Access management regulations promote and protect the public health, safety, and general welfare by providing development regulations that result in safer access to property and safer traffic flow. It is recognized that land use and site planning issues are directly linked to the capacity of roadways to efficiently move traffic through an area and provide safe access to adjoining property. It is also recognized that achieving an appropriate balance between roadway access to adjoining property and the ability of roadways to carry through traffic will not only reduce future congestion and accident rates, but will also enhance emergency vehicle response times.
(Ord. 25-05. Passed 1-23-06.)
(Ord. 25-05. Passed 1-23-06.)
(a) A Traffic Impact Study in accordance with Section 1146A.03 shall be required and shall be submitted by an applicant as part of the proposed site plan when so required by the Ohio Department of Transportation according to a State Highway Access Control Manual or when the proposed development will generate or has the potential to generate more than one hundred (100) vehicle trip ends during the peak hour of generation according to the most recent version of the ITE trip generation manual. A vehicle trip end is the total of entering and exiting vehicles for the proposed development at full build out and occupancy. Estimates of traffic volumes shall be based on weekday traffic for locations at which weekday employment predominates. Retail development shall include weekend traffic volumes in the estimates. Traffic impact studies may be waived for residential subdivisions.
(b) A Traffic Impact Study shall also be required for new phases or changes to an existing development where a traffic study is more than two (2) years old and roadway conditions have changed significantly (volumes increasing more than two percent (2%) annually).
(Ord. 25-05. Passed 1-23-06.)
(a) A Traffic Impact Study shall meet all of the requirements established by the Ohio Department of Transportation according to the Access Control Manual, including:
(1) Description of the site, surroundings, and study area;
(2) Description of the proposed development site circulation and available sight distances at site driveways;
(3) Description of existing traffic conditions;
(4) Background Traffic Growth;
(5) Trip Generation;
(6) Trip Distribution;
(7) Impact Analysis;
(8) Access Design/Access Management Standards;
(9) Need for, or provision of, any additional right-of-way where planned or desired by the applicable transportation agency;
(10) Adequacy of the queuing area if the use involves a drive-through facility;
(11) If a median crossover is desired, separate analysis should be provided;
(12) If a traffic signal is being requested, the applicable traffic signal warrants shall be provided along with an analysis of traffic progression along the roadway through coordination with other signals;
(13) Mitigation/Alternatives;
(14) Traffic Calming Strategies
(b) Qualifications of Traffic Impact Study Preparer:
(1) Any Traffic Impact Study involving roadway or traffic signal design work shall be prepared by, or under the supervision of, a professional engineer registered in the State of Ohio with specific training in traffic engineering.
(2) The Traffic Impact Study should include a resume of the preparer responsible for the report. The Traffic Impact Study may also include relevant experience of the preparer's firm. The study should also be signed by the preparer with full recognition of potential liability for the results and recommendations outlined in the report.
(Ord. 25-05. Passed 1-23-06.)
(a) To preserve and maintain efficient traffic movement, permitted access to all thoroughfares shall be limited as defined herein. A goal of these access management standards is to limit and reduce the number of driveways in favor of combined driveways and the construction of service roads to handle access to multiple parcels. These regulations are in addition to any other state, or local approvals required.
(b) Number of Driveways: Each lot is permitted to have a single, two-way driveway except in cases where a Traffic Impact Study clearly demonstrates the benefits of a second driveway from the standpoint of traffic movement. Examples of where a second drive may be justified include large corner lots where driveways on both streets may be desirable and instances where two, one-way drives are preferred more than one, two-way drive.
(c) Location of Driveways: All driveways shall be located as far as practical from the intersection of public streets.
(d) Conditional Approval of Driveways: As part of the site plan review process, a site plan may be approved with a specific driveway location under the condition that an agreement be reached between the property owner and the Municipality requiring that such driveway(s) be closed when specific circumstances are met. Such circumstances may include the future construction of a service road on adjacent property, the opportunity for a shared driveway with development of adjacent property, or other site-specific circumstances. This conditional approval may be required even if the driveway(s) conforms to all other requirements of this section.
(e) Driveway Alignment: New driveways shall be aligned with existing driveways across a street unless such alignment is shown to be undesirable in a Traffic Impact Study. Where such alignments are shown to be undesirable, the centerlines of opposing driveways shall be offset at least one hundred feet (100').
(Ord. 25-05. Passed 1-23-06.)
(f) Regulations: The “Access Management Regulations within the unincorporated areas of Lucas County, Ohio” effective July 6, 2007, and as amended shall be applicable within the Municipality of Waterville with the following modifications:
(1) References to Lucas County Boards, Commissions and Offices shall be interpreted as references to the corresponding Waterville Municipal Boards, Commissions or Offices unless otherwise specified.
(2) The Municipal Planning Commission shall serve as the Board of Appeals for Access Management.
(3) There will not be a separate Permit Fee for Access Management.
(4) State Route 64, the Anthony Wayne Trail, Waterville-Monclova Rd. and South River Rd. between the south corporation line and the Anthony Wayne Trail shall be considered Minor Arterials.
(5) Dutch Rd., Farnsworth Rd., Neapolis-Waterville Rd., Pray Blvd. and Neowash Rd., shall be considered Major Collectors.
(6) North River Rd. and South River Rd. from the Anthony Wayne Trail to Farnsworth Rd. shall be considered Minor Collectors.
(Ord. 26-12. Passed 12-10-12.)