Require greater front yard setbacks and landscaping, coordinated signage and site layout and design, and buffered parking to foster a planned character and to avoid a haphazard and sprawling appearance;

Recognize that the proliferation of direct access into properties, specifically high-traffic-generating nonresidential uses (such as a gas station, fast-food restaurant, auto wash and similar uses), has long-term traffic flow consequences, as it creates traffic conflict areas due to a stream of slowing, stopping, turning, entering and exiting vehicles;

Provide for safe, efficient and continuous pedestrian accommodations along M-24 and between properties abutting M-24;

Minimize disruptive and potentially hazardous traffic conflict areas by reducing the frequency of direct access points to M-24; and to provide efficient spacing standards between access points and between access points and intersections to separate conflict areas;

Separate traffic conflict areas by requiring separation of direct access points to M-24, and by encouraging and requiring consolidation of existing direct access point when redevelopment is contemplated;

Require or encourage, wherever possible, coordinated/shared access among several developments or redevelopments;

Provide reasonable access to properties, though the access may not always be direct access; and

Implement the recommendations of The Access Management Guidebook, produced by the Michigan Department of Transportation in October 2001; and the City of Lapeer Master Plan as it pertains to the M-24 corridor.

Parcels with access to the M-24 right-of-way shall be subject to access approval from the Michigan Department of Transportation. Parcels without direct frontage along the M-24 right-of-way, but falling within 660 feet of the M-24 right-of-way line, shall be subject to access approval from the City of Lapeer with coordination with the Michigan Department of Transportation. The City of Lapeer shall review the access elements of a site plan and as appropriate shall coordinate with the Michigan Department of Transportation prior to a final decision on a particular site plan or development application. The City shall not take action on an application without first consulting the Michigan Department of Transportation.

An applicant shall be required to secure applicable permits and other applicable approvals from the Michigan Department of Transportation and other entities in addition to receiving site plan and other applicable approvals from the City of Lapeer.

When site plan or other approval has been granted and an access permit issued by the Michigan Department of Transportation, said plan of access shall not be altered without a new application for access.

Failure to begin construction within one year of the approval date by the City shall void approval, and a new application process is required.

The City of Lapeer may require a letter of credit, bond, or cash deposit in any reasonable sum for each approved access structure, including, without limitation, driveways, shared service drives, etc., to insure compliance with an approved application. Such insurance shall terminate and be returned to the applicant when the terms of approval have been met or when authorization is canceled. The City of Lapeer Engineer shall determine the amount. This financial guarantee is not intended to duplicate the bond requirement of the Michigan Department of Transportation when applicable.

Except for shared driveways, existing driveways that do not conform to the requirements of this section shall be closed or modified to conform to this section when site plan approval is required by § 7-18.02. Provided, if the Planning Commission determines that existing site constraints would make conformance to this section unreasonable or impossible, the Planning Commission shall determine the extent of upgrades to bring the site into greater compliance with the requirements of this section. In making its decision, the Planning Commission shall consider the existing and projected traffic conditions, any sight distance limitations, existing access configurations, site topography, natural features, external and internal site circulation, recommendations from the Michigan Department of Transportation, and others as deemed appropriate. Required improvements may include removal or reconfiguration of one or more existing access points and establishing cross access to a neighboring property.

Existing access points within 500 feet of the subject property's boundaries on both sides of the M-24 frontage, and along both sides of any intersecting roads where access is proposed.

Dimensions between proposed and existing access points.

Where shared cross access is proposed or required, a shared access and maintenance agreement may be required for City review. It shall include provisions for maintenance, legal descriptions of easements, and other elements as may be required. Once approved, the agreement shall be recorded with the Lapeer County Register of Deeds.

Access for an individual parcel, lot or building site or for contiguous parcels, lots or building sites under the same ownership shall consist of either one single two-way driveway or a paired system wherein one driveway is designed, and appropriately marked, to accommodate ingress traffic and the other egress traffic.

One driveway shall be permitted for each single-family residential lot. Other uses shall be subject to the regulations of this section.

For a parcel, lot, property or building site with frontage along M-24 exceeding 600 feet, or where the subject property has frontage on at least two streets, an additional driveway may be permitted, if warranted. The City Planning Staff and MDOT officials will jointly determine whether a traffic impact study should be submitted by the applicant demonstrating that conditions warrant an additional driveway and that all driveways meet spacing requirements. Where possible, second access points shall be located on a side street or service drive, or shared with adjacent uses.

A driveway shall be located a minimum of 600 feet from any expressway ramp.

Minimum required spacing standards.

Driveway separation from intersections.

A driveway may not be permitted when offsets may result in left-turn conflicts, as determined by the Planning Commission and/or the Michigan Department of Transportation.

There shall be a minimum of 27 feet of throat length for entering and exiting vehicles at the intersection of a driveway and pavement of the public road or service drive as measured from the pavement edge. For driveways serving over 100 vehicles per peak hour (two-way traffic volume) and for all driveways controlled by a traffic signal, adequate throat length may be determined by a traffic impact study financed by the applicant and as approved by the Planning Commission.

Access design and construction standards shall conform to the requirements of the Michigan Department of Transportation and the City of Lapeer, as applicable.

A five-foot-to-ten-foot-wide pedestrian walkway shall be integrated into the site, as appropriate, so as to provide a continuous and safe pedestrian linkage along M-24 and from M-24 to buildings. The Planning Commission shall determine the proper placement and design of the walkway feature. More than one walkway may be required per site.

The Planning Commission and/or the Michigan Department of Transportation shall retain the right to ensure adequate corner clearance and sight distance objectives as stated in § 7-11.03F of this chapter or as determined best for the specific situation.

A front or rear service drive may be required. The service road shall generally be parallel to the front property line and may be located either in front of, or behind, principal buildings and may be placed in required yards. In considering the most appropriate location and alignment for a service road, the Planning Commission shall consider the setbacks of existing and/or proposed structures and anticipated traffic flow.

A minimum of five feet of landscaping/snow storage area shall be reserved along both sides of a service drive. The Planning Commission may adjust this standard, provided it finds adequate provision for snow storage and green space.

Service drive access shall be set back at least 30 feet from an intersection of a public or private street right-of-way and the access drive to the parcel. The service drive may curve and be parallel with the public street and be located no less than 15 feet from the public or private street right-of-way. The service drive shall not be established within a public right-of-way, unless dedicated to and accepted by the applicable public agency. A service drive shall be used for circulation and not as parking, loading or unloading.

Shared driveways are strongly encouraged and may be required.

In cases where access is restricted by the minimum spacing requirements of § 7-11.06, a shared driveway may be the only access option permitted.

The shared driveway shall be constructed along the midpoint between the two properties unless a written easement is provided which allows for traffic to travel across one parcel to another or otherwise access the public street.

Internal vehicular circulation areas shall be designed to allow for cross access to adjacent lots with multiple family, nonresidential or mixed-uses.

A stub for future cross access shall be provided from the vehicular use area to all adjacent lots. Where cross access is deemed impractical by the Planning Commission or Planning Department during Site Plan Review or Administrative Review on the basis of topography, the presence of natural features, or vehicular safety factors, the requirement for cross access may be waived provided that appropriate bicycle and pedestrian connections are made between adjacent developments or uses.

A cross-access easement shall be recorded with the Lapeer County Register of Deeds prior to the issuance of a building certificate of occupancy for the development.