Chapter 17.85
ACCESS MANAGEMENT
Sections:
17.85.040 Compliance with regulations.
17.85.050 Standards and specifications.
17.85.070 Joint and cross access.
17.85.080 Requirements for phased development plans.
17.85.090 Nonconforming access features.
17.85.100 Reverse/dual frontage.
17.85.110 Site plan review procedures for access management.
17.85.010 Purpose.
This chapter is adopted to implement the access management policies of Junction City as set forth in the transportation system plan. The transportation system plan categorizes state, county and local roads for access purposes based upon their level of importance and function. The purpose of this chapter is to reduce traffic accidents, personal injury, and property damage attributable to poorly designed access systems, and to improve the safety and operation of the roadway network. This will protect the substantial public investment in the existing transportation system and reduce the need for expensive remedial measures. This chapter serves to further the orderly layout and use of land, protect community character, and conserve natural resources by promoting well-designed road and access systems and discouraging the unplanned subdivision of land. [Ord. 1103 § 1, 2002; Ord. 950 Appx. H, 1991.]
17.85.020 Applicability.
This chapter shall apply to all public streets within Junction City and to all properties that abut these roadways. [Ord. 1103 § 1, 2002; Ord. 950 Appx. H, 1991.]
17.85.030 Permit application.
Requests for new accesses or modified access to public rights-of-way shall complete an access permit application and comply with the standards in this chapter. [Ord. 1103 § 1, 2002; Ord. 950 Appx. H, 1991.]
17.85.040 Compliance with regulations.
The proposed use and development of land shall conform to all applicable land use regulations and the Junction City comprehensive plan. [Ord. 1103 § 1, 2002; Ord. 950 Appx. H, 1991.]
17.85.050 Standards and specifications.
All construction of such driveways shall be done in conformity with proper standards and workmanship, and according to specifications furnished by the community development director. [Ord. 1103 § 1, 2002; Ord. 950 Appx. H, 1991.]
17.85.060 Corner clearance.
A. New accesses shall meet or exceed the minimum spacing requirements as set forth in Table 17.85.060 for that roadway’s classification, as set out in the city’s transportation system plan. The measurement shall be from centerline to centerline of the intersection.
|
Roadway Type |
Access Spacing |
|---|---|
|
Arterial |
150 feet |
|
Major Collector |
75 feet |
|
Minor Collector |
50 feet |
|
Local Street |
25 feet |
B. Where no other alternatives exist, the city may allow construction of an access connection along the property line farthest from the intersection. In such cases, directional connection restrictions (i.e., right in/out, right in only, or right out only) may be required. [Ord. 1103 § 1, 2002; Ord. 950 Appx. H, 1991.]
17.85.070 Joint and cross access.
A. Adjacent commercial or office properties classified as major traffic generators (i.e., uses that generate more than 30 peak hour trips, as cited in the Institution of Transportation Engineers’ (ITE) trip generation tables) shall provide a cross-access drive and pedestrian access to allow circulation between sites.
B. For new commercial retail and service uses, a system of joint use driveways and cross-access easements shall be established wherever feasible and shall incorporate the following:
1. A continuous service drive or cross-access corridor extending the entire length of each block served to provide for driveway separation consistent with the access management classification system and standards;
2. A design speed of 10 m.p.h. and a maximum width of 20 feet to accommodate two-way travel aisles designated to accommodate automobiles, service vehicles, and loading vehicles;
3. Stub-outs and other design features to make it visually obvious that the abutting properties may be tied in to provide cross access via a service drive;
4. A unified access and circulation system plan for coordinated or shared parking areas is encouraged.
C. Shared parking areas shall be permitted a reduction in required parking spaces if peak demands do not occur at the same time periods.
D. Pursuant to this section, property owners shall:
1. Record an easement with the deed allowing cross access to and from other properties served by the joint use driveways and cross-access or service drive;
2. Record an agreement with the deed that remaining access rights along the roadway will be dedicated to Junction City and pre-existing driveways will be closed and eliminated after construction of the joint use driveway;
3. Record a joint maintenance agreement with the deed defining maintenance responsibilities of property owners.
E. The city may modify or waive the requirements of this section where the characteristics or layout of abutting properties would make a development of a unified or shared access and circulation system impractical. [Ord. 1103 § 1, 2002; Ord. 950 Appx. H, 1991.]
17.85.080 Requirements for phased development plans.
In the interest of promoting unified access and circulation systems, development sites under the same ownership or consolidated for the purposes of development and comprised of more than one building site shall be reviewed as single properties in relation to the access standards of this chapter. The number of access points permitted shall be the minimum number necessary to provide reasonable access to these properties, not the maximum available for that frontage.
Driveways shall be designed to avoid queuing across surrounding parking and driving aisles and pedestrian ways and sidewalks. [Ord. 1103 § 1, 2002; Ord. 950 Appx. H, 1991.]
17.85.090 Nonconforming access features.
Legal access connections in place as of the date of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter that do not conform with the standards herein are considered nonconforming features and shall be brought into compliance with applicable standards under the following conditions:
A. When new access or modified accesses to public rights-of-way and/or access permits are requested;
B. Change in use or enlargements or improvements that will increase trip generation, as cited in the Institution of Transportation Engineers’ (ITE) trip generation tables. [Ord. 1103 § 1, 2002; Ord. 950 Appx. H, 1991.]
17.85.100 Reverse/dual frontage.
Lots that front on more than one street shall be required to locate motor vehicle accesses on the street with the lower functional classification. [Ord. 1103 § 1, 2002; Ord. 950 Appx. H, 1991.]
17.85.110 Site plan review procedures for access management.
A. Applicants shall submit a preliminary site plan for review by the planning department. At a minimum, the site plan shall show:
1. Location of existing and proposed access point(s) on both sides of the road where applicable;
2. Distances to neighboring constructed access points, median openings (where applicable), traffic signals (where applicable), intersections, and other transportation features on both sides of the property;
3. Number and direction of lanes to be constructed on the driveway plus striping plans;
4. All planned transportation features (such as sidewalks, bikeways, auxiliary lanes, signals, etc.);
5. Parking and internal circulation plans including walkways and bikeways;
6. Detailed description of any requested variance and the reason the variance is requested.
B. Site plan review shall address the following access criteria:
1. All proposed roads shall follow the natural topography and preserve natural features of the site as much as possible. Alignments shall be planned to minimize grading.
2. Access shall be properly placed in relation to sight distance, driveway spacing, and other related considerations, including opportunities for joint and cross access.
3. The road system shall provide adequate access to buildings for residents, visitors, deliveries, emergency vehicles, and garbage collection.
4. An internal pedestrian system of sidewalks or paths shall provide connections to parking areas, entrances to the development and open space, recreational and other community facilities associated with the development. Streets shall have sidewalks on both sides. Pedestrian linkages shall also be provided to the peripheral street system.
5. The access shall be consistent with the access management standards adopted in the transportation system plan.
C. Any application that involves access to the state highway system shall be reviewed by the Oregon Department of Transportation for conformance with state access management standards. [Ord. 1103 § 1, 2002; Ord. 950 Appx. H, 1991.]
17.85.120 Variance standards.
A. The granting of the variance shall be in harmony with the purpose and intent of these regulations and shall not be considered until every feasible option for meeting access standards is explored.
B. Applicants for a variance from these standards must provide proof of unique or special conditions that make strict application of the provisions impractical. Applicants shall include proof that:
1. Indirect or restricted access cannot be obtained;
2. No engineering or construction solutions can be applied to mitigate the condition; and
3. No alternative access is available from a street with a lower functional classification than the primary roadway.
C. No variance shall be granted where such hardship is self-created. [Ord. 1103 § 1, 2002; Ord. 950 Appx. H, 1991.]