Chapter 18.75
ACCESS MANAGEMENT AND STREET CONNECTIVITY
Sections:
18.75.030 Conformance with plans, regulations and statutes.
18.75.040 Joint use driveways and cross access.
18.75.050 Access connection and driveway design.
18.75.060 Nonconforming access features.
18.75.070 Requirements for phased development plans.
18.75.010 Intent and purpose.
The intent of this chapter is to manage access to land development while preserving the flow of traffic in terms of safety, capacity, functional classification, and level of service. Major roadways, including highways, arterials, and collectors serve as the primary network for moving people and goods. These transportation corridors also provide access to businesses and homes and have served as the focus for commercial and residential development. If access points are not properly designed, these roadways will be unable to accommodate the needs of development and retain their primary transportation function. This chapter balances the right of reasonable access to private property with the right of the citizens of the city and the state of Oregon to safe and efficient travel. To achieve this policy intent, state and local roadways have been categorized in the transportation system plan by function and classified for access purposes based upon their level of importance and function. Regulations have been applied to these roadways for the purpose of reducing traffic accidents, personal injury, and property damage attributable to poorly designed access systems, and to thereby 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. These regulations also 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. 514 § 11.25(1), 2001].
18.75.020 Applicability.
This chapter shall apply to all arterials and collectors within the city and to all properties that abut these roadways. [Ord. 514 § 11.25(2), 2001].
18.75.030 Conformance with plans, regulations and statutes.
This chapter is adopted to implement the access management policies of the city as set forth in the transportation system plan. [Ord. 514 § 11.25(3), 2001].
18.75.040 Joint use driveways and cross access.
(1) Adjacent commercial or office properties identified as major traffic generators (generating more than 400 daily trips as defined by the Institute of Transportation Engineers Trip Generation Manual) shall provide a cross access drive and pedestrian access to allow circulation between sites.
(2) A system of joint use driveways and cross access easements shall be established wherever feasible and shall incorporate the following:
(a) 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.
(b) A design speed of 10 miles per hour and a maximum width of 20 feet to accommodate two-way travel aisles designated to accommodate automobiles, service vehicles, and loading vehicles.
(c) 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.
(d) A unified access and circulation system plan for coordinated or shared parking areas is encouraged.
(3) Shared parking areas shall be permitted a reduction in required parking spaces if peak demands do not occur at the same time periods.
(4) Pursuant to this section, property owners shall:
(a) 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;
(b) Record an agreement with the deed that remaining access rights along the roadway will be dedicated to the city of Pilot Rock and preexisting driveways will be closed and eliminated after construction of the joint use driveway;
(c) Record a joint maintenance agreement with the deed defining maintenance responsibilities of property owners.
(5) The city may reduce required separation distance of access points where they prove impractical, provided all of the following requirements are met:
(a) Joint access driveways and cross access easements are provided in accordance with this section.
(b) The site plan incorporates a unified access and circulation system in accordance with this section.
(c) The property owner enters into a written agreement with the city, recorded with the deed, that preexisting connections on the site will be closed and eliminated after construction of each side of the joint use driveway.
(6) The city of Pilot Rock may modify or waive the requirements of this section where the characteristics or layout of abutting properties would make the development of a unified or shared access and circulation system impractical. [Ord. 514 § 11.25(4), 2001].
18.75.050 Access connection and driveway design.
(1) Driveway approaches must be designed and located to provide an exiting vehicle with an unobstructed view. Construction of driveways along acceleration or deceleration lanes and tapers shall be avoided due to the potential for vehicular weaving conflicts.
(2) The length of driveways shall be designed in accordance with the anticipated storage length for entering and exiting vehicles to prevent vehicles from backing into the flow of traffic on the public street or causing unsafe conflicts with on-site circulation. [Ord. 514 § 11.25(5), 2001].
18.75.060 Nonconforming access features.
Legal access connections in place as of the date of adoption of the ordinance codified in this title 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:
(1) When new access permits are requested;
(2) Change in use, enlargements, or improvements that will increase trip generation. [Ord. 514 § 11.25(6), 2001].
18.75.070 Requirements for phased development plans.
(1) 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. All necessary easements, agreements, and stipulations shall be met. This shall also apply to phased development plans. The owner and all lessees within the affected area are responsible for compliance with the requirements of this chapter and both shall be cited for any violation.
(2) All access must be internalized using the shared circulation system of the principal development or retail center. Driveways shall be designed to avoid queuing across surrounding parking and driving aisles. [Ord. 514 § 11.25(7), 2001].