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Home My WebLink About10/4/2019 - Regular TOWN OF VINTON 311 S. POLLARD STREET VINTON, VIRGINIA 24179 PHONE: (540) 983-0605 FAX: (540) 983-0621 ANITA MCMILLAN EMAIL: amcmillan@vintonva.gov PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR October 1, 2019 TO: VINTON PLANNING COMMISSION Mr. Keith Liles, Chairman Mr. David “Dave” Jones, Vice-Chairman Mr. Robert “Bob” Benninger Mr. William “Bill” Booth Mr. Robert “Bob” Patterson RE: Planning Commission Lunch and Work Session Friday, October 4, 2019 A Planning Commission work session to discuss the subdivision ordinance will be held this Friday, October 4th at 12:30 p.m., shortly after lunch, which will be served at noon. The lunch and work session will be held in the Administration Conference Room. Please see the enclosed agenda and supporting materials for the meeting. Please review the materials that Nathan and VDOT personnel have put together prior to the meeting so we can discuss them after the PowerPoint presentation, at the work session. Please let me know if you are UNABLE to attend the October 4th meeting as soon as possible by emailing me at amcmillan@vintonva.gov or calling me at (540) 983-0605. Thank you. Sincerely, Anita J. McMillan Planning and Zoning Director Enclosures c: Barry Thompson, Town Manager Nathan McClung, Principal Planner AGENDA OCTOBER 4, 2019 LUNCH/ WORK SESSION: 12:00 P.M. ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM I. Call to Order—Roll Call II. Introductions III. Subdivision Ordinance Recommendations: Presentation by Brian Blevins, P.E. (VDOT) and Ray Varney, P.E., LS (VDOT) 1. Topic #1: Turning radius definition and requirements 2. Topic #2: Block length size reductions 3. Topic #3: Mid-block crossing necessity 4. Topic #4: Sidewalk requirements 5. Topic #5: Street trees requirements 6. Topic #6: Width of right-of-way discussion IV. Comments of Planning Commissioners and Planning Staff V. Adjournment Town of Vinton PLANNING COMMISSION Vinton Municipal Building 311 S. Pollard Street Vinton, VA 24179 Phone (540) 983-0605 Fax (540) 983-0621 Mr. Keith Liles, Chairman Mr. David “Dave” Jones, Vice-Chairman Mr. Robert “Bob” Benninger Mr. William “Bill” Booth Mr. Robert “Bob” Patterson VINTON SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE RECOMMENDATIONS Planning Commission Meeting October 4th,2019 WHAT IS TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT (TND)? SUBDIVISION: TURNING RADIUS Recommendation Add a definition of “effective turning radius” in the definitions section. Justification The turning radius between intersecting streets is an important element of urban design that influences the speed of turning vehicles, pedestrian safety, and pedestrian comfort. Using the effective turning radius as the basis of regulation may allow for actual radii at the curb that are less than what is presently required by the Town’s subdivision code. This is an important feature used to calm traffic and contribute to walkability . SUBDIVISION: TURNING RADIUS Recommendation Require that local streets with projected ADT less than 4,000 vehicles be designed with an effective turning radius of 15 to 20 feet. For all other streets, the turning radius would be controlled by the same VDOT standards that govern other streets in the Town. Note that the “effective turning radius” is recommended as a new definition in the definitions section (Section 3 (8)). Justification Turning radius is a key factor -often overlooked -in the walkability and safety of a community’s streets and is referenced in the State Code under UDAs. The designer can increase the effective turning radius by adding bicycle lanes, parking lanes, or striping advance stop lines on the destination street. Cleveland & Pollard St., Vinton Washington & Bypass Rd., Vinton SUBDIVISION: BLOCK LENGTH Recommendation Reduce the minimum block size from 300 feet to 150 feet between intersections to better match the existing lotting patterns in the Town. Reduce the maximum block size from 1,000 feet to 800 feet between intersections to conform to a more traditional neighborhood design. However, retain the existing provision that allows the planning commission to approve variances for unusual existing conditions. Justification Small block sizes support walkability and provide more route options for all users of a street. Blocks in downtown Vinton are typically between 300 and 400 feet in length. Reducing both the minimum and maximum length of blocks between intersections will help ensure that any new subdivisions platted in the Town will retain the traditional lotting pattern and walkability of the Town’s historic traditional residential neighborhoods. 300’ to 350’ Downtown Vinton SUBDIVISION: MID BLOCK CROSSING Recommendation Replace the requirement of a mid-block crossing in blocks of 800 feet or greater with a requirement that the subdivider conduct an engineering study to determine the need for a mid-block crossing for any instance where a block of 800 feet or greater is proposed. The engineering study must consider elements that protect pedestrian safety at the mid-block crossing, such as signage, a pedestrian safety island, or rapid flashing beacons. Require installation of the crosswalk with safety measures as supported by the engineering study. Justification Mid-block crosswalks can help people access destinations but must be well designed to ensure they will be used and will protect pedestrian safety. Proper installation of a mid-block crosswalk is important, and VDOT requires an engineering study before any crosswalk markings can be installed across uncontrolled locations on roads that it controls. Hardy Road., Vinton Typical Mid Block Crossing SUBDIVISION:SIDEWALKS Recommendation Require sidewalks with a minimum width of five feet, and a planted strip of six feet in width between the curb and sidewalk with street trees, on both sides of all new streets created in the Town. Planting strips need to be a minimum of six feet to allow for healthy tree growth and minimize sidewalk buckling from root intrusion. Justification Sidewalks are the most basic building block of a walkable community. Many subdivision requirements, including those of the City of Roanoke, also require the provision of a buffer with street trees between the sidewalk and the street. Street trees also provide benefits by cleaning the air of pollutants and can subtly help reduce traffic speeds on roads where they are planted by providing visual cues that the area is pedestrian-friendly. West Augusta Ave., Vinton East Augusta Ave., Vinton SUBDIVISION: STREET TREES Recommendation Provide additional requirements for street trees to be provided not only on new streets but also on any improved streets. Provide standards for street tree planting in accordance with professional landscaping and engineering practice. Justification Many Vinton streets were originally planted with street trees, but there is no requirement that new streets or street improvements include trees. Street trees give an attractive character to the streetscape, help clean air pollution and, as noted above, can subtly reduce traffic speeds. First St., Vinton Street Trees SUBDIVISION: WIDTH OF RIGHT-OF -WAY Discussion Current ordinance language: “Major and minor street widths shall conform to the widths adopted by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). No minor street shall have a width of less than 50 feet between property lines.” Should this minimum right-of-way width be maintained, reduced, or increased? Should we have a table that delineates the type of improvement in addition to listing the minimum right-of-way width? (contingent upon the adoption of other regulations included in this presentation) See example from the City of Roanoke in the next slide. SUBDIVISION: WIDTH OF RIGHT-OF -WAY City of Roanoke Subdivision Ordinance SUBDIVISION: CURRENT VDOT STANDARDS Discussion Per VDOT Road Design Manual Appendix B(2): The minimum effective turning radius is 25 feet with a minimum actual curb radius of 15 feet. These should be increased if trucks, Intercity Buses, and/or City Transit Buses are expected to use the route. VDOT does not specify a maximum block size. The minimums are based on the Street Typology for the Multimodal Activity Center. The 150 foot minimum matches the VDOT minimum for an Avenue. An engineering study should be conducted for most mid-block crossings. VDOT requires a minimum sidewalk width of 5 feet. A 4-foot sidewalk for a maximum length of 200 feet is permissible in situations where width is restricted. Both requirements meet ADA guidelines at a minimum. SUBDIVISION: CURRENT VDOT STANDARDS Discussion The planted strip or buffer space is required to be a minimum of 3 feet or 6 feet if street trees are proposed. VDOT recommends 29 feet from face of curb to face of curb for urban streets with on-street parking on both sides and less than 2000 vehicles per day. This creates a total typical section width of 58 feet for the right-of-way limits to include the buffer space with street trees (6 feet), sidewalks (5 feet), and a minimum of 3 feet behind the sidewalk to allow for adequate maintenance. The addition of separate bike lanes would add a total of 8 feet created a street width of 66 feet total. SUBDIVISION: CURRENT VDOT STANDARDS Typical Urban Street QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?