Unified Development Ordinance

Sec. 8.2.2. Streets

Sec. 8.2.2. Streets aaron.sheppard… Tue, 05/23/2023 - 12:58
  1. Required street capacity shall be measured based on the methodology of the Highway Capacity Manual.
  2. The impact of proposed development shall be measured by AM and PM peak trips based on the methodology of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).
  3. Adequate streets shall be provided consistent with the requirements of this Chapter provided a level of service E or better is maintained.
  4. There are 3 required traffic impact assessment thresholds:
    1. Trip Generation Report (a test of AM/PM peak hour traffic);
    2. Traffic Assessment (where the AM/PM peak hour traffic fails to meet adequate levels of service, this study reviews queueing and delays); and
    3. Traffic Impact Analysis (where queueing and delays are unacceptable, this full analysis includes calculation of trips, delay, queueing and capacity at intersections).
  5. Where a trip generation report or traffic impact analysis demonstrates a degradation of overall intersection level of service below level of service E or impacts to an existing intersection operating at level of service F, the proposed site plan may be approved provided that:
    1. The residential density does not exceed 50 units per acre; or
    2. The office floor area ratio does not exceed 0.5; or
    3. The floor area ratio for commercial uses does not exceed 0. 25; or
    4. The peak hour delay at the intersection does not exceed what would be produced by development consistent with paragraphs 1., 2. or 3. above as shown by a Traffic Impact Analysis.
    5. Where paragraphs Sec. 8.2.2.E.1., Sec. 8.2.2.E.2., Sec. 8.2.2.E.3. or Sec. 8.2.2.E.4. are selected, the applicant shall prepare and submit a traffic mitigation plan to the Transportation Director. The mitigation plan shall identify capital projects and phasing strategies that would bring the development impact to within the acceptable threshold specified in paragraph E.4 above. This plan may identify improvements undertaken by the private sector, the public sector or both. Site plan approval shall not be granted until the Transportation Director determines that the plan
      provides reasonable and adequate mitigation. Factors to be considered by the Transportation Director include whether: the cost of the mitigation measures exceeds the value of the proposed development; transportation
      demand management strategies including multi-modal improvements are included; alternative access strategies are considered; and new street connections are evaluated.
  6. An exception to Sec. 8.2.2.E. shall be granted for one or more of the following situations:
    1. The City has a capital improvement project within the adopted 5-year Capital Improvement Program that would improve the level of service above level F;
    2. NCDOT has proposed a project within the first 4 years of the adopted 7-year Transportation Improvement Program that would improve the level of service above level F;
    3. There is within ¼ mile of the site plan an existing or funded transit stop that is served by one of the following: fixed or dedicated-guideway transit, 5 vehicles an hour on a single route in 1 direction during peak commuting hours or 10 vehicles an hour in any direction during peak commuting hours;
    4. The site is mapped with a conditional district approved within the prior 20 years that includes a trip budget as a zoning condition; or 5. If the property is zoned Downtown Mixed Use (DX-).
    5. If the property is zoned Downtown Mixed Use (DX-).