Board of Adjustment Agenda and Packet 2011 06 15

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ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS "Your Project, Our Pride" May 19, 2011 To: Troy Russ, AICP Director of Planning and Building Safety City of Louisville 749 Main Street Louisville, CO 80027 RE: Steel Ranch (Takoda Subdivision) Site Area Waiver Request Dear Mr. Russ, J3 Engineering has been requested by Boulder Creek to evaluate the City's requirement, as reflected in the previously approved PUD for Steel Ranch (formally Takoda). The vision clearance area requirements within City code adversely impact the platted lots within Steel Ranch and warrant review to determine the applicability to current standards. To accomplish this request, we have reviewed the Municipal Code for the City of Louisville as it pertains to Vision Clearance Areas and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, typically referred to as the AASHTO "green book". The City's Municipal Code states the following: Sec. 17.16.100. Vision clearance areas. A. A vision clearance area shall contain no plantings, walls, structures or temporary or permanent obstructions exceeding 2 1/2 feet in height, measured from the top of the curb or existing grade, unless such structure or obstructions are more than 80 percent open. B. The minimum distance establishing the size of the vision clearance area shall be 30 feet, except that at intersections including an alley, the minimum distance shall be 15 feet. C. Vision clearance areas shall not be required in the area designated as the central business district, except with respect to fences and structures similar to fences. Sec. 17.08.590. Vision clearance area. Vision clearance area means a triangular area on a lot at the intersection of two streets or a street and a railroad, two sides of which are lot lines measured from the corner intersection of the lot lines to a distance specified in the regulations. The third side of the triangle is a line across the corner of the lot joining the ends of the other two sides. Where the lot lines and intersections have rounded corners, the lot lines will be extended in a straight line to a point of intersection. The vision clearance area contains no plantings, walls, structures, or temporary or permanent obstructions exceeding 2 1/2 feet in height measured from the top of the curb or existing grade unless such structures or obstructions are more than 80 percent open. Our understanding is that the intent of the Vision Clearance Area is to ensure that a driver's vision is not impaired when pulling out of an intersection into traffic. This same concern is addressed in the AASHTO green book under Intersection Sight Distance and Sight Triangles. AASHTO describes sight triangles as a specified area along intersection approach legs and across their included corners that should be dear of obstructions that might block a driver's view of potentially 3151 South Vaughn Way, Suite 680 • Aurora, Colorado 80014 Phone: 303.368.5601 • Fax: 303.368.5603 • J3Engineering.net