It is the purpose of this chapter to coordinate development of land uses to minimize traffic hazards, prevent traffic congestion, preserve the traffic-carrying capacity of arterial and collector streets, provide a suitable location of land uses and minimize impacts of development.

Refer to section 17.12.130 for legal access requirements to a residential lot or parcel.

(Code 1999, § 17.80.010; Ord. No. 96-347, § 1(11-21-1); Ord. No. 13-004, 4-8-2013)

Access points to streets from all developments shall conform to the following criteria:

A.

Access standards. All major highways under state jurisdiction shall conform to the state department of transportation access standards.

B.

Arterial. All uses with 1,000 feet or more of frontage may take one point of access with one 40-foot-wide curb cut. Uses with less than 1,000 feet of frontage shall not be permitted to take direct access to an arterial and shall be required to share a common access drive. No access shall be taken within 200 feet of another access point or intersection.

C.

Collector. All uses within 300 feet or more of frontage may take one point of access with one 40-foot-wide curb cut. Uses with less than 300 feet of frontage shall not be permitted to take direct access to a collector and may be required to share a common access drive. No access should be taken within 100 feet of another access point or intersection.

D.

Local street (including cul-de-sac street and frontage street). All uses may take direct access to local streets.

E.

Additional access points. No additional access points shall be permitted unless one or more of the following conditions exists:

1.

If the project is a commercial development having a floor area greater than 200,000 square feet. For each additional 100,000 square feet in floor area, or fraction thereof, one additional curb cut may be permitted when accompanied by a traffic circulation and access plan which justifies the additional curb cut;

2.

If the project is a commercial development where the applicant demonstrates there is a need for delivery truck or emergency vehicle access. The access shall be designed for the exclusive use by delivery and emergency vehicles;

3.

If medians are approved by the city engineer and then constructed by the developer, additional access points may be approved by the city;

4.

Only the city engineer may approve additional curb cuts when it is found that a traffic hazard will not be created.

(Code 1999, § 17.80.020; Ord. No. 96-347, § 1(11-21-2); Ord. No. 13-004, 4-8-2013)

A.

Access to parking from a street. Access to a parking lot from a street shall be limited to driveways and there shall be no direct access to any off-street parking space located in a parking lot from a public street.

B.

Access to parking from an alley. Any parking lot may use an abutting alley for direct access to parking spaces, provided that the full width of the alley is dedicated to the public and fully paved to city standards.

(Code 1999, § 17.80.030; Ord. No. 96-347, § 1(11-21-3); Ord. No. 13-004, 4-8-2013)

Every parking lot shall provide a clearly marked walkway, protected from traffic extending from the building being served to the public sidewalk in front of the building.

(Code 1999, § 17.80.040; Ord. No. 96-347, § 1(11-21-4))