Site Design Standards (SDS)

SDS 5.11 Vehicle Entrances

SDS 5.11.1 Intent.

Vehicle entrances to commercial development shall be designed to ensure both pedestrian and vehicular safety.

Standard:

SDS 5.11.2 Primary Vehicle Entrances. 

The number and location of vehicle entrances to a commercial development shall be consistent with the existing or anticipated design of adjacent streets. The specific location of primary vehicle entrances are subject to the approval of the Planning and Development Services Department and will be largely dependent on the following factors:

• The location of existing or planned median breaks.
• Separation requirements between the entrance and major intersections.
• Separation requirements between adjacent entrances (or minor intersections).
• The need to provide shared access to adjacent parcels of land.
• The need to align with previously-approved or constructed access points on the opposite side of the street.
• The minimum number of entrances needed to move traffic onto and off the site safely and efficiently.

SDS 5.11.3 Entry Drive Configuration. 

The specific design or geometrics of development entry drives shall conform to the standards of the Planning and Development Services Department. Commercial driveway configuration and design shall be appropriate given the size of the development and the capacity of the street.

SDS 5.11.4 Driveway Design.

Driveway geometrics shall be dependent on a variety of factors, including traffic volume, speed, vehicle types requiring site access, and distribution. The following design issues should be addressed in each case and the resulting driveway design should provide an efficient ingress and egress to the development without causing undue congestion or accidents (non-vehicular and vehicular) on the public street system:

• The number of in-bound and out-bound lanes.
• Lane width (minimum width curb-to-curb is 28 feet).
• Throat length (i.e., the distance between the street and the first point at which cross traffic or left turns are permitted).
• Curb radii.
• The need or desirability of a raised median.
• The need for a deceleration lane.
• Accommodation for pedestrian crossings.
  • Curb cuts must be located to minimize conflicts with pedestrians and bicyclists and must have a clear distance from fire hydrants, street trees, utility poles, and other furnishings as deemed necessary. 
  • The grade, cross slope, and clear width of the walkway of a sidewalk traversing a driveway must be maintained between the driveway apron and the abutting driveway. The appearance of the walkway (i.e. scoring pattern or paving material) must indicate that, although a vehicle may cross, the area traversed by a vehicle remains part of the sidewalk. 

Effective on: 1/1/1901