implemented for each major roadway project covered by this chapter:
A. Environmental.
1. Preservation of Environmentally or Ecologically Sensitive Areas. Where possible, the location of major roadway projects shall avoid areas of significant environmental and ecological sensitivity. Where major roadway projects are adjacent to areas of unique environmental or ecological sensitivity, acquisition in fee simple, acquisition of development rights, or conservation easements may be proposed by the appropriate environmental assessment and mitigation report (see Item 5 below for additional requirements).
2. Landscaping. All medians and right-of-way areas on major roadway projects shall be landscaped with drought-resistant, low pollinating, preferably native plants. Plant species shall be listed as permissible pursuant to the landscaping requirements of the Pima County zoning code. The landscaping theme of each major roadway project shall be compatible with the native landscape through which the roadway passes. Installation of landscaping shall begin not later than six months after the formal completion date of the roadway project.
3. Dust Abatement. Curbs or paved roadway shoulders shall be provided adjacent to through traffic lanes to minimize air borne dust generated by vehicular traffic.
4. Scenic Route Designations. A visual impact analysis shall be included in any environmental assessment and mitigation report prepared for improvements on major roadway projects designated as scenic routes.
5. Environmentally Sensitive Roadways. Roadways are defined as Environmentally Sensitive Roadways (ESR) if they are located within or cross (a) unique ecologically or culturally sensitive lands as determined by the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, (b) High or Moderate Archaeological Sensitivity Zones or Priority Cultural Resources, or (c) if the roadways are identified as Historic or Scenic Routes. Projects that are defined as ESR shall be designed and constructed to minimize disturbance to the area resources. Additional environmental resource assessment and mitigation procedures are required as defined in the Pima County Roadway Design Manual .
B. Neighborhood.
1. Area Adjoining Roadway. The primary purpose of the area between the roadway improvements and the right-of-way line shall be to mitigate adverse effects of highway development on adjacent land uses and provide an aesthetically pleasing environment. Therefore, the following uses are permitted: installation of noise walls, screens or berms; landscaping; public art; facilities for public bus, pedestrian, equestrian and/or bicycle use; underground utilities; drainage system components, safety appurtenances and environmental mitigation measures. Overhead utilities are permitted only when the cost of placing the utilities underground causes the project budget to be exceeded or when the voltage exceeds fourteen thousand volts. Where native vegetation exists, a design goal shall be to conserve and incorporate this vegetation within the project landscaping plan.
2. Neighborhood Traffic Intrusion. Major roadway projects shall be designed to minimize neighborhood traffic intrusion. Where local street connections offer a bypass or shortcut between major roadway projects which in the opinion of the Board of Supervisors has a substantial adverse impact on neighborhood traffic, such streets shall be closed to through traffic or otherwise modified to minimize traffic intrusion.
3. Noise Abatement. Noise abatement shall be incorporated into the project design to protect inhabited residential or other sensitive land uses from roadway traffic noise. Noise abatement measures shall be considered for these land uses when existing or design year projections of exterior traffic noise measurements exceed an hourly A-weighted sound level of sixty-seven dBA or when there is an increase in noise measurements of fifteen dBA or greater. The preferred method of noise abatement shall be the construction of noise barrier walls. Other methods such as rubberized asphalt, berms, and/or landscaping may be utilized if the cost to Pima County does not exceed the cost of noise barrier walls.
C. Businesses.
1. Business Assistance Program. Pima County shall develop a Business Assistance Program to assist businesses throughout the design and construction phases of roadway projects. The goals of this program are to help businesses maintain profitability throughout roadway projects, improve communication between businesses and Pima County Department of Transportation, and to minimize and mitigate the impacts associated with roadway projects.
2. Information Program. Pima County shall implement an information program to provide project information to business owners and tenants throughout the design and construction phases of roadway projects.
3. Access Control. Major roadways shall be designed and constructed to maintain and control safe and convenient access to businesses and parking. During construction, at least one access driveway shall be maintained at all times.
4. Signage and Visibility. Major roadways shall be designed to maintain business visibility and signage, including careful placement of street trees, vegetation, utility and other structures that could impact visibility. During construction, additional business signage shall be provided to improve visibility.
D. Alternative Modes.
1. Bicycle and Pedestrian Considerations. The outside lane width for any urban (curbed) and rural (noncurbed) major roadway project shall be per the standards specified in the Pima County Roadway Design Manual to accommodate bicycles and other uses. Physically separated bicycle paths shall be examined as a design alternative where right-of-way widths are two hundred feet or greater and side street and driveway connections are limited. Sidewalks shall be provided where warranted by pedestrian travel, and special consideration shall be given to pedestrian or bicycle crossings with major routes. Pedestrian overpasses/underpasses shall be considered for school crosswalks or school zones for existing public or private schools adjacent to any major route.
2. Transit Vehicles. The project design shall consider mass transit vehicle pullouts if bus or other mass transit services are available or planned along the proposed improvement.
3. Park and Ride Facilities. To facilitate carpooling, ridesharing and mass public transportation ridership, additional right-of-way shall be considered in the vicinity of major intersections of major roadway projects for the development of future park and ride facilities. Park and ride facilities shall be convenient and screened with landscaping.
(Ord. 2006-31 § 1 (part), 2006; Ord. 1992-69 § 7.1, 1992)