Property access standards.

§ 255-1230. Property access standards.

• A. One of the most serious problems with strip commercial development is the proliferation of drive access. To limit this condition the following access standards are adopted.

• B. Shared drive access. The Town desires and encourages sharing access drives between separate parcels. Some of the following standards may be relaxed if shown during the development plan review process that more efficient design can be accomplished without jeopardizing the public's health, safety and welfare. All changes are subject to approval by the Commission. All drive accesses shall be approved by the Town Engineer for width and location.

• • (1) Commercial developments which may not be able to meet the requirements of § 255-1230B through D, and are requesting deviations from the standards, shall submit to the Town Engineer a report certified by a professional engineer addressing the following site conditions, both present and future:

• • • (a) Traffic volumes.

• • • (b) Turning movements.

• • • (c) Traffic controls.

• • • (d) Site design.

• • • (e) Site distances.

• • • (f) Location and alignment of other access points.

• • (2) Based upon the above data, the Town Engineer shall determine whether a deviation from the requirement standards is justified and, if so, what alternative requirements will be necessary.

• C. Drive access required. All nonresidential, off-street parking spaces shall have access from a drive access and not directly from a public street. All drive accesses installed, altered, changed, replaced, or extended after the effective date of this chapter shall comply with the following requirements:

• • (1) Single-family drive access openings shall not exceed 12 feet in width measured at the right-ofway line and 15 feet in width measured at the curb line. All residential complexes for fewer than four families are considered single-family residences for the purpose of this section.

• • (2) Residential complexes for four or more families shall be considered commercial establishments for the purpose of this section, except that townhouse units may be considered single-family residences.

• • (3) Nonresidential drive access openings shall conform to the following criteria:

• • • (a) Commercial drive access widths shall be a maximum of 30 feet measured at the inside edge of the drive access extended, at its intersection with the projected curb line of the intersecting street. Two-way drive access shall be a minimum of 24 feet and one-way drive access shall be a minimum of 16 feet.

• • • (b) Industrial drive access widths shall be a maximum of 35 feet measured at the inside edge of the drive access extended, at its intersection with the projected curb line of the intersecting street. Two-way drive accesses shall be a minimum of 24 feet and one-way drive accesses shall be a minimum of 16 feet.

• • • (c) All commercial centers or industrial drive accesses shall be set back a minimum of 15 feet from the adjacent property line unless such drive access is approved as a shared drive access.

• • • (d) Drive accesses to drive-in theaters, stadiums, racetracks, funeral homes, or uses generating very heavy periodic traffic conflicts shall be located not closer than 200 feet to any pedestrian or vehicular entrance or exit to a school, college, university, church, hospital, public emergency shelter or other place of public assembly.

• • • (e) All commercial and industrial drive accesses on arterial streets shall have fifteen-foot return radii unless otherwise approved by the Town Engineer. All commercial and industrial drive accesses on other streets may have either return radii or depressed curbs. The minimum radius allowed is four feet.

• D. Distance from intersection. Driveway access distance from street intersections for all lots created after the effective date of this chapter shall be subject to the following minimum dimensions, unless otherwise approved by the Town Engineer as part of an approved site plan. Table 12-7 - Driveway Access Distance From Nearest Intersection Driveway Access on Collector Street Driveway Access on Arterial Streets Commercial, Commercial, Residential Industry Residential Industry Street Type (feet) (feet) (feet) (feet) Arterial 100 150 150 200 Collector 40 150 150 150 Table 12-7 - Driveway Access Distance From Nearest Intersection Driveway Access on Collector Street Driveway Access on Arterial Streets Commercial, Commercial, Residential Industry Residential Industry Street Type (feet) (feet) (feet) (feet) Local 40 100 100 200

• NOTE: All distances shall be measured from the inside edge of the drive access, extended, at its intersection with the projected curb line of the intersecting street.

• E. Drive access spacing. The distance between drive accesses on a public street, except for single-, twofamily and townhouse dwellings, shall be measured from inside of drive to inside of drive according to the following specified distances, unless otherwise approved by the Director of Public Services as part of an approved site plan. Table 12-8 Driveway Access Spacing Collector Streets Arterial Streets Commercial, Commercial, Residential Industry Residential Industry Street Type (feet) (feet) (feet) (feet) Partial access * 60 80 80 150 Full access** 100 150 100 150 Minimum 60 80 60 100 separation NOTES: * Partial access includes right turn in and out only. ** Full access allows all turn movements, in and out.