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Engineers and Land Surveyors
851 Bridger Drive, Suite 1, Bozeman, MT 59715 | phone: 406-522-8594
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1
April 2, 2021
Shawn Kohtz
City Engineer
City of Bozeman
20 E. Olive
Bozeman MT, 59715
RE: North Central Block 4
Access Standard Deviation Request
Shawn:
Please find the following deviation request from the access standards for the North Central Block 4
parking garage entrance onto Villard. The proposed garage entrance onto Villard Street provides
access to 85 parking spaces, essentially replacing the existing parking lot access onto Villard Street.
The garage entrance is 20’ from the alley access onto Villard measured edge to edge. This request
addresses the information required per BMC 38.400.090.H.3. and shows that this access does not
jeopardize the public’s health, safety and welfare, or the intent of this code chapter.
Deviation Request from Property Access Standards BMC Sec 38.400.090
H. Modifications of property access standards.
3. Commercial developments (including residential complexes for five or more households)
which may not be able to meet the requirements of subsections C through E of this section, and are
requesting modifications from the standards, must submit to the city engineer a report certified by a
professional engineer addressing the following site conditions, both present and future:
a. Traffic volumes;
The North Central TIS measured 500 ADT on Villard Street, which is a low traffic volume. With full
development of the North Central Master Plan traffic on Villard Street is expected to be 650 ADT, still
a low traffic volume. The TIS analyzed the peak hour traffic at the proposed garage entrance and
the projected Level of Service is A, indicating a free flow of traffic and low potential for conflicts.
b. Turning movements;
All turning movements into either the alley or the garage entry can be accommodated as proposed.
It is unlikely that turning movements from the garage into the alley, or the opposite, will occur.
c. Traffic controls;
Villard Street is stop controlled at Willson Avenue, reducing street traffic speeds at the access
location, and providing additional reaction time.
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d. Site design;
The existing property dimensions dictate a north-south alignment of the parking garage drive aisle.
Shifting the access 20’ to the east to maintain separation from the alley would reduce available
ground floor retail space between the parking garage and the building front and would require
confined maneuvering in the garage.
The parking garage entry includes an 18’ approach so cars can pause outside of the garage entry to
observe traffic and be visible to other traffic without blocking the sidewalk.
e. Sight distances; and
Typical site vision triangles are maintained for both accesses. The parking garage entry includes an
18’ approach so cars can pause outside of the garage entry to observe traffic and be visible to other
traffic without blocking the sidewalk.
f. Location and alignment of other access points.
The parking garage entry onto Villard Street replaces an existing parking lot access at nearly the
same location. Other than the alley, there are no access on this section of Villard Street.
Sincerely,
Stahly Engineering & Associates
Cordell D. Pool, PE
Associate Principal