A. Purpose and Intent. The intent of this section is to provide for parking lot connections between comparable commercial, mixed-use, and multi-family land uses that front arterial and collector streets so that vehicles leaving one lot may access the adjoining lot without having to re-enter the street system.
B. Applicability. The standards in this section shall apply to lots abutting arterial and collector streets that contain any of the following uses:
1. Uses in the commercial uses classification in Table 4.2.3, Principal Use Table;
2. Mixed-use development; and
3. Multi-family development.
C. Exemptions. Parking lot connections are not required when any of the following conditions are present:
1. Adjacent lots do not have common frontage along an arterial or collector street;
2. Significant topographical differences in existing or proposed conditions are present;
3. Significant natural features exist in the only viable location for parking lot connections;
4. Vehicular safety factors exist or would be created including, but not limited to, unsafe turning movements or pedestrian conflicts;
5. Sufficient access already exists without need for additional parking lot connections;
6. Residential, institutional, or other incompatible land uses are present on adjacent lots;
7. Existing infrastructure obstructions; or
8. Other safety or security factors, in the opinion of the Planning Director or Town Engineer.
D. Configuration.
1. Parking lot connections shall join parking lots on two or more different lots (see Figure 5.1.8: Parking Lot Connections) subject to these standards.
2. A parking lot connection shall be included on at least two sides of a lot except when conditions prevent connections in accordance with Section 5.1.8.C, Exemptions.
3. Parking lot connections shall be paved with asphalt, concrete, or pavers and shall maintain a minimum width of 12 feet for one-way traffic and 18 feet for two-way traffic.
4. All parking lot connections shall be built to the lot line, to the maximum extent practicable.
5. A minimum distance of 40 feet shall be required between a parking lot connection and an intersection or driveway entrance.
E. Impact on Required Site Features.
1. Where a required parking lot connection eliminates a required landscape planting area, the landscaping requirements shall be reduced to accommodate the cross-accessway and replacement landscaping shall not be required.
2. When a required parking lot connection eliminates required off-street parking spaces, replacement spaces shall not be required.
F. Easement Required. A parking lot connection easement shall be recorded on the final plat for property involving a subdivision, or recorded by separate instrument when, no plat is proposed.
G. Connection Required. Development on vacant land subject to these standards shall install parking lot connections to the shared property line. However, if the abutting landowner that does not already have a parking lot connection stub and is unwilling to allow the connection to be built to the shared property line due to the impact of the grading equipment or other construction activity on their property, then the Planning Director shall notify the unwilling property owner that they will be responsible for completing the entire parking lot connection when their property is developed.
(Ord. 2020-36, passed 12-2-2019)