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HomeMy WebLinkAbout(1994, 02/14) - L-18 - AmendedL-18 ADNIMISTIZATIVE PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE TRAFFIC PHASING ORDINANCE I. Administrative Procedures A. General: These procedures apply to all projects which have an Average Daily Trip generator of more than 300 daily trips. B. Evaluating Projects: 1. The applicant files a request for consideration of the entire project, under the provisions of the Ordinance with the Planning Department The request must be accompanied by a project description, project phasing schedule, site plan, and fees as set by the City Council. 2. A traffic analysis shall then be prepared by a qualified traffic engineer under contract to the City according to the methodology approved by the City Council. 3. The traffic analysis shall evaluate the traffic generated from all proposed land uses. Subject to the provisions of sub - section B.4., in the case of conversion of an existing building to a more intense land use, the incremental difference in traffic generated by the development shall be evaluated. 4. Traffic generated by both existing and proposed land uses shall be evaluated for any project proposed subsequent to, and within the time frame for analysis used by (one year subsequent to the anticipated date of occupancy), a previously approved Traffic Study. C. Staff Recommendation: 1. The City's Traffic Engineer will review the report prepared by the consultant and transmit the findings and worksheet to the Planning Department for presentation to the Planning Commission. is L-18 • D. Planning Commission Review and Findings: The Planning Commission shall review the determination and recommendations of the Traffic Engineer and the Planning Department, at a duly noticed public hearing, and make one of the following findings: 1. The City has issued a building or grading permit for the project prior to May 8, 1978, and that the person to whom such permit was issued has, in good faith and in reliance upon such permit, diligently commenced construction and performed and incurred substantial liabilities for work and materials necessary therefor. No change, causing a substantial increase in traffic volumes, has been made in such project, except in accordance with the provisions of the Traffic Phasing Ordinance; or 2. The traffic projected one year after project completion, • during any a.m. or p.m. 2.5 hour peak traffic period on each leg of each critical intersection, will be increased less than 1% by traffic generated from the project during any a.m. or p.m. 2.5 hour period; or 3. A traffic analysis has been performed and accepted. The traffic analysis was based on the projected street system and projected traffic volumes one year after completion of the project or portion of the project for which the traffic analysis was performed. The traffic analysis has shown that at that time, the additional traffic generated by the project, or portion of the project, including any approved trip generation reduction measures: a. will neither cause nor make worse an unsatisfactory level of traffic service on any major," "primary modified," or "primary" streets; or 2 L-18 40 b. may cause or make worse an unsatisfactory level of traffic service on one or more "major," "primary modified," or "primary" streets; or C. may cause or make worse an unsatisfactory level of traffic service on one or more "major," "primary modified," or "primary" streets; however, the benefits outweigh the anticipated negative impact on transportation facilities, for the following reasons: (specify) E. Approval of Applications: A simple majority vote by the Planning Commission, subject to City Council review or appeal, is required for finding D.1, D.2, D.3.a., or D.3.b. A four -fifths majority vote by the Planning Commission (or by the City Council on appeal or review) is required for finding D.3.c. F. Appeals: 1. The determination of the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 20.80.070 of the Newport Beach Municipal Code. 2. The City Council shall have a Right of Review as set forth in Section 20.80.075 of the Newport Beach Municipal Code. II. Outline of Methodology for Traffic Analyses A. Designation of Impacted Intersections and Determination of Project Impact for the a.m. and p.m. 2.5 Hour Peak Periods: 1. The Traffic Engineer will determine which intersections will be affected by the proposed project according to its size and geographic location. 2. An analysis will be done whereby it will be determined if one year after completion of the project, or portions of the project for which the traffic analysis is being 3 L-18 0 performed, the project (including those portions for which traffic analyses have been previously approved) will generate one percent or more of the projected traffic volumes for each leg of each impacted intersection during that a.m. and p.m. 2.5 hour peak periods. If less than a one percent increase is demonstrated for each leg, then the analysis is concluded, and finding LD.2. may be made. B. If the initial Traffic Study indicated the project, or portion of the project, for which the traffic analysis is being performed, one year after completion may generate one percent or more of projected traffic volumes on one or more legs of any impacted intersection, then the Traffic Engineer or a qualified consultant will analyze the intersection capacity utilization for the impacted intersection(s): The report will indicate the following. 1. Existing traffic. • 2. Projected increases in regional traffic by using the transportation model and average growth rate for each roadway over the preceding five (5) years. 3. Projected traffic from committed projects including all projects within the City and sphere -of- influence including the Newport Dunes, the Irvine Coastal Area, Santa Ana Heights, Beeco- Banning property and additional projects as determined by the Traffic Engineer which would have significant traffic impacts in the City. 4. Traffic generated by the proposed project, or portion of the project, without trip generation reduction measures. 5. Traffic generated by the proposed project, or portion of the project; with approved trip generation reduction measures. C. Where a full traffic analysis is performed under Section IIB, the following I.C.U. calculations shall be performed for each • impacted intersection: 4 L-18 1. The existing I.C.U. 2. The I.C.U., with traffic system improvements that will be installed before one year after project completion. This I.C.U. calculation shall be based on all projected traffic sources except the proposed project. 3. The I.C.U., with traffic system improvements that will be installed before one year after project completion, based on all sources of traffic, including traffic generated by the proposed project, with approved trip generation reduction measures. I.C.U. calculations shall assume a lane capacity value of 1600 vphg for both through and turn lanes; no factor for yellow time shall be included. I.C.U. calculations shall be carried to three decimal places and rounded to two decimal places. IIL Definitions and Analysis Restraints A. Traffic System Improvements: Traffic system improvements may be included in the traffic analysis for a proposed project, provided that: 1. The improvement will be completed no more than one year after completion of the project or project phase for which the traffic analysis is being performed; and 2. The improvement is included in the Circulation Element of the General Plan, and is defined sufficiently therein to permit an I.C.U. analysis to be performed; or 3. The improvement design has been approved by the City Council, and is defined sufficiently to permit an I.C.U. analysis to be performed. B. Projected Capacity Increases from Traffic System Improvements: For purposes of the traffic analysis, 70% of the incremental increase in intersection capacity (based on a capacity of 1600 5 Ir18 • vehicles per hour of green time for each full traffic lane) shall be utilized. Upon completion of the improvement, traffic volume counts shall be updated, and any additional available capacity may then be utilized in future traffic analyses. C. Traffic Volumes: 1. Traffic volumes shall be based on up- to-date estimates of traffic volumes expected to exist one year after completion of the project, or portion of the project, for which the traffic analysis is being performed. Such estimates shall include existing traffic as determined by biennial field counts plus traffic generated by previously approved projects or portions of projects expected to exist in the same time period plus estimated increases in regional traffic. If the intersection configuration being analyzed is the ultimate configuration consistent with the Circulation Element or otherwise approved by the City Council, then • the traffic volumes used in the analysis shall include total traffic expected to be generated from all previously approved projects even if they will not be completed at the time the subject project is completed. 2. The incremental regional traffic for the time period between the date of existing counts and one year after project completion will be estimated based on the rate projected by the traffic model or on a growth projection developed by the Traffic Engineer and approved by the Planning Commission. 3. For making the 1% test of ILA.2., traffic volumes shall not be used which exceed the capacity of the circulation system specified in the General Plan. D. Trip Generation: 1. Trip generation estimates for the project shall be based on standard trip generation values established by the City Traffic Engineer. Standard trip generation rates • may be modified only when the applicant proposes 6 L-18 specific, permanent measures that will reduce peak hour traffic generated by the project, provided that: a. The applicant describes in writing, in advance of the traffic analysis, the proposed measure, the estimated reduction in trip generation that will result, and the basis for the estimate. The estimate must be approved by the Planning Commission or City Council on appeal or review before the trip generation figures may be reduced; and b. The applicant provides the Planning Commission with a written assurance that the proposed trip generation reduction measure will be permanently implemented, and agrees to make said permanent implementation a condition for project approval. 2. Credit shall be given for existing uses on the project site except that no credit shall be given for any use that has been terminated for more than one year prior to the filing of an application for new development on the property. E. Traffic Distribution: Traffic distribution shall be based on the traffic network expected to exist one year after project completion including those portions of the network associated with previously approved projects or portions of projects expected to exist at that time. F. Improvements or Modifications to the Circulation System: If the applicant wishes to propose quantifiable improvements or changes to the circulation system, which may not appear to be strictly consistent with the Circulation Element, or special assumptions as a basis for the traffic analysis, he shall provide a description of such proposals in writing to the Planning Commission, along with supporting data justifying their use, in advance of the traffic analysis. Such proposals may then be 7 L-18 used in the Traffic Analysis if they are approved by the Planning Commission and the City Council. IV. Issuance of Permits Permits may be issued for all or a portion of a project after an appropriate finding under I.D. has been made. A. Grading Permits: Grading permits may be issued prior to performance of the traffic analysis if vesting rights associated with grading are waived by applicant. B. Building Permits: Where traffic system improvements have been included in the traffic analysis, building permits may be issued only after traffic system improvement timing has been confirmed as follows: 1. It has been budgeted and committed for development by the City; or 2. The State or County or other governmental agency making the improvement has accepted bids; or 3. The improvement is to be installed or guaranteed by the applicant in conjunction with the development project and is approved by the appropriate governmental jurisdictions. Adopted - February 26,1979 Amended - November 23,1981 Amended - November 12,1985 Amended - November 26,1987 Amended - November 27,1989 Amended - March 22,1993 Amended - January 24,1994 Formerly S-1 Amended - February 14,1994 is 40