Chapter 19.25
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT ANALYSIS AND CONCURRENCY MANAGEMENT
Sections:
19.25.020 Level of service standards.
19.25.030 Traffic impact analysis and concurrency test.
19.25.040 Reserved capacity and volumes.
19.25.060 Administrative reconsideration and appeals.
19.25.070 Annual reporting and monitoring.
19.25.010 Purpose.
A. The purpose of this chapter is to specify the requirements of a traffic impact analysis for new development and to implement the concurrency provisions of the transportation elements of the city’s comprehensive plan in accordance with RCW 36.70A.070(6)(b), consistent with WAC 365-195-510 and 365-195-835. No development permit shall be issued except in accordance with this chapter, which shall be cited as the “concurrency management ordinance.”
B. To prohibit development if concurrency for road facilities does not exist.
C. To establish methods to maintain specified levels of service through capacity monitoring and allocation procedures. (Ord. 2330 § 4, 2006).
19.25.020 Level of service standards.
Incorporated by reference are the level of service standards identified in the transportation element of the city’s comprehensive plan. Consistent with state law, the city of Enumclaw does not provide concurrency management for state transportation facilities or intersections on those facilities within the city, specifically SR 410, SR 164 and SR 169. (Ord. 2330 § 4, 2006).
19.25.030 Traffic impact analysis and concurrency test.
A. Procedures. The need for a traffic impact analysis and a concurrency test is triggered by an application for a project which is not exempted per EMC 19.25.050(A).
B. The traffic impact analysis and concurrency test shall be paid for by the project proponent and shall be prepared by a licensed professional engineer in the state of Washington who is practicing as a traffic engineer. The cost to the city of reviewing the traffic impact analysis and the concurrency test shall be borne by the project proponent. The review shall be conducted by either the city or an appropriate party to be determined by the city.
C. The traffic impact analysis and concurrency test shall include any intersection or street experiencing five or more net new trips as a result of the proposed development. All analyses shall include “pipeline” projects, which have been designated by staff. Pipeline projects include those projects which have received approvals prior to the adoption date of the ordinance codified in this chapter or for which capacity has been reserved per EMC 19.25.040.
1. The analysis shall include the placement and design of on-site features such as parking layout, access to public streets, site circulation, intersection site distance, pedestrian circulation, delivery and loading areas, the internal public and private street layout, the impact of the development’s traffic on adjacent and affected area streets, impacted intersections, adjoining developments, pedestrians and public transit facilities as follows:
a. A project description including the location of the site (both a vicinity map and a site plan), proposed land uses and intensities, and the area of influence of site traffic. An access plan for the development, including the proposed internal circulation and available sight distances at major entry points.
b. Existing conditions analysis: description of the existing conditions of streets, intersections, nonmotorized facilities and transit facilities that will be impacted. Information on existing street widths, number of lanes, intersection geometrics, locations of traffic signals and other types of traffic controls, parking restrictions, sidewalks, bicycle paths, transit stops and transit routes should be included.
i. Existing traffic counts on the affected streets and turning movement counts, during morning and evening peak periods at the impacted intersections. Capacity and level of service for all affected intersections should be specified.
ii. Traffic accident data for the influence area for both midblock locations and intersections for the past three years.
c. Future Conditions Analysis. The future conditions analysis shall illustrate the impacts of the project on the transportation system, including funded transportation improvements and pipeline projects. The analysis shall also include:
i. A table showing trip generation for the 24-hour period, a.m. and p.m. peak periods and peak hour for the project.
ii. The distribution of generated traffic and assignment of that traffic to the street system during the morning and evening peak periods and peak hour of the generator along with the reasons for the assumed distribution.
iii. Future 24-hour and peak period traffic volumes and assignments for a 20-year horizon based on regional growth.
iv. Concurrency Test. A capacity analysis and forecast levels of service for the a.m. and p.m. peak periods at all intersections identified by the city.
v. An identification of all needed improvements necessary to accommodate the development and the responsible party for completing those improvements.
vi. A concise summary of findings and recommendations for consideration by city staff for inclusion in any staff reports or permits issued for the project.
D. Concurrency Certification.
1. Permits cannot be issued for any development that does not meet the concurrency test, meaning that the impacts of the project can be accommodated with no intersection falling below the city of Enumclaw’s adopted level of service standards.
2. If the evaluation shows that the facility will operate at or above the level of service standard following the completion of the development, concurrency is met.
3. If the concurrency evaluation shows that the facility will operate below the level of service standard following the completion of the development, concurrency is not met. If concurrency is not met, the applicant may:
a. Modify the application to reduce the impacts of the development such that the facility will operate at or above the level of service standard following the completion of the development. This may be done by reducing the intensity of the development or through the use of transportation demand management strategies where appropriate;
b. Improve the facility such that it will operate at or above the level of service standard following the completion of the development;
c. Upon approval of the director, contribute to a programmed and funded capital project that will result in the facility operating at or above the level of service standard following the completion of the development; provided, that the impacts of the development will not result in a safety hazard; or
d. Postpone development until the facility is improved by another entity such that the facility will operate at or above the level of service standard following the completion of the development.
4. Certification.
a. Upon completion of the concurrency evaluation, the director will issue a determination of concurrency. If concurrency is met, the determination of concurrency will set forth the conditions and duration of the concurrency certification. The determination of concurrency and concurrency certification will be processed with the associated permit.
b. The duration of the concurrency certification shall be for two years unless otherwise provided by law. An extension may be granted by the director upon the issuance of subsequent site development or building permits. The duration of the extension shall be for the term of the subsequent permit.
c. A certificate of concurrency shall be revoked if the applicant fails to comply with any of the conditions of certification. (Ord. 2330 § 4, 2006).
19.25.040 Reserved capacity and volumes.
A. Transportation. The traffic volumes identified for a proposed development will be assigned to the street network at the time of concurrency certification. These traffic volumes will be assumed to be a part of the street network for the period of time set forth in the concurrency certification. Once assigned to the street network, a subsequent development proposal must incorporate these traffic volumes into any traffic analysis. Information regarding previously assigned traffic volumes can be obtained from the director. (Ord. 2330 § 4, 2006).
19.25.050 Exempt development.
A. Any development activity or development permit may be exempted from this chapter if the development activity or development permit is deemed by the director to generate fewer than 10 net new trips in the peak hour.
B. Notwithstanding the exemptions provided herein, the trip generation resulting from an exempt use shall nonetheless be included in computing background traffic for any nonexempt project, and any exemptions provided herein shall not be construed as an exemption to applicable transportation impact fee requirements. (Ord. 2330 § 4, 2006).
19.25.060 Administrative reconsideration and appeals.
The applicant may appeal the determination of concurrency consistent with the appeals procedure for the underlying permit. (Ord. 2330 § 4, 2006).
19.25.070 Annual reporting and monitoring.
A. The city engineer is responsible for completion of an annual transportation capacity availability report. These reports shall evaluate encumbered capacity and permitted development activity for the previous 12-month period and determine existing conditions with regard to available capacity for road facilities. The evaluations shall report on capacity used for the previous period and capacity available for the six-year capital facilities and utilities element of the city’s comprehensive plan. Forecasts shall be based on the most recently updated schedule of capital improvements, growth projections, and revenue projections and shall, at a minimum, include:
1. A summary of development activity;
2. The status of encumbered and available capacity;
3. The six-year transportation improvement plan;
4. Actual capacity of selected street segments and intersections, and current LOS; and
5. Recommendations on amendments to the capital facilities plan (CFP).
B. The findings of the annual capacity availability report shall be considered by the city council in preparing the annual update to the capital improvement element, any proposed amendments to the CFP and six-year transportation improvement plan, and shall be used in the review of development permits and capacity evaluations during the next period. (Ord. 2330 § 4, 2006).