Title 17 - ZONING >> Chapter 17.11 - TRANSPORTATION CAPACITY MANAGEMENT >>

Chapter 17.11 - TRANSPORTATION CAPACITY MANAGEMENT

Sections:

17.11.010 - Intent.

17.11.020 - Definitions.

17.11.030 - Transportation capacity test.

17.11.040 - Exemptions.

17.11.050 - Administrative reconsideration.

17.11.060 - Appeal to the town council.


17.11.010 - Intent.

The town is required by the state Growth Management Act, chapter 36.70A RCW, to ensure that proposed development not be approved unless transportation improvements or strategies to accommodate the impacts of such development are established concurrently with any proposed development that would otherwise reduce the level of service of a transportation facility below the standards adopted in the transportation element of the town's comprehensive plan. The intent of this chapter is to establish a transportation capacity management system to ensure that transportation facilities and services needed to maintain adopted minimum comprehensive plan level of service standards are available concurrently with, or within a reasonable time after, new development, occupancy, or use. This chapter implements the goals, policies and implementation strategies of the transportation element of the town comprehensive plan.

(Ord. 548 (part), 2001)

17.11.020 - Definitions.

"Applicant" means a person or entity that has submitted a complete application for a development or building permit.

"Available transportation capacity" means currently unused transportation capacity within a transportation facility.

"Concurrency" concurrency means that adequate transportation facilities are available when the impacts of development occur or a financing plan is adopted which will fund required improvements within six years.

"Development permit" means any land use or development approval which may be granted by the town and Yakima County.

"Level of service standard" means the level of service standards used in transportation capacity tests are those standards specified in the current adopted transportation element of the town comprehensive plan.

"Planned capacity" means transportation capacity for a transportation facility that is not yet available, but for which the necessary facility construction, expansion or modification project is included in the current adopted transportation element and scheduled to be completed within six years.

"Transportation capacity" means the volume of transportation activity (motor vehicles/ lane/unit time) that can be reasonably and safely accommodated by a transportation facility, as stated in the transportation plan.

"Transportation capacity test" means the comparison of the transportation capacity required by proposed development and the available capacity, including planned capacity.

"Transportation facility" means the classified streets identified in the transportation element of the comprehensive plan.

(Ord. 548 (part), 2001)

17.11.030 - Transportation capacity test.

A.   Application. The town's review of all applications for development permits and for building permits for projects not exempted by 17.11.040 shall include a transportation capacity test conducted by the town.
B.   Procedures. The transportation capacity test will be performed by the town in conjunction with review of proposed development projects and budding permit applications. The town shall notify the applicant of the test results.
1.   If the unused capacity of transportation facilities affected by a project is equal to or greater than the capacity required by the project, the transportation capacity test is passed.
2.   If the unused capacity of transportation facilities affected by a project is less than the capacity required by the project, the transportation capacity test is not passed. The project may not be approved unless transportation improvements or strategies to provide capacity required by the project are established concurrently with the project.
3.   In the event a proposed project does not pass the transportation capacity test, the applicant may:
a.   Modify the application to reduce the transportation capacity required by the project;
b.   Demonstrate to the town's satisfaction that the project will require less transportation capacity than would normally be required by similar projects and that, therefore, unused transportation capacity is adequate;
c.   Propose transportation improvements or strategies to provide the capacity required by the project development.
C.   Test. Proposed developments that would reduce the level of service below the minimum level of service standard cannot be approved. For transportation facilities, available and planned transportation capacity will be used in conducting the transportation capacity test. For the purposes of this chapter, "transportation capacity" shall be measured as eight hundred (800) vehicles per lane during peak hour.
D.   Fees. A fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be paid for each transportation capacity test, except that this fee shall be waived for one subsequent test within six months of a test for which the fee was paid.

(Ord. 548 (part), 2001)

17.11.040 - Exemptions.

A.   No Significant Impact. Development permits for projects which, as determined by the town, create less than ten PM Peak Hour Trips, as estimated using the Institute of Transportation Engineers Trip Generation Manual, 6th Edition (or more recent) on any transportation facility are exempt from the requirements of this chapter
B.   Building Permit Applications Filed Before Effective Date of Ordinance. Complete building permit applications submitted before the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter are exempt from the requirements of this chapter.
C.   Single-Family Homes. Single-family homes on lots platted before the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter are exempt from the requirements of this chapter.
D.   Traffic Counts. Traffic counts shall be maintained and regularly updated by the town and used for monitoring purposes.

(Ord. 548 (part), 2001)

17.11.050 - Administrative reconsideration.

The applicant may request administrative reconsideration of the results of the transportation capacity test within fifteen (15) days of the notification of the test results by filing with the town a formal request for reconsideration specifying the grounds thereof, using forms authorized by the town. Each such request for administrative reconsideration shall be accompanied by a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00). The town shall reconsider the test results and issue a determination either upholding the original determination or amending it.

(Ord. 548 (part), 2001)

17.11.060 - Appeal to the town council.

The applicant may appeal the results of the transportation capacity test within fifteen (15) days after the town issues notice of decision on a request for administrative reconsideration. Each such appeal to the town council shall be accompanied by the appropriate appeal fee. The town council shall review the test results and issue a determination either upholding the original determination, amending or rejecting it.

(Ord. 548 (part), 2001)