To promote effective multi-modal transportation including safe and reasonable access between public roadways and adjacent land, transit service, bicycle and pedestrian travel. Developments intended for public use must be planned for utilizing the appropriate design vehicle standards, as defined in Article 2 of this ordinance.

   (A)   The city’s Planning Commission and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet may provide for or require bike lanes, routes or paths. Locations for potential bicycle facilities are planned for in the city’s comprehensive plan.

   (B)   All bicycle facilities must be accompanied by appropriate pavement markings and signage and designed according to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) “Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities”. These multi-modal facilities must be incorporated into the design of circulation patterns of sites and in the location of access points. Such facilities should be considered in the design of public streets by both developers and applicable public works agency.

   Sidewalk connections or alternative pedestrian ways next to adjacent developments and/or public rights-of-way shall be provided along public roads. New developments or re-development of existing sites shall provide sidewalks (or alternative pedestrian ways) along public roads. Where adequate right-of-way does not exist, right-of-way or public sidewalk easements shall be granted. The width of the sidewalks shall be in conformance with the requirements of the city’s subdivision regulations.

   The Planning Commission may required that all traffic requiring access to and from a development shall operate in such a manner as to not adversely affect the level of service of the roadway. Provisions for the present or future construction of a frontage road, restriction or channelization of turning movements, or other improvements may be required, as a condition of approval, in order to maintain the level of service on an adjacent roadway.

   Existing access points, even not in use, may not be relocated, altered or developed without approval of the Planning Commission in accordance with § 7.5 of this ordinance.

   In order to promote greater safety of passage between highway and land; improve the convenience and ease of movement of travelers on the highway; permit reasonable speeds and economy of travel; and increase and protect the capacity of the highway, the location and design of access points shall be in accordance with the following access control requirements. These requirements shall apply to all arterial and collector type streets, as identified in the adopted comprehensive plan.

   (A)   Provision of reserved turning lanes. At those access points where vehicles turning from the arterial and collector streets will affect the roadway capacity, reserved turn lanes shall be constructed by the developer.

   (B)   Provision of frontage road. Where large commercial, office or industrial developments are proposed along arterial or collector roadways, the Planning Commission shall require the use of frontage roads to provide access to property adjacent to these roadways in order to alleviate numerous curb cuts and traffic congestion along these routes. In the case of smaller developments containing single uses or buildings, or in developments where continuous road frontage cannot be constructed due to adjacent land of separate ownership (not included as part of the proposed development), the landowner/developer shall be required reserve sufficient right-of-way to allow future construction of such road. As adjacent property develops, the landowner/developer shall be required to interconnect the individual portions of frontage roads as appropriate. Access to roadway via an intersecting street or a common driveway may be required if the use of a frontage road is not feasible, as may the interconnecting parking lots.

   (C)   Coordination of access points. Major access points on opposite side of the arterial and collector streets shall be located opposite each other; otherwise, turning movement restrictions may be imposed by the Planning Commission or Zoning Administrator, whichever is applicable. In addition, in order to maximize the efficient utilization of access points, and make possible the coordination of access with and between adjacent properties developed (present or future) for similar uses. As a condition of approval for construction, use or reuse of any access road, the Zoning Administrator may require the unobstructed and unencumbered access, in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance, be provided from any such access point to adjacent properties.

   (D)   Spacing restrictions for signalized access points.

      (1)   Access points will warrant signalization shall be spaced a minimum distance of one quarter mile apart. The exact location of the signal light shall be determined by a traffic engineering study which shall at least account for the following variables:

         (a)   Speed;

         (b)   Traffic signal phasing;

         (c)   Traffic signal cycle length;

         (d)   Roadway geometries; and

         (e)   Accident experience.

      (2)   Provision for all turning movements to maintain the design capacity of the roadway shall be required.

   (E)   Sight distance. The location of access points shall comply with safe distance requirements as provided in Appendix B. The centerline of all access points shall intersect as nearly at a 90-degree angle as possible but in no case shall the angle of intersection be less than 75 degrees or greater than 105 degrees, unless approved by the Planning Commission or Zoning Administrator, whichever is applicable, due to certain exceptional conditions.

   (F)   Location of unsignalized access points.

      (1)   Arterial streets.

         (a)   Unsignalized access points shall be spaced a minimum distance of 600 feet apart. Turning restrictions and/or reserved turn lanes may be required.

         (b)   One access point per existing tract will be permitted (except in R-RE District); however, if the spacing requirements for a direct access point onto an arterial street (as provided in division (F)(1)(a) above) cannot be met, then an access point may be located on a frontage road or on an intersecting local street, or share a common driveway that meets the spacing requirements. In order for the intersecting local street or frontage road to function properly, access onto them should be controlled as follows.

            1.   Access points onto local streets intersecting an arterial street shall be spaced a minimum distance of 100 feet, measured from point of curb return to point of curb return, from the arterial street.

            2.   In all areas zoned to permit commercial, industrial, or multi-family residential use, access points from adjacent properties onto frontage roads, shall be no less than 100 feet, measured from point of curb return to point of curb return from intersections of the frontage road with local or collector streets.

         (c)   Where the frontage of a tract is greater than 500 feet an additional access point may be permitted; however, the type of access point will depend on the spacing requirements in division (F)(1)(a) above. If the frontage of the tract is large enough, then at least one of the access points may have direct access onto the arterial street, provided the spacing between the adjacent access points meet the requirements of division (F)(1)(a) above and all other requirements of this section of the ordinance. In the case where the frontage allows only one point of access due to spacing restrictions as provided herein, the second access point will be via a frontage road or an intersecting local street, or share a common driveway that meets the spacing restrictions as provided along the arterial street.

         (d)   If a tract of land has no means of access that would meet the requirements of this section of the ordinance, one access point shall be provided. However, all such access points shall be considered a temporary right-of-way and may be terminated, reduced, limited to certain turning movements or caused to be relocated by the Zoning Administrator at such time as the particular use served by the access point changes and/or the property is otherwise provided an alternate means of access via frontage road or an intersecting local street or sharing of a common driveway. Provisions for the construction of a frontage road, restricted turning movements or other improvements, may be required, as a condition to approval, in order to minimize the number of access points and congestion to the adjacent street. In all cases where said access points are classified as “temporary”, such designation shall be duly noted on the plot plan or site plan submitted for a zoning permit and also upon the deed of the property in question.

      (2)   Collector streets.

         (a)   On two-lane roadways, one access point per existing tract will be allowed; however, if the frontage is greater than 500 feet, an additional access point may be permitted. Furthermore, the minimum spacing between adjacent access points on this type of facility shall be 100 feet, measured from point of curb return to point of curb return, except in the case where the street intersects another collector street or arterial street, then said access points shall be spaced a minimum of 300 feet from the intersection.

         (b)   On multi-lane roadways, the spacing is dependent on whether or not a barrier median exists (prohibiting left turn movements). If a barrier median exists, access points may be spaced as close as 300 feet; however, certain turning movements will be prohibited. If a barrier median does not exist, then the minimum spacing of access points shall be 600 feet. In addition, some turning movements may be prohibited.

         (c)   One access point per existing tract (except in R-RE District) will be allowed; however, if the spacing requirements for a direct access point, as provided in division (F)(2)(a) above, cannot be met, than an access point may be located on a frontage road or on an intersecting street or share a common driveway that meets the spacing requirements.

         (d)   If a tract of land has no means of access that would meet the requirements of this section of the ordinance, one access point shall be provided. However, all such access points shall be considered a temporary right-of-way and may be terminated, reduced, limited to certain turning movements or caused to be relocated by the Zoning Administrator at such time as the particular use served by the access point changes and/or the property is otherwise provided an alternate means of access via a frontage road or an intersecting local street of share a common driveway. Provisions for the construction of a frontage road, restricted turning movements, or other improvements, may be required, a condition to approval, in order to minimize the number of access points and congestion to the adjacent street. In all cases where said access points are classified as “temporary”, such designation shall be duly noted on the plot plan or site plan submitted for a zoning permit and also upon the deed of the property in question.

   (G)   Width of access points.

      (1)   In single-family residential zones, no access point width shall be less than nine feet, nor more than 20 feet. In all other zones, access points shall not be less than 12 feet, nor more than 48 feet in width. The width shall be as measured from the point of curb return to point of curb return (or edge of pavement if no curb exists) excluding the curb radius.

      (2)   The Zoning Administrator may modify (enlarge or reduce) the width to provide for a more efficient and safe channelization and/or flow of traffic.

   (H)   Exceptions to access points requirements. Where situations develop that may require special treatment, the requirements as provided in divisions (A) through (G) above may be varied provided that a traffic engineering report is prepared by a qualified traffic engineer, establishing that the special treatment will have no adverse effects on the roadway safety and capacity.

   (I)   Access point problem areas. If after special study, it is determined that the type of use or activity, proposed would have an adverse effect on the safety and capacity of the adjacent roadway, the access point spacing requirements as contained in this section, may have to be increased in order to adequately solve the traffic movement.

   (J)   Approval of access points required.

      (1)   Plans for all access points and modifications thereto, (including plans to use existing access points where a change of use for any tract of land would generate more traffic than the previous use, thus producing an adverse effect on the adjacent roadway) shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator at a scale not less than one inch equals 100 feet. Such plans shall show the location of all access points, and access points within 600 feet in either direction. The proposed access point shall include typical cross-sections of pavement, the base and subbase, proposed grade and storm drainage and such other information or plans as the circumstances may warrant. If such access points are being located in conjunction with off-street parking and/or loading and unloading facilities, then said plans shall also include parking and off-street loading and/or unloading plans, in accordance with §§ 5.0 and 6.0 of this ordinance.

      (2)   All access to roadways for development purposes require site plan or preliminary plan and improvement plan (if applicable) approval from the Planning Commission. Access to collector and arterial roadways will only be permitted if no other reasonable access is possible. The Planning Commission (or Zoning Administrator where appropriate) will review development plans for compliance with these regulations at the earliest practical stage of plan review. These regulations shall be reviewed at the following stages unless otherwise designated by the Planning Commission or Zoning Administrator:

 

 

   (K)   Approval of access points along state-maintained routes by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. A copy of the plans for all access points to be constructed along a state-maintained route shall also be submitted to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for review and approval during the same time as plans are submitted to the Zoning Administrator, as provided for in division (J) above. No access point plans shall be approved or permits issued for construction by the Zoning Administrator, until said access point plans have been approved by the Transportation Cabinet.

   Whenever the use of a parcel of land changes, or two or more parcels of land are assembled under one purpose, plan, entity or usage, the existing access permit(s) shall become void. The Planning Commission may require the reconstruction, relocation or closure of the access point(s), based on the new property use. Any such new or re-authorized access point must be in compliance with all applicable sections of this regulation, and may require the submission of a traffic study.

   (A)   Traffic studies may be required by the Planning Commission in order to adequately assess the impact of a development proposal on the existing and/or planned street system. The developer bears the primary responsibility for assessing the traffic impact associated with the proposed development while the Planning Commission serves in a review capacity.

   (B)   The traffic study will be the responsibility of the applicant and must be prepared by a professional individual or firm with adequate experience in transportation engineering and planning. Upon submission of a draft traffic study, the Planning Commission will review the study data sources, methods and findings. Comments will be provided in a written form. The applicant/developer will then have an opportunity to incorporate necessary revisions prior to submitting a final report. All studies must be approved by the Planning Commission before acceptance.

   (C)   The applicant should be notified at the development plan stage whether a traffic study will be required; provided, adequate information is available to the Planning Commission. If the proposed development appears to generate significant impact on the infrastructure, the applicant will be informed that a traffic study is required.

   (D)   Transportation consultants are required to discuss projects with the Planning Commission prior to starting the study. Topics for discussion at these meetings will include trip generation, directional distribution of traffic, trip assignment, definition of the study area, intersections requiring critical lane analysis, methods for projecting build-out volume and needs analysis of pedestrian/bicycle facilities. Specific requirements will vary dependent upon the specific site location being reviewed. No traffic study will be accepted unless the traffic study requirements of this regulation are met, and the applicant has a pre-application meeting with the Planning Commission.

   (E)   In order to facilitate consistency in traffic study reports and assist staff in reviewing the traffic studies, the following format shall be followed in the preparation of such facilities transportation consultants. The analysis shall be presented in a logical sequence with footnotes where appropriate. A detailed description of what should be incorporated into a study is detailed in “Traffic Access and Impact Studies for Site Development”, published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers. The following outline, taken from that document, indicates the information that shall be included in a transportation study:

         I.   Introduction and Summary

            A.   Purpose of report and study objectives

            B.   Executive summary

               1.   Site location and study area

               2.   Development description

               3.   Principal findings

               4.   Conclusions

               5.   Recommendations

            C.   Qualifications and experience of firm or individual(s) who prepared the study

         II.   Proposed Development (Site and Nearby)

            A.   Off-site development

            B.   Description of on-site development

               1.   Land use and intensity

               2.   Location

               3.   Site plan

               4.   Zoning

               5.   Phasing and timing

         III.   Area Conditions

            A.   Study area

               1.   Area of influence

               2.   Area of significant traffic impact (may also be a part of Chapter IV)

            B.   Study area land use

               1.   Existing land uses

               2.   Existing zoning

               3.   Anticipated future development

            C.   Site accessibility

               1.   Area roadway system (a. Existing; b. Future)

               2.   Traffic volumes and conditions

               3.   Transit service and Pedestrian/Bicycle facilities

               4.   Existing relevant transportation system management programs

               5.   Other as applicable

         IV.   Projected Traffic

            A.   Site traffic (each horizon year)

               1.   Trip generation

               2.   Trip distribution

               3.   Modal split

               4.   Trip assignment

            B.   Through traffic (each horizon year)

               1.   Method of projections

               2.   Trip generation

               3.   Trip distribution

               4.   Modal split

               5.   Trip Assignment

            C.   Total traffic (each horizon year)

         V.   Traffic Analysis

            A.   Site access

            B.   Capacity and level of service

            C.   Critical lane analysis

            D.   Traffic safety

            E.   Traffic signals

            F.   Vehicle/bicycle/pedestrian circulation and parking

         VI.   Improvement Analysis

            A.   Improvements to accommodate base traffic

            B.   Additional improvements to accommodate site traffic

            C.   Alternative improvements

            D.   Status of improvements already funded, programmed or planned

            E.   Evaluation

         VII.   Findings

            A.   Site accessibility

            B.   Traffic impacts

            C.   Need for any improvements

            D.   Compliance with applicable local codes

         VIII.   Recommendations

            A.   Site access/circulation plan

            B.   Roadway improvements

               1.   On-site

               2.   Off-site

               3.   Phasing, if appropriate

            C.   Transportation system management actions

               1.   Off-site

               2.   On-site operational

               3.   On-site

            D.   Other

         IX.   Conclusions

         The executive summary should be a one or two-page synopsis that concisely summarizes the study purpose, conclusions, and recommendations. Throughout the study, assumptions must be detailed and described. The study should also specify which transportation improvements will be the responsibility of the developer to complete.

   The Planning Commission may reasonably waive or modify, with conditions, the requirements of these regulations, if it is determined that such action will serve to preserve the purpose and intent of these regulations.