Lec 25: Ch2.

(T&LD): Site planning

Understand the difference between the linear

site planning process and systems approach
Know what may be involved in reviewing a
proposed land development
Understand the the scale of development requires
different levels of traffic analysis and facility design
Understand we need to have a conceptual plan (or
a preliminary plan) in order to identify alternatives
and associated problems before we get involved in
detailed planning and design

Pitfalls of linear site-design

process

Possible problems
of the linear
process:

Building
location &
design

Inadequate access
capacity

On-site parking
& circulation

Access
location &
design
No

On-site congestions
Congestion on the
public street system
Access design
is like an
after
thought

High accident
experience
Limited flexibility to
adjust the design or
operation to changed
conditions

Benefits of the systems approach

Lots of
feedback
opportunities

Involve the
traffic engineer
from the
beginning!

Before building
location and design
are finalized and
financial commitments
are made, estimate
potential traffic
impacts on the site
and the off-site,
affected areas and
identify possible

Proposed Development Review (PDR)

Process
Consisting of:
Financial feasibility study Determine
the market area of influence, the
projected build-out/lease-out period, and
the potential short- and long-term return
on investment.
See page
19 for
check
items

Site-plan review: Site design,

access location and design, and
other elements
Traffic impact analysis (TIA) a
specialized study of the impact a certain
type and size of development will have on
the surrounding transportation system. The
first two items define the scale of TIA
required

TIA
TIA Concerned with the generation, distribution, and
assignment of traffic to and from a proposed
development through the road network surrounding the
development. Also TIA is to determine what impact the
existing and projected traffic on the roadway system
will have on the proposed development.

When is it required?
All development which can be expected to generate more
traffic than some specified threshold
All applications for rezoning
Any change in the use of an existing commercial or
industrial site
The previous TIA is more than 2 years old or where
increased land use intensity will result in an increase in traffic
generation by more than 15% or a directional distribution in

Typical content of a TIA

1. Existing conditions

Sound
2. Trip generation and design hour volumesfamiliar
3. Trip distribution and traffic assignment
4. Existing and projected traffic volumes
5. Capacity analysis
6. Traffic accidents
7. Traffic improvements

Topics of
CEEn 562

8. Conclusions
9. Summary of findings and recommendations

Planning scales: Corridor, project, or site

planning issues
(Compare the size of impacted
area)
Corridor Level Arterials
and collectors placement
& Impact of the
development on these
facilities

Planning scales: Corridor, project, or site

planning issues (cont)
Site level
parking, building
footprint, site
circulation
(See Tab 2-1)

Project level
Impacts on
adjacent
properties and
roadways and the
placement of

Conceptual site plan: An example

Objective: Identify suitable areas for various
developments

Existing transp.

Major land use

planning

Conceptual
site plan:
An
example
(cont)
Site
characteristi
cs of 6 sub
areas, used
to determine
a
preliminary
distribution
of land use