§ 6-1009. Access and internal circulation.

The purpose and intent of this section is to maximize the functional capacity and maintain the level of service of highways within the Highway Corridor Overlay District; to minimize the number of access points to these arterials and other public rights-of-way within the district; to promote the sharing of access and the ability to travel between sites; to provide pedestrian circulation networks among residential, commercial, office, civic and recreational areas; and to enhance safety and convenience for land uses within the district.

A.

Access to arterial highways. .....Access from any parcel or lot having frontage along an arterial highway within the district and in existence prior to November 5, 1992, shall be permitted one (1) direct access point to said highway, unless an access plan is submitted and approved by the zoning administrator and the Virginia Department of Transportation for more than one (1) access point as provided for in subsection D. of this section.

B.

Access for two (2) or more lots under singular ownership. .....If two (2) or more adjacent parcels are placed under one (1) common ownership and/or control, such assembly shall be permitted only one (1) direct access to the arterial highway within the district, unless an access plan is submitted to, and approved by the zoning administrator and the Virginia Department of Transportation for more than one (1) access point.

C.

Access from lots or parcels not permitted direct access. .....Direct access to arterial highways shall be provided by one (1) or more of the following means for lots or parcels not permitted direct access to the arterial, subject to approval by the zoning administrator and the Virginia Department of Transportation:

1.

Access to the site may be provided by an existing or planned public road perpendicular to the arterial highway; and/or

2.

Access to the site may be provided via the internal circulation of a shopping center, an office complex, or similar group of buildings having access in accordance with an approved access plan; and no additional direct access shall be provided to the site from a public street intended to carry through traffic over and above those entrances which may exist to provide access to the shopping center, office complex, or similar group of buildings; and/or

3.

Controlled access to the site may be provided by a service drive generally parallel with the arterial highway, but located behind the minimum visual buffer as defined in section 6-1006;

4.

Access to the site may be provided by the use of reverse frontage or double frontage lot layouts on parallel roads. All minimum buffers shall be maintained as required by section 6-1006;

5.

Access to the site may be provided by the use of shared entrances with those established or likely to be required on adjacent sites to minimize curb-cuts or increase spacing between curb-cuts;

6.

Access to the site may be provided by the use of deceleration or turning lanes where access must be from the arterial highway with sufficient capacity to avoid stacking or queuing of entering vehicles on the arterial highway, in accordance with Virginia Department of Transportation standards.

The means of access control provided shall be that which effectively minimizes creation of new intersections and new individual site access locations along the corridors and best preserves highway traffic capacity.

D.

Access plan. .....An access plan shall be submitted and approved prior to development plan approval for those lots or parcels which will generate two hundred (200) average daily trips (ADT) or more, or those proposing more than one (1) access point to an arterial highway as governed by the provisions of this section. Such access plan shall be drawn to scale, including dimensions and distances, and clearly delineate the traffic circulation system and the pedestrian and bicycle circulation system as coordinated within the development and adjacent properties including the location and width of all streets, driveways, parking aisles, entrance to parking areas, walkways and bicycle paths. The location of future transit stops shall also be shown within the access plan.

E.

Traffic impact analysis. .....A traffic impact analysis shall be submitted to, and approved by the zoning administrator under the following circumstances:

1.

Any proposed development which will generate two hundred (200) average daily trips (ADT) or more based on vehicular trip generation rates as defined by the Institute of Transportation Engineers' publication, Trip Generation, or the Virginia Department of Transportation.

2.

At the request of the zoning administrator, when the proposed development is expected to significantly impact the vehicular movement on the arterial highways within the district.

The traffic impact analysis shall indicate the cumulative effect of the relationship of the proposed development to traffic and road use in the immediate and surrounding area for the arterial roads and all secondary roads between the arterial roads that serve to provide access to the development.

F.

Internal circulation. .....Sites shall be designed to achieve direct and convenient vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle connections vehicular circulation between adjacent properties and buildings in a single development project. (7-7-05; 8-20-09; Ord. No. 2012-8-C, 8-16-12; 7-19-18.)