PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Transportation and Capital Improvements Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Public hearing and first reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 118 Subdivision Platting, Section 46 Streets, Subsection (y), Traffic Impact Analysis.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements, Planning and Development Services
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
City staff presented proposed traffic impact analysis (TIA) review fee increases to the City Council on July 6, 2023, as part of proposed fee adjustments for various city services. City TIA review is primarily contracted through a 3rd party reviewer as a professional service. At the meeting, the City Council directed staff to adjust the review fee to actual 3rd party review costs to minimize the burden to existing taxpayers, maintain an established review timeline, and improve TIA report submittals.
The Transportation and Capital Improvements Department reviewed the current regulations, practices, and procedures. It determined that amendments to the current ordinance must align with the new review fee, meet current and recommended practices, and align with community objectives. The proposed key amendments include:
• Reference the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual for the basis of land use.
• Add the Roadway Impact Fee Study in addition to the Future Land Use Plan if the specific land use is unknown.
• Require the TIA report to be prepared, signed, and sealed by a professional engineer with specific training and experience in traffic and transportation engineering and planning.
• Add the ITE Multimodal Transportation Impact Analysis for Site Development recommended practice as the primary guiding document for the methodology, thresholds, and principles in preparing a TIA report.
• Specify that the applicant complies with established city policies and procedures for submitting and processing TIA applications.
• Update the submittal type and study area to recommended practice.
|
Peak-hour Trips |
Submittal Type |
Study Area |
|
1-99 |
Worksheet |
Site |
|
100-199 |
Level 1 |
Site and area adjacent to the site boundary |
|
200-499 |
Level 2 |
Site and area 0.5 miles from the site boundary |
|
500+ |
Level 3 |
Site and area 1 mile from the site boundary |
• Provide a consistent format for all reports.
• Specify traffic volumes and capacity analysis to recommended practice.
• Add site accessibility assessment, including access management, site circulation, parking, deliveries, and pedestrian, bicycle, and transit connectivity.
• Add neighborhood traffic control plan for new public street systems.
• Add school accessibility and traffic control plan.
• Update that mitigation is required at level of service “D” and identified as part of the site accessibility and neighborhood traffic control plan.
• The guidelines for applying and designing deceleration lanes meet TxDOT requirements.
City staff presented the proposed amendments to the development community on August 31, 2023, the Planning Commission on September 6, 2023, and the City Council on September 18, 2023. The timeline has been delayed by one month to allow for a public hearing at the Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on November 7, 2023. City staff presented the proposed amendments and clarified the requirement of a TIA at a zoning change application. The current code states that the planning director may require a TIA for a zoning change application. City staff determined that a TIA should be required in some cases to provide an informed recommendation to the Planning Commission and City Council for a zoning change. City staff prepared objective criteria to inform the community when a TIA will be required, which was discussed with the Planning Commission. It is not intended for the criteria to be established in the code. The Planning Commission was concerned with the threshold based on financial and time impact on the developer. Based on the discussion, city staff has adjusted the threshold to be presented to the City Council.
ISSUE:
Amendments to the traffic impact analysis requirements are needed to align with the new review fee, meet current and recommended practices, and align with community objectives.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on November 7, 2023, and unanimously recommended approval.
Staff recommends approval of amendments to Chapter 118 Subdivision Platting, Section 46 Streets, Subsection y, Traffic Impact Analysis.