§ 122-634. Access management standards.
(a)
Access management standards. Access points shall meet the following standards. The spacing standards specified below shall be required to be measured from all other roads and driveways. If there is a change in use from residential to a non-residential use, the planning commission shall require access to be brought into conformance with the requirements of this section.
(1)
Each lot shall be permitted reasonable access. Reasonable access may consist of a shared access with an adjacent use or access via a service drive, frontage road, or side street.
(2)
The access point location shall be in accordance with the standards of this section and shall provide the opportunity for shared access with adjoining lots where applicable and practical as determined by the city. Each lot developed under this article may be required to grant shared access easements to adjoining lots to allow for future shared access. Where a proposed parking lot is located adjacent to the parking lot of a similar use, there shall be a vehicular connection where feasible, as determined by the MDOT and the planning commission.
(3)
For building or parking lot expansions in excess of 3,000 feet, or changes in use to a more intensive use, the planning commission shall determine the extent of upgrades to bring the site into greater compliance with the access standards of this district. In making its decision, the planning commission shall consider the existing and projected traffic conditions, any sight distance limitations, site topography or natural features, impacts on internal site circulation, and any recommendations from the MDOT. Required improvements may include removal, rearrangement, or redesign of site access points.
(4)
In cases where an individual driveway is permitted, an additional driveway may be permitted by the planning commission upon finding that one of the conditions below exists. The additional driveway may be required to be along a side street or a shared access with an adjacent site.
a.
The site has adequate frontage to meet the spacing standards between access points listed below, and the additional access will not prevent adjacent lands from complying with the access spacing standards when such lands develop or redevelop in the future.
b.
An individual driveway or driveways maybe permitted where the standards of this article are met, provided such driveway(s) may be required to be placed to facilitate shared access by adjacent lots.
c.
A traffic impact study, prepared in accordance with accepted practices as described in section 122-633, demonstrates the site will generate over 300 trips in a peak hour or 3,000 trips daily, or 400 and 4,000, respectively, if the site has access to a traffic signal, and the traffic study demonstrates the additional driveway will provide improved conditions for the motoring public and will not create negative impacts on through traffic flow.
d.
The MDOT staff has reviewed the request and concur.
(5)
In order to comply with the accessibility requirements of the Michigan Land Division Act, land divisions shall not be permitted that may prevent compliance with the access location standards of this article.
(6)
Access points shall provide the following spacing from other access points along the same side of the public street (measured from centerline to centerline as shown on the figure), based on the posted speed limit along the public street segment.
TABLE 1
MINIMUM DRIVEWAY SPACING SAME SIDE OF ROADPosted Speed
(mph)Driveway Spacing (in feet) Arterial Road Other Roads 25 130 90 30 185 120 35 245 150 40 300 185 45 350 230 50+ 455 275 Unless greater spacing is required by the MDOT or required to meet other standards herein.
(7)
Where the subject site adjoins land that may be developed or redeveloped in the future, including adjacent lands or potential out lots, the access shall be located to ensure the adjacent site(s) can also meet the access location standards in the future.
(8)
Access points shall be aligned with driveways on the opposite side of the street or offset the distance indicated in the following table, measured centerline to centerline. The planning commission may reduce this to not less than 150 feet where the offsets are aligned to not create left-turn conflicts.
TABLE 2
MINIMUM OPPOSING DRIVEWAY OFFSETPosted Speed(mph) Driveway Spacing (in feet) 25 255 30 325 35 425 40 525 45 630 50+ 750 (9)
Minimum spacing of access points from intersections shall be in accordance with the table below (measured from pavement edge to pavement edge as shown on the figure):
TABLE 3
MINIMUM DRIVEWAY SPACING FROM INTERSECTION*Location of Access Point Type of Intersecting Road Minimum Spacing
for a Full Movement
Driveway**Minimum Spacing
for a Driveway
Restricting Left-turnsAccess along a minor or principal arterial road Minor or principal arterial road 300 125 Collector or local road 200 125 Access along a collector road Minor or arterial road 200 100 Collector road 150 100 Local road 125 100 Access along a local street Minor or principal arterial road 125 75 Collector 100 75 Local 75 75 *Unless greater spacing is required by the MDOT or required to meet other standards herein.
**Greater spacing may be required based upon the posted speed of the road and the spacing distances required by table 1.
(10)
Where direct access consistent with the various standards above cannot be achieved, access shall be via a shared driveway or service drive or side street. In cases where access is from the side street, the access point must be located as far from an intersection as feasible.
(b)
Sight distance. Driveways shall be located to provide safe sight distance as determined by the MDOT.
(c)
Public facilities in right-of-way. No driveway shall interfere with municipal facilities such as street light or traffic signal poles, signs, fire hydrants, cross walks, bus loading zones, utility poles, fire alarm supports, drainage structures, or other necessary street structures.
(d)
Shared commercial driveways, frontage roads, and service drives. Shared commercial driveways, frontage roads, or rear service drives connecting two or more lots or uses shall be required in instances where the planning commission and the MDOT determine that reducing the number of access points will have a beneficial impact on traffic operations and safety. In particular, service drives shall be required where recommended in a sub-area master plan; near existing traffic signals or near locations having potential for future signalization; where service drives may minimize the number of driveways; and along segments with a relatively high number of crashes or limited sight distance. Frontage roads or service drives shall be constructed in accordance with the following standards:
(1)
Service roads shall generally be parallel or perpendicular to the front property line and may be located either in front of, adjacent to, or behind, principal buildings. In considering the most appropriate alignment for a service road, the planning commission and the MDOT shall consider the setbacks of existing buildings and anticipated traffic flow for the site.
(2)
The service road shall be within an access easement permitting traffic circulation between properties. This easement shall be recorded with the county register of deeds. The required width shall remain free and clear of obstructions and parking, unless otherwise approved by the planning commission. The easement shall set forth each owner's responsibility for maintenance of the easement and service drive.
(3)
Service drives and frontage roads shall be set back as far as reasonably possible from the intersection of the access driveway with the public street. A minimum of 20 feet shall be maintained between the public street right-of-way and the pavement of the frontage road, with a minimum 60 feet of throat depth provided at the access point, measured between the public street right-of-way and the pavement of the parallel section of the frontage road.
(4)
Service roads shall have a minimum pavement width of 24 feet and be constructed of a base, pavement and curb with gutter that is in accordance with public street standards. The planning commission may modify these standards based upon site conditions, anticipated traffic volumes and types of truck traffic.
(5)
The service road is intended to be used exclusively for circulation. The planning commission may require the posting of "no parking" signs along the service road. One-way roads or two way roads constructed with additional width for parallel parking may be allowed on the side of the road closest to the building if it can be demonstrated through site plan review that parking along the service road will not significantly affect the capacity, safety or operation of the service road.
(6)
The site plan shall indicate the proposed elevation of the service road at the property line so that the city can maintain a record of all service road elevations and their grades can be coordinated with future developments.
(7)
The alignment of the service drive can be refined to meet the needs of the site and anticipated traffic conditions, provided the resulting terminus allows the drive to be extended through the adjacent site(s). This may require use of aerial photographs, property line maps, topographic information and other supporting documentation.
(8)
In cases where a shared access facility is recommended, but is not yet available, temporary direct access may be permitted, provided the plan is designed to accommodate the future service drive, and a written agreement is submitted that the temporary access will be removed by the applicant, when the alternative access system becomes available.
(9)
With the redevelopment of existing sites where it is not possible to develop separate service drives, the planning commission and the MDOT may instead require a drive connecting parking lots.
(Ord. No. 2015-15 , § 1, 11-16-15)