053-13Action:
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: May 8, 2013 6 APPROVED ❑ DENIED
RESOLUTION
DIRECTING THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING
REGARDING CHAPTER 165, ZONING
ARTICLE II SUPPLEMENTARY USE REGULATIONS; PARKING; BUFFERS;
AND REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC USES
PART 202 OFF - STREET PARKING, LOADING AND ACCESS
165- 202.03 MOTOR VEHICLE ACCESS
WHEREAS, the Frederick County Planning Department has been directed to update the
motor vehicle access requirements, specifically the entrance spacing requirements.
WHEREAS, The Development Review and Regulations Committee (DRRC)
recommended this item be forwarded to the Planning Commission and Board. of
Supervisors; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission discussed the proposed changes at their regularly
scheduled meeting on March 20, 2013; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors discussed the proposed changes at their regularly
scheduled meeting on May 8, 2013; and
WHEREAS, the Frederick County Board of Supervisors finds that in the public
necessity, convenience, general welfare, and good zoning practice, directs the Frederick
County Planning Commission hold a public hearing regarding an amendment to Chapter
165 to update the motor vehicle access requirements, specifically the entrance spacing
requirements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT REQUESTED by the Frederick County Board of
Supervisors that the Frederick County Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing
to consider changes to update the motor vehicle access requirements, specifically the
entrance spacing requirements.
Passed this 8th day of May, 2013 by the following recorded vote:
This resolution was approved by the following recorded vote:
Richard C. Shickle, Chairman Ay e Gary A. Lofton Aye
Robert A. Hess A y e Bill M. Ewing Aye
Gene E. Fisher Aye Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. Aye
Christopher E. Collins Aye
A COP
John
Fred ministrator
Reso lution #033 -13
COUNTY of FREDERICK
Department of PIanning and Development
5401665 -5651
MEMORANDUM FAX: 5401665 -6395
To: Frederick County Board of Supervisors
From: Candice E. Perkins, AICP, Senior Planner 0
Subject: Discussion — Entrance Spacing Requirements
Bate: April 26, 2013
Staff has prepared a revision to Part 202 of the Zoning Ordinance — Off-Street Parking, Loading
and Access to update the motor vehicle access requirements, specifically the entrance spacing
requirements. Currently, the entrance spacing requirements are in conflict with VDOT's
minimum entrance spacing requirements and the standards do not specifically address residential
driveways on arterial or collector roadways.
This item was discussed by the DRRC at their February 2013 meeting. The DRRC endorsed the
proposed amendment with minor revisions and recommended it be sent to the Planning
Commission for discussion. The Planning Commission discussed this item on March 20, 2013.
Concern was expressed over the spacing not being based on speed, specifically residential
entrances on minor and major collector roads and that it appeared the proposed spacing standards
should be increased, not decreased.
The attached document shows the existing ordinance with the proposed changes (with
strikethroughs for text eliminated and bold italic for text added). Staff is seeking direction
from the Board of Supervisors on this Zoning Ordinance text amendment; attached is a
resolution directing the item to public hearing should the Board deem it appropriate.
Attachments: 1. Revised ordinance.
2. Resolution.
CEP/bad
107 North Kent Street, Suite 202 • Winchester, Virginia 22601 -5000
ATTACHMENT 1
Chapter 165 — Zoning
Part 202 — Off - Street Parking, Loading and Access
§ 165- 202.03. Motor vehicle access.
A. New driveways.
(1) Private driveways or entrances shall be allowed to provide access to individual residences
or uses. Private driveways or entrances shall also be allowed to provide access to parking
lots and loading areas shared by a number of residences or uses.
(2) In order to provide safe and convenient access and to provide efficient travel on arterial
highways, a minimum spacing shall be provided between new driveways onto and
entrances onto collector roads, afid ente Arterial hiphways. and primary and - a#erial
highways, in the following zoning districts: [Amended 12 -10 -2008]
Bl
Neighborhood Business
B2
Business General
B3
Industrial Transition
OM
Office- Manufacturing Park
M1
tight Industrial
M2
Industrial General
(3) In addition, the minimum spacing requirements shall apply to: Jja any business, industrial
or institutional use in any zoning district, of- #e--W any residential development in
which more than one dwelling shares a parking lot.
(4) Minimum spacing shall also be provided in all zoning districts between LaInew residential
driveways onto and commercial entrances onto collector roads arterial hi hwa s and
primary hiahways and f4Lthe intersections of other roads with the - such collector roads of
arterial highways and rims hi hwa s. Minimum spacing between driveways/
entrances and between driveways / entrances and intersections shall be as follows:
Minimum Residential Driveway, Full Commercial Entrance and lntersecti'an
Spacing on Primary Highways, a4i4-Arterial Highways and Collector Roads
postod Road Classfration
Minimum Required Spacing (feet]
mss
t o
Mer-e than 35
Minor Collector
100
ATTACHMENT I
1Vlajor Collector — residential
150
drivew_y/entrance
Major Collector_- commercial entrances
7"50
Primary or Arterial
I-S& 250
with posted speed limit 45 mph or less
Prim ar,}Lor Arterial
999 495
with posted speed limit more than 45 mnh
(5) In all cases, the spacing distances shall be measured from the centerline to centerline in
eet.
( 6 ) The win I . g f9F aeGess en miner r-el Feads shall he 79 feet between
9- 319951 Deleted Note: (6) can be deleted because its contents have been moved to the
chart in (4).)
rA
L%17 35 MYN
f4a4 Existing access. When a parcel abuts a minor or collector street that intersects with the
arterial or primary highway and when the parcel cannot be provided with an entrance
2
ATTACHMENT 1
onto the arterial or primary highway that meets the spacing requirement, access to the
parcel shall be only from the existincy entrance on the minor or collector street and
new entrances shall not be allowed directly onto the arterial or prlman+ highway.
(7) WShared access. When a lot is created on a collector road or arterial sr primary highway,
shared means of access to the road or highway shall be created by access easement,
shared driveway, shared entrance or other means to ensure that the spacing
requirements have been met.
Ill When a lot is divided or developed that can be provided with a
driveway entrance meeting the spacing requirements but that is
adjacent to other parcels or lots that will not be able to have entrances
meeting the spacing requirements, means of highway access to the
adjoining property may be required by the Zoning Administrator on the
lot to be divided or developed.
[2) When a lot is divided or developed that cannot be provided with access
meeting the spacing requirements and when means of shared access
that meets spacing requirements has been provided on adjoining lots
that can be used to provide access to the lot in question, entrances shall
not be allowed directly onto the arterial or primary highway from the
lot to be divided or developed.
[31 When a number of lots are divided or developed that have been
included together on an approved master development plan, site plan
or subdivision plat, shared driveways / entrances shall be provided as
required to meet the spacing requirements.
[4) When shared access is provided to meet the requirements of this
section, the Zoning Administrator may require that it be provided in the
form of an access easement. The Zoning Administrator may require a
deed of dedication describing provisions for joint use and maintenance
of that easement. Provisions for shared entrance signs may also be
required.
[5) Shared access easements shall be provided in a manner so that shared
driveways are clearly separated from parking areas, loading areas and
pedestrian walkways.
[61 Shared access easements that follow lot lines are preferred.
(8) New lots. No new lot shall be created on aR aFteRa " a_ ny state maintained road
unless spacing requirements can be met for driveways / entrances on the lot or unless
access is provided through shared or existing access.
(9) Number of driveways or entrances No more than one driveway or entrance shall be
allowed per parcel unless each
drivewa entrance from the parcel separately meets the spacing requirements,
3
ATTACHMENT I
relative to each other and relative to any intersections within the minimum required
spacing distance in _all directions. The Zonina_ Administrator may permit
entrances drivewa s that do not meet the minimum spocing re uirements if they are
,.
utilized solely for emergency access and are not open the public; such entrances must
be sated or chained.
(10) Entrances on collector and minor streets. Whenever a parcel abutting an arterial
highway also abuts a collector or minor road, in order to obtain an entrance on the
arterial road, an entrance must be provided on the collector or minor road. This shall
only be required if a safe entrance can be provided on the collector or minor road,
meeting all requirements of the Frederick County Code and the Virginia Department of
Transportation.
(11) All driveways and entrances onto state - maintained highways must also meet all
requirements of the Virginia Department of Transportation and all other requirements
Lthe Frederick County Code.
(12) New driveways and entrances shall align with existing or planned driveways, crossovers,
turn lanes or other access features. This shall only be required if the resulting alignment
provides safe access and if all requirements of the Frederick County Code and the
Virginia Department of Transportation are met.
(13) The location of new driveways and entrances shall conform with road improvement
plans or corridor plans that have been adopted by Frederick County or the Virginia
Department of Transportation.
(14) Private roads providing lot access to multifamily and single - family small lot housing, as
permitted in §144 -24 of the Subdivision Ordinance, shall be a minimum of 20 feet in
width. The pavement design for the private roads shall include eight inches of
aggregate base material, Type 1, Size No. 21 -B, and shall be paved with a 165 No. psy
asphalt concrete, Type SM -2A, surface treatment. In addition, curb and gutters,
standard curb CG -6, CG -7 or roll -top curb and sidewalks shall be provided along private
roads; however, the Zoning Administrator may approve a waiver of sidewalks on private
streets, provided that another recreational amenity is substituted for the sidewalk.
Additionally, the Zoning Administrator may waive the requirement for curb and gutters
and allow alternate pavement design to accommodate low impact design provided that
the private road design is determined to be acceptable by the Director of Public Works.
B. Alternative methods.
(1) The Zoning Administrator may allow other means of motor vehicle access which do not
meet the above requirements. Such means may involve the use of entrances which
physically limit or restrict left turns Isuch as a ri ht -in rf ht-out only entrance
methods which ensure one -way travel or other methods.
(2) In such cases, the Zoning Administrator may require a traffic access plan which describes
existing traffic, conditions and design on the streets abutting the site and the methods
proposed to ensure that the intent of this section has been met.
4
ATTACHMENT 1
(3)_ Requested alternative methods . of motor vehicle access which do not meet the
- pp . VDOT prior to _
minimum requirements of § 165- 102.03 must he a , roved 6y,,. approval
by the Zanrn Administrator.
C. Internal circulation. A complete system of internal traffic circulation shall be provided to serve
all uses in any shopping center, industrial park or any development included in a single master
development plan, site plan or subdivision plat approved by Frederick County. In such
developments, internal access shall be provided in a fashion so that all uses can be mutually
accessed without entering onto arterial or primary highways. In such cases, a pattern of internal
circulation shall be designed to ensure that conflicts are avoided between moving vehicles,
parking areas, pedestrian areas, loading areas and the various uses provided.
D. Pedestrian access. Safe pedestrian walkways shall be provided to all uses on land included in a
master plan or site plan approved by Frederick County. Sidewalks shall be provided in
conformance with adopted corridor or walkway plans or approved master development plans.
The Board of Supervisors may require additional sidewalks or walkways on master plans or the
Zoning Administrator may require additional sidewalks or walkways on site plans to promote a
general system of pedestrian access in residential neighborhoods or business corridors.
E. Fire lanes. Fire lanes shall be required as set forth in Chapter 90, Fire Prevention.EN [Added 12-
9 -1992]
W