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A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to present standards and procedures for evaluating and managing vehicular access and circulation during development review to maintain adequate safety and operational performance standards and to preserve the functional classification of roadways as required by the City’s Transportation System Plan (TSP) and this code by:

Providing reasonable access to individual properties via adequately spaced local streets and alleys;

Providing a multi-modal transportation system;

Protecting the rights of individuals to reasonable access to private property; and

Ensuring safe and efficient travel for all.

B. Applicability. This section shall apply to vehicular access for all properties that abut public and private streets.

C. Approval of Access Required. Proposals for new access shall comply with the following procedures:

1. Permission to access City streets shall be subject to review and approval by the City based on the standards contained in this chapter and the provisions of BDC Chapter 3.4, Public Improvement Standards. Access will be evaluated and determined as a component of the development review process.

2. Permits for access to State highways shall be subject to review and approval by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) based upon ODOT’s adopted standards, except when ODOT has delegated this responsibility to the City or Deschutes County. In that case, the City or County shall determine whether access is granted based on the City or County’s adopted standards.

3. Permits for access to County highways shall be subject to review and approval by Deschutes County based upon Deschutes County’s adopted standards, except where the County has delegated this responsibility to the City, in which case the City shall determine whether access is granted based on the City’s adopted standards.

D. Traffic Study Requirements. A transportation impact analysis (TIA) may be required under BDC Chapter 4.7, Transportation Analysis, for certain types and intensities of development proposals and to determine access restrictions of driveways onto arterial and collector roadways.

E. Conditions of Approval. To ensure the safe and efficient operation of the street and highway system, the City may require the closing, consolidation, or relocation of existing curb cuts or other vehicle access points, recording of reciprocal access easements (i.e., for shared driveways and cross access routes), development of frontage or backage streets, installation of traffic control devices, and/or other mitigation measures that comply with this code, the City’s Standards and Specifications, and are approved by the City.

F. Access Management Requirements. Access to the street and alley system must meet the following standards:

1. Lots and parcels in all zones and all uses can have one street or alley access point. Except as authorized in subsection (F)(4) of this section, lots or parcels with more than one existing access may be required to close an existing street access in accordance with the following:

a. When a property has more than one permitted street access, the City Engineer will require one of the existing street accesses to be closed and replaced with curb, sidewalks/pathways, and landscaping, in accordance with the provisions of this code and the City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

b. The City Engineer will require a residential development to close an existing street access if they have access to an alley and replace it with curb, sidewalks/pathways, and landscaping in accordance with this code and the City of Bend Standards and Specifications, with exception of the following:

i. Access to an existing permanent garage structure would be removed.

ii. Removal of the access would make the site nonconforming by removing required parking.

iii. The applicant may state in the written narrative they are electing to use a Type II discretionary track and request that the Review Authority make a determination that the alley is impractical.

iv. Triplexes and quadplexes. See subsection (F)(3)(b) of this section.

2. If a lot or parcel has frontage on two or more streets of different street classifications, the property must access the street with the lowest classification.

a. Exception. Where adjacent to two streets and one street is designated as a bicycle low stress route as shown in the Transportation System Plan Figure 5-1, Bicycle Low Stress Network, access must be from the street that is not a bicycle low stress route.

3. Alley Access.

a. Single-Unit Detached Dwellings, Townhomes, Duplexes and Accessory Dwelling Units.

i. Clear and Objective Track. For lots or parcels abutting an alley, access must be taken from the alley.

ii. Discretionary Track. If the applicant states in the written narrative they are electing to use a Type II discretionary track, then the applicant may request that the Review Authority make a determination if the alley is impractical due to physical or topographical constraints or natural features.

b. Triplexes, Quadplexes.

i. Clear and Objective Track.

(A) For lots or parcels abutting an alley, access must be taken from the alley.

(B) In addition to alley access, triplexes and quadplexes may have one street access permitted on a local street with a maximum 24-foot-wide driveway approach. Access to a street is not permitted when the local street includes a bicycle low stress route as shown in the Transportation System Plan Figure 5-1, Bicycle Low Stress Network.

(C) Where an alley provides the only access, the lot coverage may be increased by an additional 10 percent.

ii. Discretionary Track. If the applicant states in the written narrative they are electing to use a Type II discretionary track, then the applicant may request the Review Authority to make a determination if the alley is impractical due to physical or topographical constraints or natural features.

c. Mixed-Use, Single Room Occupancy and Multi-Unit Developments.

i. Clear and Objective Track. For lots or parcels abutting an alley, access must be taken from the alley.

ii. Discretionary Track. If the applicant states in the written narrative they are electing to use a Type II discretionary track, then the applicant may request that the Review Authority make a determination if the alley is impractical due to physical or topographical constraints, natural features or that the alley does not provide adequate or sufficient access to the proposed development and access to the higher classification roadway will be safe.

d. All Other Uses. Outside of the Downtown Wall Street/Bond Street couplet, the City Engineer may determine that an alley is not an adequate roadway for primary access if both of the following criteria are met:

i. The alley does not provide adequate or sufficient access to the proposed development; and

ii. Access to the higher classification roadway will be safe.

4. Additional Access Points.

a. Single-unit detached dwellings with no alley access may have an additional access point in compliance with the following:

i. Corner lots or parcels at the intersection of two local streets may have one access point per frontage.

ii. Lots or parcels on a local street that are not corner lots and have a frontage of 80 feet or wider may have two access points. The accesses must be separated by a minimum of 10 feet as measured between the edge of the approaches.

b. Townhomes, duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes, see BDC Chapter 3.6, Special Standards and Regulations for Certain Uses.

c. Mixed-Use and Multi-Unit Developments. If the applicant states in the written narrative they are electing to use a Type II discretionary track, then the applicant may request an additional access point in compliance with subsection (F)(4)(d) of this section.

d. All Other Uses. An additional access point may be allowed when it is demonstrated that the additional access improves on-site circulation, and does not adversely impact the operations of the transportation system. If the second access point is only available to an arterial or collector roadway, the City may require one or more of these conditions of approval:

i. Locating the access the maximum distance achievable from an intersection or from the closest driveway(s) on the same side of the street;

ii. Right-in/right-out access may be required within 300 feet of a signalized intersection or roundabout. If adequate 95 percent queuing and turn pocket transition lengths are determined not to exceed the proposed point of entry, the City Engineer may grant access exceptions;

iii. Establishing a shared access with an adjoining property when possible; and/or

iv. Establishing a cross access easement with an adjoining property when possible.

5. Access Spacing Requirements. The maximum distance achievable between two driveways or a driveway and an intersection shall be provided. Access spacing shall accommodate City of Bend Standards and Specifications for curb reveal between driveway apron wings.

6. Access Operations Requirements. Backing from an access onto a public street is not permitted except for single-unit, duplex, triplex or quadplex dwellings backing onto a local street or for any use when backing into an alley if adequate backing distance is provided. The design of driveways and on-site maneuvering and loading areas must include the anticipated storage length for entering and exiting vehicles, in order to prevent vehicles from backing into the flow of traffic on the public street or causing unsafe conflicts with on-site circulation.

7. Driveways shall be designed and located to provide a vehicle in the driveway with an unobstructed view of the roadway for a sufficient distance as required by City Standards and Specifications or the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) policy on intersection sight distance requirements as determined by the City.

8. Driveway widths, designs, and materials shall comply with City of Bend Standards and Specifications.

9. Ribbon Driveways. Ribbon driveways may be used to provide access to single-unit detached dwellings, accessory dwelling units, townhomes, duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes; provided, that:

a. The ribbons are located only on the driveway and are paved with asphalt, concrete or comparable surfacing across its entire width;

b. The ribbons are at least two feet wide; and

c. The ribbons are not more than three feet apart measured from their nearest edges. See Figure 3.1.400.

Figure 3.1.400. Concrete Ribbon Driveway

G. Shared Access. For traffic safety and access management purposes, the number of driveway and private street intersections with public streets shall be minimized by the use of shared driveways with adjoining lots where feasible. The City may require shared driveways as a condition of development approval in accordance with the following standards:

1. Shared Driveways and Frontage Streets. Shared driveways and frontage streets are encouraged, and may be required to consolidate access onto a collector or arterial street. When shared driveways or frontage streets are required, they shall be stubbed to adjacent developable land to indicate future extension. For the purpose of this code, stub means that a driveway or street temporarily ends at the property line, and shall be extended in the future as the adjacent property develops, and developable means that a property is either vacant or it is likely to redevelop.

2. Access Easements. Access easements for the benefit of affected properties shall be recorded for all shared driveways, including walkways, at the time of final plat approval or as a condition of development approval.

3. Cross Access. Cross access is encouraged, and may be required between contiguous sites in the Public Facilities, Mixed-Use, Commercial and Industrial Zones and for multi-unit dwelling developments in the Residential Zones in order to provide for direct circulation between sites and uses for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers and to enable compliance with the collector and arterial access management requirements of this chapter.

H. Driveway Widths. Driveway openings (or curb cuts) must be the minimum width necessary to provide the required number of vehicle travel lanes (10 feet minimum width for each travel lane). When obtaining access to off-street parking areas backing onto a public street is not permitted except for single-unit, duplex or triplex dwellings backing onto a local street or when backing into an alley for all uses if adequate backing distance is provided. The following standards provide adequate site access, minimize surface water runoff, and avoid conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians:

1. Single-unit detached dwellings must have a minimum driveway opening width of 10 feet, and a maximum width of 24 feet. Wider driveways may be necessary to accommodate approved paved recreational vehicle pads; however, the driveway opening or connection to the street cannot be wider than 24 feet. For townhomes, see BDC 3.6.200(D), Townhomes, and for duplexes and triplexes, see BDC 3.6.200(H), Duplex, Triplex and Quadplex Development.

2. Multi-unit developments must have a minimum driveway opening width of 20 feet, and a maximum width of 30 feet. The dimension may exceed 30 feet if the City Engineer determines that more than two lanes are required based on the number of trips generated or the need for turning lanes.

3. Other Uses. Access widths for all other uses must be based on 10 feet of width for every travel lane, except that driveways providing direct access to parking spaces must conform to the parking area standards in BDC Chapter 3.3, Vehicle Parking, Loading and Bicycle Parking. Driveway aprons serving industrial uses and heavy commercial uses may be as wide as 35 feet.

4. Driveway Aprons. Driveway aprons must be installed between the street and the private drive. Driveway apron design and location must conform to City of Bend Standards and Specifications and the City’s adopted accessibility standards for sidewalks and walkways.

I. Fire Access and Parking Area Turn-around. A fire equipment access drive shall be provided for any portion of an exterior wall of the first story of a building that is located more than 150 feet from an existing public street or approved fire equipment access drive as measured around the building. Parking areas shall provide adequate aisles or turn-around areas for service and delivery vehicles so that all vehicles may enter the street in a forward manner (except for single-unit dwellings and alleys that provide adequate backing width).

J. Repealed by Ord. NS-2487. Repealed.

K. Barricades. Gates, barricades or other devices intended to prevent vehicular and/or pedestrian access must not be installed across any approved driveway or private street that provides access to multiple properties except when required by the City to restrict vehicle access to an arterial or collector street or when required by BDC 3.4.200(I)(3)(b).

L. Construction. The following development and maintenance standards apply to all driveways. The City of Bend Standards and Specifications prevail in the case of conflicting rules related to the design and construction of public infrastructure.

1. Surface Options. Driveways, required parking areas, aisles, and turn-arounds must be paved with asphalt, concrete or comparable surfacing or a durable nonpaving material (e.g., grass-crete, eco-stone) may be used to reduce surface water runoff and to protect water and air quality. Gravel is not allowed.

2. Surface Water Management. When an impervious surface is used, all driveways, parking areas, aisles and turn-arounds must have on-site collection or infiltration of surface waters to prevent the flow of stormwater onto public rights-of-way and abutting property. Surface water facilities must be constructed in conformance with City specifications. Durable nonpaving materials (e.g., grass-crete, eco-stone) are encouraged to facilitate on-site infiltration of stormwater. [Ord. NS-2488, 2023; Ord. NS-2487, 2023; Ord. NS-2463, 2023; Ord. NS-2462, 2023; Ord. NS-2423, 2021; Ord. NS-2353, 2019; Ord. NS-2318, 2018; Ord. NS-2177, 2012; Ord. NS-2016, 2006]