Chapter 18.52
TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS
Sections:
18.52.080 Arterial and collector access.
18.52.090 Relation to street system and adjoining property during subdivision.
18.52.010 Intent.
It is the intent of this chapter to provide for the uniform development of an integrated, fully accessible transportation system that will facilitate present and future travel demand. (Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015).
18.52.020 Cul-de-sac.
Streets designed to have one end permanently closed shall be no longer than 600 feet nor shall such street serve greater than 25 housing units. At the closed end, there shall be a widened “bulb” having a minimum paved traveled radius as shown in the Yelm Engineering Specifications and Standard Details “Minimum Street Design Standards Table.” A street designed to provide future connection to adjoining property shall not constitute a dead-end street. (Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015).
18.52.030 Dead ends.
Where a street is temporarily dead-ended, turnaround provisions must be provided where the road serves more than one lot. The turnaround may be a hammerhead with a minimum distance on both sides at the centerline intersection of 60 feet to facilitate emergency vehicle turnaround. (Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015).
18.52.040 Half street.
The construction of a half street is not permitted. (Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015).
18.52.050 Block length.
No street shall extend for a distance greater than 660 feet without including a provision for at least one intersection, or other traffic calming measures approved by the site plan review committee. (Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015).
18.52.060 Alleys.
Where practical, commercial subdivisions shall include alleys for freight access. Residential subdivision blocks including alleys shall be permitted commensurate with reduction in right-of-way widths of parallel residential streets. (Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015).
18.52.070 Private streets.
Private streets within city limits shall not be allowed except when approved by the site plan review committee and when all conditions of this section are met.
A. Private streets will not be allowed when:
1. The street is connected to two public streets.
2. The intersection of the street with another is signalized. (One hundred fifty lineal feet of the private street starting from the right-of-way will then be required to be a public roadway.)
3. The street could be used as a thoroughfare or “short cut.”
4. It would not be in the best interest of the public due to a threat to the public’s safety, health, and welfare.
B. Private streets may be allowed under the following conditions:
1. Permanently established by tract or easement providing legal access to serve unlimited dwelling units situated on one parcel and sufficient to accommodate required improvements, to include provisions for future use by adjacent property owners when applicable, and
2. For nine or fewer units, shall require a minimum 30-foot paved surface, and have a sidewalk four feet in width. Private street serving multifamily or mobile homes all on one parcel shall provide a four-foot sidewalk on one side with such a design as to prevent parking on the sidewalk, and
3. Accessible at all times for emergency and public service vehicle use, and
4. Will not result in land locking of present or future parcels, nor obstruct public street circulation, and
5. Covenants have been approved, recorded, and verified with the city which provide for maintenance of the private streets and associated parking areas by the owner or homeowners association or other legal entity.
C. Acceptance of private streets as public streets will be considered only if the street(s) meet all applicable public street standards, including right-of-way widths, walks, drainage, lighting, and pavement composition.
D. Each lot owner having right of access to a private street shall have a contractual responsibility for maintenance of such private street. Any private street shall also contain a public drainage and utilities easement. Any land division including private streets shall clearly identify such streets and include the following statement in prominent typeface, “Warning: the City of Yelm has no responsibility to build, improve, maintain or otherwise service the private streets within or providing access to the property described in this subdivision.” (Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015).
18.52.080 Arterial and collector access.
Every subdivision or combination of subdivisions of 25 or more housing units, and any commercial or industrial development calculated to generate more than 250 vehicle trips per day, shall provide more than one vehicular access from an arterial or collector street.
Lots within a residential subdivision shall be designed so that lots adjacent to arterial and collector streets are not allowed direct access. The public works director may approve direct access as an exception to the above requirement upon written finding that:
A. Sight distances comply with the Yelm Engineering Specifications and Standard Details for the posted speed plus 10 miles per hour;
B. The safety of the traveling public is not likely to be jeopardized;
C. The applicant is able to show to the satisfaction of the director that a significant hardship would exist if access is not approved;
D. No other practical and feasible access is available. (Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015).
18.52.090 Relation to street system and adjoining property during subdivision.
The layout of streets shall provide for continuation of streets existing in adjoining subdivisions. When adjoining property is not subdivided, streets in the proposed subdivision shall provide access to such unplatted property in accordance with the Yelm transportation plan.
Each lot within a proposed subdivision shall be served by a street built to applicable city street standards as set forth in the Yelm engineering specifications and standard details and the Yelm transportation plan, regardless of whether such street is to be public or private. All bridges, streets, roads, alleys and other facilities for vehicle and pedestrian circulation shall be constructed in accordance with the minimum standards set forth in such documents. In addition, such development shall not result in traffic loading within the urban growth area which exceeds those levels of service established by the city as calculated by utilizing the Highway Capacity Manual. (Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015).
18.52.100 Driveways.
The location, width and manner of approach of vehicular ingress or egress from a building or parking area to a public street shall be located based on the interest of public safety and general welfare.
Each lot shall contain sufficient square footage to meet minimum zoning and health requirements. Such area shall not include any panhandle access. Any panhandle access shall have a minimum width of 20 feet. These lot size standards shall not apply to any lot which is limited to special purposes such as common open space, utility facilities, or protection of environmental resources, so long as such limited use is established by a statement on the face of the subdivision map.
Driveway widths and spacing shall be designed following the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) “Guideline for Driveway Design and Location,” latest edition. Driveways giving direct access onto arterials may be denied if alternate access is available.
A. Parking lot entrances, driveways and other vehicle access routes onto private property from a public right-of-way shall be restricted based upon width of frontage: One for zero- to 50-foot frontage, two for 50- to 150-foot frontage, three for 150- to 500-foot frontage, and four for over 500-foot frontage.
B. Residential driveway widths shall not exceed 24 feet.
C. Commercial driveway widths may vary from 24 for low volume activity (providing that 20-foot radii are used), to a maximum of 36 feet for undivided design, higher volume activity. A 36-foot driveway shall be marked with two exit lanes of 10- to 11-foot width, with the balance used for a single, wide entry lane. Industrial driveway widths shall not exceed 50 feet.
D. No commercial driveway shall be approved where backing onto the sidewalk or street is required, except in specified locations within the central business district.
E. Joint-use driveways serving two adjacent parcels may be built on their common boundary upon formal written agreement by both property owners and approval of the site plan review committee. The agreement shall be a recorded easement for both parcels of land specifying joint usage. (Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015).