By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
A new ordinance, aimed at shepherding future development projects, has been added to Whitewater’s municipal code. The document had backing from the city planner and a stamp approval from elected officials.
The Common Council on Sept. 20 adopted a so-called access control ordinance, which will pave the way for new uniform infrastructure standards in the road ahead.
The intent of the ordinance, City Planner Chris Munz-Pritchard said, is “to better provide clear guidance to future developers and more effectively plan the future location and design of driveways, median openings, interchanges and street connections.”
The ordinance carries a multi-pronged effort, including efforts to improve public safety standards and to allow for more efficient traffic control measures. To a lesser extent, aesthetics is another driving force behind the document.
The five-page document outlines the various provisions within the ordinance. A section outlining its purpose states the goal is to “limit the number of conflict points, providing safe spacing standards between driveways, encouraging shared access between abutting properties and ensuring safe access by emergency vehicles.”
The document touches on all roadways within the city’s municipal boundaries, including arterial roads, frontage roads, major and minor collector streets, state roads and federal highways.
The stipulations within the ordinance include a number of specific standards. Case in point: Property owners living along frontage roads cannot have more than two access points. A conditional-use permit would have to be granted to exceed the threshold.
Another standard, pertaining to arterial streets, states developers might have to create an access point on an adjacent property if congestion or safety concerns arise, though that provision would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Munz-Pritchard initially presented the proposed ordinance to the Plan and Architectural Commission. Members on the panel recommended moving forward with the proposal.
