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Article 5: Development Standards
Section 5.8. Access and Circulation
5.8.6. Vehicular Access and Circulation
Morrisville, NC
June 2013
Unified Development Ordinance - Public Hearing Draft
Page 5-39
any bikeway, sidewalk, and other associated access and circulation improvements) to meet at
least those standards required by this section for a collector street.
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B.
Off-Site
If a development site fronts on and obtains vehicular access from an existing street, the developer shall
be required to dedicate additional right-of-way along the street frontage or in the vicinity of the
development and to provide roadway, bikeway, sidewalk, and other access and circulation
improvements within the street right-of-way that are reasonably necessary to ensure the safe,
convenient, efficient, and orderly accommodation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic demands and
impacts generated by the proposed development. Such improvements may include, but are not limited
to, turn lanes, deceleration and acceleration lanes, widening or paving of substandard roadways,
medians, bikeways, sidewalks, sidewalk ramps and crossings, street lights, bus shelters, and the
relocation or improvement of utility lines and facilities needed to accommodate street improvements.
The extent of required dedications and improvements related to the abutting street shall be roughly
proportional to the traffic demands and impacts generated to and along that street by the proposed
development.
5.8.6.
Vehicular Access and Circulation
A.
Circulation Plan
1.
Applications for Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat Approval (Section 2.5.6.B), Major Site Plan
Approval (Section 2.5.7.B), or Minor Site Plan Approval (Section 2.5.7.C) shall include a
circulation plan that addresses street connectivity, emergency and service vehicle access, parking
movements, accommodation of loading operations, turning radii, traffic calming measures where
future ―cut-through‖ traffic is likely, and similar issues.
2.
The Planning Director may waive the requirement for a circulation plan on determining that a
proposed development is expected to have no impact on circulation or proposes no change in
existing circulation patterns. This provision shall not be construed to exempt development that
includes additional parking, driveways, or substantial modifications to the existing pedestrian
network.
B.
Transportation Impact Analysis
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1.
Purpose
The Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) is a part of the overall development review process
conducted by the Town of Morrisville to safeguard the safety, health, and well-being of its
citizens. The TIA is intended to:
a.
Assess the impact of a proposed development on the roadway capacity, public
transportation, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation systems;
b.
Help mitigate potential effects of a proposed development on the transportation system; and
c.
Identify solutions to potential problems and recommend improvements to be incorporated as
required conditions to a proposed development.
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Court decisions generally limit the public improvements that can be required of a development to those needed to address
impacts created by the development. This provision is intended to reflect such a limit by requiring a proposed development to
accommodate and provide right-of-way for any planned thoroughfare through the development site, but limiting required road
construction within such right-of-way to one meeting collector street standards instead of full thoroughfare standards (unless the
development by itself is large or intense enough to generate traffic levels justifying a thoroughfare).
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This replaces the traffic impact study standards in Part C, Art. VIII of the current Zoning Ordinance with the revised
transportation impact analysis standards prepared for and currently pending approval by the Town, modified only to replace a
few instances of awkward phrases and phrasing, and to refer to the comprehensive plan. It will be revised further as necessary to
correspond to the adopted version of the TIA standards.