01-19-12 Regular, Public Hearing and Workshop Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission

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DRAFT JANUARY 10, 2012 In addition, relying on a single set of standards for development may be problematic. According to the City's 2005 Comprehensive Plan Update and the City's Public Improvement Criteria Manual (PICM), all new streets within the City will be concrete curb and gutter. Rather, standards for development should reflect its urban, auto - urban, and suburban character, with provision for curb and gutter construction, sidewalks, street lighting, signage, and sufficient open space. By way of example, new development in the Lomax area (where the character of development is rural), the standards should be varied to mirror the character (i.e., open channel construction), yet remain reasonable and feasible. E �1] iTFI 191 State Highways/ Freeways Freeways are devoted entirely to traffic movement with limited or no direct land service function. Freeways are multi -lane divided roadways with a high degree of partial access control, meaning few, if any, intersections at grade. Full or partial control of access distinguishes freeways from other classes of roadways. Freeways serve large volumes of high -speed traffic and are primarily intended to serve long trips. In La Porte, S.H. 225 and S.H. 146 are classified as freeways /state highways. Although the freeway /state highway classification includes the main lanes of designated facilities, continuous frontage roads (also termed service roads or feeders) are more appropriately classified as secondary arterial roadways or collectors. It is desirable to have another parallel arterial roadway offset one - half to one mile along either side of a freeway, to provide circulation for traffic movement along one -way frontage roads. Since these roadways are state highways, the City's ability to manage these them is limited. While it is necessary that they continue to serve their intended purpose of conveying regional traffic, within an urban setting it is important that they also provide facilities for all users including bike lanes, tree lawns, sidewalks, and transit facilities. Primary Arterials Primary arterials are also intended to carry large amounts of regional traffic. Within La Porte, the designated primary arterials include Canada Street, Fairmont Boulevard, Barbours Cut, Bay Area Boulevard, Sens Road, and Old 146 Highway. These arterials are commonly two- to five -lane facilities (in some cases six) that are designed to accommodate 20,000 to 60,000 vehicles per day. Access is generally limited along streets of this classification in order 33 , All new and planned subdivisions have, or will have concrete, curb and gutter streets." La Porte Comprehensive Plan — 2005 Update, Cbj. 5.5a. 34 City of La Porte Public Improvement Criteria Manual, Chapter 6, Paving Design Criteria, Table 6.1 A CO1v1MUNITY VI SION FOR LA 1'ORTE TEXAS - 2010 UPDATE