A.
Intent.
(1)
To provide information to the Township that allows assessment
of the sufficiency of public street infrastructure to handle current
and development-generated traffic demands, a determination of mitigation
measures and street improvements, and estimation of related costs
of such mitigation measures and improvements.
(2)
To require that applicants provide reasonable proposals to address
traffic impacts generated by a proposed use.
B.
Uses requiring a traffic impact study. In addition to a requirement
for preparation and submission of a traffic impact study found elsewhere
in this chapter, application for the following uses shall include
a traffic impact study.
C.
General requirements.
(1)
Any required traffic impact study shall be submitted with the
application for zoning permit by right, conditional use or special
exception, or preliminary land development or subdivision plan, whichever
is submitted earlier.
(2)
The full costs of the traffic impact study and Township review
of the traffic impact study shall be borne by the applicant.
(3)
The scope of the traffic impact study (the public roads and
public and private road intersections to be studied) shall be established
upon consultation with the Township Traffic Engineer, but shall extend
a maximum of one mile from the proposed development boundaries, or
in the event of a development expected to generate more than 3,000
trips per day shall extend a maximum of two miles from the proposed
development boundaries.
(4)
A traffic impact study shall include a description of the proposed
development, its proposed access and the surrounding street system.
If a development is proposed to occur in phases, each phase shall
be described and taken into account in the study.
(5)
A traffic impact study shall include a description of any land
development or subdivision plans for property in the study area which
have obtained preliminary plan approval. If the applicant owns other
lands within the study area, reasonable assumptions shall be made
about how that land can be expected to be developed and shall be taken
into account.
(6)
Traffic volumes and service levels during the a.m. and p.m.
peak hours shall be presented for all streets and intersections in
the study area that can reasonably be expected to be significantly
impacted by the proposed use. Traffic volumes shall be based upon
actual counts that occurred within the prior two years, and not upon
state estimates. The locations of all accidents in the study area
reportable to the state police during the recent two-year period shall
be noted.
(7)
The traffic impact study shall include an estimate of the number
of trips expected to be generated by the use and any future phases
of the use during the a.m. and p.m. peak hours. Such estimates shall
be based upon the latest published estimates of the Institute of Transportation
Engineers, or its successor entity, unless the applicant provides
the Township with estimates and supporting documentation based upon
actual traffic counts of closely similar developments in Pennsylvania.
(8)
The traffic impact study shall take into account not only the
use proposed by the applicant, but other uses and developments that
have received preliminary land development or subdivision approval.
The study shall project a.m. and p.m. peak hour traffic volumes and
levels of service on streets and intersections in the study area.
If the traffic generated by the uses and developments would be more
than 50% greater during any hour other than the a.m. or p.m. peak
hour on adjacent streets, the study shall analyze both the peak hours
for the development for adjacent streets. The study shall project
what directions the traffic generated will head toward.
(9)
The study shall estimate the levels of service (A, B, C, D,
E and F) for key traffic movements, including turning movements, following
the standards of the United States Department of Transportation.
(10)
Heavily traveled intersections at entrances to the proposed
use and other major unsignalized intersections in the study area shall
be studied to determine whether a traffic signal is warranted by PennDOT
criteria. Existing traffic signals that are significantly impacted
shall be studied to determine whether they are in need of upgrading.
(11)
The traffic impact study may take into account traffic improvements
which are clearly funded and will be constructed within the next two
years. The study shall include suggestions for how each congested
or hazardous intersection in the study area should be improved to
reduce the hazard or congestion, and a rough estimate of the cost
of that improvement.
(a)
Any movements on streets and intersections within the study
area showing a Level of Service E or worse, based on the latest edition
of the Highway Capacity Manual, shall be considered deficient. Specific
recommendations for the elimination of these deficiencies shall be
identified. For unsignalized intersections where the traffic impact
of the use causes the side street approach to degrade to a Level of
Service D or lower, the intersection shall be evaluated for a signal
warrant. Highway capacity evaluations shall consider not only the
overall intersection level of service, but also each approach and
movement to identify any substandard values which need to be improved.
(b)
All locations where the level of service for the completion
year of the use is deficient without the proposed development, the
study shall determine improvements which would provide a level of
service and delay no worse than conditions without the subject use.
These improvements may include street and intersection design and
improvements, traffic signal installation and operation, traffic signal
timing and other improvements. The study shall also provide an analysis
to determine improvements which would eliminate all deficient levels
of service.
(c)
The identification of recommended improvements shall include,
for each improvement the party responsible for the improvement, a
preliminary cost estimate and funding of the improvement, and the
phase of the use during which the improvement is proposed to be completed.
Any improvement which requires increased right-of-way shall be identified.
(d)
Approval of a site access plan by PennDOT does not guarantee
approval of the application for which the traffic impact study was
provided.
(12)
The applicant shall respond to the traffic impact study with
a proposal on traffic improvements, right-of-way dedications or commitments
of financing for specific projects that the applicant proposes to
commit to to resolve the negative traffic impacts of the proposed
use. Such improvements of financing may be phased in in relation to
the phases of the development.
(13)
Any traffic improvements that are required as a condition of any approval under this chapter or Chapter 86, Subdivision and Land Development, shall be in place or sufficient funds committed in escrow acceptable to the Township prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit, or within a phased schedule agreed to at the time of the approval.
(14)
The preparer of the traffic impact study shall be a professional
traffic engineer. The applicant shall reimburse the Township for reasonable
fees and expenses incurred for the review by the Township Engineer
and or Traffic Engineer for the review of the use's traffic impact
study and improvement plans.
A.
This section applies to those uses which, in consideration of the controlling opinions of the Courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do not meet the definition of "land development" as defined in and regulated by Chapter 86 (Subdivision and Land Development) of the Code of the Township of Mount Joy. For such uses, the following sections of Chapter 86 are incorporated herein and made part of this chapter.
B.
For purposes of this article, the term "land development" as stated
in any of the above-referenced requirements and standards shall be
understood to mean the proposed use of the lot. Compliance with these
requirements and standards, as may be applicable to a proposed use,
shall be demonstrated by the applicant for zoning permit, conditional
use or special exception by written narrative and/or site plan, as
appropriate.
