2. Ordinance on highway accesses

COMMENTARY: As an area develops and subdivisions are platted contiguous to one another, the internal street system should interconnect Such interconnection permits local movement between subdivisions without forcing trips between subdivisions to use major roads such as County Highways as part of an internal circulation system. For commercial developments, outlots and service to individual businesses should be provided by an internal circulation system. The purpose of major roads such as County Highways is to carry traffic to and from such sites, not to augment or be a part of an internal circulation system. 10.4 Changes in Land-Use If a change in land-use or land-use density occurs and an existing access facility is proposed to be used, the owner shall make application to the Highway Department to continue use of the existing access facility. The application for use of the existing access facility shall be reviewed as if it were a new access facility and all the provisions of this Ordinance shall apply. COMMENTARY: Changes in land-use or land-use density result in a change in the number of vehicles using an access facility; therefore, modifications, improvements, or revisions may be required to the access facility and/or the County Highway to accommodate the change. 10.5 Access to Subdivided or Previously Platted Parcels Access to land subdivided prior to the adopted date of this Ordinance April 2, 2007, shall comply with the requirements of this Ordinance to the extent possible. Owners of such property for which access is being requested and for which compliance with this Ordinance cannot be attained may request the County Engineer to grant access. Such access granted by the County Engineer shall be the least deviation from the rules. regulations, and specifications of this Ordinance. COMMENTARY: Many older existing subdivisions were platted with small lots fronting on County Highways. In these instances shared access or indirect access can be used to reduce the number of access points on a County Highway, 10.6 Shared Access Certain geometric, land-use, and site conditions may require shared access among two or more developments or properties. This would occur when frontages are small and each development or property is unable to meet the requirements of this Ordinance. In these instances, shared access 19 ----,.,,-"'''',........'- .