Design and Construction Standards Manual #DPA , Amendment to Street Light and Site Distance Sections - Countywide

Transcription

1 COUNTY OF PRINCE WILLIAM 5 County Complex Court, Suite 290, Prince William, Virginia DEPARTMENT OF (703) Metro (703) Fax (703) TRANSPORTATION Thomas Blaser Director June 5, 2015 TO: FROM: RE: Planning Commission Elizabeth Scullin Department of Transportation Design and Construction Standards Manual #DPA , Amendment to Street Light and Site Distance Sections - Countywide I. Background is as follows: A. Purpose of the Prince William County Design and Construction Standards Manual (DCSM) The DCSM contains provisions that relate primarily to the requirements for the review and approval of site development plans, plats and site construction. B. Periodic Amendments to the DCSM Amendments to the DCSM are generally necessitated by: 1. Federal or State Laws Changes in federal or state laws or regulations pertaining to land development. 2. Zoning Ordinance Updates Corresponding changes to the DCSM are made to effectuate land use policies in the Zoning Ordinance. 3. Design and Construction Issues Revisions necessary to solve safety issues encountered during the implementation of County development standards. 4. Comprehensive Plan Updates Major updates of the Comprehensive Plan that create or revise land use and development policies. 5. Updates of Procedures and Processes Changes to plan and permit processing and procedures to improve efficiency and customer service may require amendments to the Manual. C. Initiation of Code Amendments Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance or to the DCSM must first be initiated by the Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) before

2 June 5, 2015 Page 2 staff proceeds with scheduling public hearings with the Planning Commission and Board. The BOCS initiated the amendments to the DCSM on February 24, II. Current Situation is as follows: A. Comprehensive Plan These amendments were directed by the following Comprehensive Plan Policies : RD Policy 7 Require safety to be a top priority in the design and construction of all road projects. PO Policy 2 Encourage all new development to utilize the principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) to include appropriate nighttime lighting. B. Proposed Amendments Revisions are necessary to solve design and construction issues that have been encountered during the implementation of County development standard The current DCSM does not require street lights on temporary cul-de-sacs, stub-outs or dead ends, primarily due to the fact that the intention of a temporary facility is that the roadway would be extended in the future. However, it can be many years before the road is extended. Residents have complained that illicit activities are being conducted in parked vehicles on dark cul-de-sacs, stub-outs and dead end streets, and they fear that they or their neighbors might become the victims of crimes such as break-ins and vandalism. Revisions require that street lights be located on temporary cul-de-sacs, stub-outs and dead ends. Revisions to Table 6-5 and Section C are necessary to provide additional requirements so that drivers making left turns have sufficient sight distance to safely make the turn. Detail is a graphic depiction of the intersection sight distance requirements. C. Zoning and Development Review Advisory Committee The committee reviewed the proposed text amendment by on April 1, Comments were incorporated into the amendment. D. Virginia Department of Transportation VDOT reviewed the proposed text by on April 7, Comments were incorporated into the amendment. E. Department of Transportation Recommendations The Department of Transportation recommends approval of DPA , DCSM amendments as proposed in Attachment A. F. Planning Commission Public Hearing A public hearing before the Planning Commission has been properly advertised for June 17, 2015.

3 June 5, 2015 Page 3 III. Issues are as follows: A. Service Levels/Policy Issues Does the amendment further the purposes of the Design and Construction Standards Manual? B. Community Input Have members of the community raised any concerns? C. Legal Are there any legal implications associated with DCSM amendment? D. Fiscal Impact Are there budget or financial impacts? E. Timing Are there timing considerations of the DCSM amendment? IV. Alternatives beginning with the staff recommendation are as follows: A. Recommend Adoption of DCSM Amendment #DPA to the Prince William County Design and Construction Standards Manual. 1. Service Levels/Policy Issues Adoption of the amendments to Section will allow the adoption of regulations that require that street lights be installed on all cul-de-sacs, stub-outs and dead ends, regardless of whether they are temporary or permanent. Adoption of the amendments to Table 6-5 and Section C provide additional requirements so that drivers making left turns have sufficient sight distance to safely make the turn. Detail shows the amended sight distance requirements. 2. Legal The adoption of the DCSM amendment will incorporate the proposed changes into the Design and Construction Standards Manual, which is enforceable by the County. Legal issues resulting from Planning Commission action would be appropriately addressed by the County Attorney s Office. 3. Community Input The Department has not received any comments from the community as of the date of this staff report. 4. Fiscal Impact There are no fiscal impacts to the County. 5. Timing The Planning Commission has until September 17, 2015, 90 days from the first public hearing, to take action on this proposal. A recommendation to adopt these amendments would meet the 90-day requirement

4 June 5, 2015 Page 4 B. Take No Action. 1. Service Levels/Policy Issues Residents will continue to express their fears for safety when they see vehicles parked in unlit cul-de-sacs, stubouts and/or dead ends. Standards and service levels will remain unchanged. 2. Legal There are no legal issues. Legal issues, if any, may be addressed through the County Attorney s Office.. 3. Community Input The Department has not received any comments from the community as of the date of this staff report 4. Fiscal Implications There are no fiscal impacts to the County. 5. Timing The Planning Commission has until September 17, 2015, 90 days from the first public hearing, to take action on this proposal. A recommendation to adopt these amendments would meet the 90-day requirement. V. Recommendation is that the Planning Commission accept Alternative A and recommend adoption of Design and Construction Standard Manual Amendment DPA , Amendment to Street Light and Site Distance Sections. Staff: Elizabeth Scullin, and Thomas Blaser, Attachments: A. Proposed DCSM Text Amendment B. BOCS Initiation Resolution

5 Attachment A Proposed Text Amendment Proposed Amendments to Section Design Standards and Construction Manual Street Lights: C. In single-family detached residential developments, a minimum of two (2) luminaires shall be provided at all entrances to the development. A minimum of two (2) luminaires shall be provided at all street intersections where the minor street carries greater than four hundred (400) vehicles per day (vpd). One (1) luminaire shall be provided at all public and private cul-de-sacs, stub-outs and dead ends, including temporary cul-de-sacs. E. In single-family attached and multifamily developments, a minimum of two (2) luminaires shall be provided at all primary entrances to each section of the development accessing onto the main public roadway and all secondary entrances which carry greater than four hundred (400) vehicles per day (vpd). One (1) luminaire shall be provided at all public and private cul-de-sacs, stub-outs and dead ends, including temporary cul-de-sacs. Revised Page A-1

6 Attachment A Proposed Text Amendment Proposed Amendments to Table 6-5 Design Standards and Construction Manual Design Speed mph 2-Lane Major Roadway feet Turn from Minor Road TABLE 6-5 INTERSECTION SIGHT DISTANCE Left Turn from Major Road 4-Lane Major Roadway (Undivided) and 4-lane divided at crossovers feet Turn from Minor Road Left Turn from Major 4-Lane Major Roadway (Divided 18 median) feet Turn from Minor Road Left Turn from Major Road SDL SDR Road SDL SDR Note: The sight distance should be adjusted or modified for steep grade and wide median, as necessary, in accordance with AASHTO s and VDOT s latest guidelines. Height of eye = 3.5 and Height of object = 3.5. SDL = Sight Distance Left (vehicle making a right or left turn) SDR = Sight Distance Right (vehicle making a left turn) Sight Distance for left turn from major road is used to check the left-turn maneuver across opposing traffic. Revised Jan Page A-2

7 Attachment A Proposed Text Amendment Page A-3

8 Attachment A Proposed Text Amendment Sight Distance Standards: C. Sight distance for sag vertical curves shall be calculated for all ranges of algebraic difference in grade based on a headlight of two (2) feet and one degree upward divergence of the headlight beams. For horizontal sight distances, the location of the driver's eye should be fourteen and a half (14 ½ ) feet from the edge of outermost through lane of the roadway in question, as shown and specified in Detail of this manual. Page A-4

9 Attachment B BOCS Initiating Resolution Page B-1

10 Attachment B BOCS Initiating Resolution Page B-2