Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Access Control topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission discusses limits on access connections; considers spacing chart and VDOT input
Summary
Staff proposed limiting the number of access points per parcel on major and minor arterials and requiring engineering analysis and VDOT concurrence for additional access; commissioners suggested using a spacing standard chart and asked staff to consult VDOT and refine language to avoid conflicts with minor-subdivision provisions.
Powhatan planning staff presented draft language on March 4 that would limit access connections per parcel on the county’s arterial and collector roads and require a traffic/engineered justification and VDOT concurrence for additional access points.
Why it matters: The proposal aims to reduce driveway proliferation and improve roadway safety and circulation by consolidating entrances or encouraging private roads and cross-access easements where parcels subdivide.
Staff proposed that parcels fronting major or minor arterials be allowed a single access by right, that one additional access be approved administratively by the planning director where engineering and sight-distance analyses support it, and that any request for more than two access points require Planning Commission review with VDOT concurrence. For rural collectors and local roads, staff recommended VDOT review and approval of proposed access connections where multiple new lots are created and shared access or private roads are feasible.
Commissioners discussed how the rule would interact with the county’s minor‑subdivision provisions and recommended incorporating an access-spacing chart (based on road classification and posted speed) to give applicants clearer standards. One commissioner said the 200–625 foot spacing charts used previously provided a clear baseline; staff agreed to send the draft language and proposed spacing chart to VDOT for review and return with a recommendation.
Ending: Staff will refine the proposed language, prepare a spacing chart tied to the county thoroughfare classifications, and consult VDOT before returning the item for further review.
