Driveways and Vehicular Access
When planning for driveways and vehicular access, applicants must ensure their site plans include vehicle turning templates. These templates are essential to verify that there is adequate space for the largest vehicles expected to access and maneuver within the site. The City may require these detailed plans to confirm that the site accommodates all vehicle types anticipated for use.
The traffic consultant is responsible for engaging with the Culver City Mobility & Traffic Engineering and Current Planning Divisions. This collaboration helps determine if vehicle access is restricted on certain streets where the City is implementing measures to enhance pedestrian-friendly environments. For instance, if a street is undergoing pedestrianization efforts, access by large vehicles may be restricted to maintain safety and improve walkability.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Access
Access to the project site should also cater to pedestrians and cyclists. While the driveway location might not always align with pedestrian and bicycle paths, safety must be a priority to prevent conflicts between these users and motor vehicles. Design best practices should be followed, especially where sidewalks and bicycle lanes intersect with driveways. This ensures that pedestrians and cyclists can cross driveways safely without risking their safety.
Parking
The applicant must collaborate with the City’s Public Works Department (PWD) to assess the potential loss of parking meter revenue resulting from any removal of parking meters due to the project. This assessment is crucial to understand the financial impact on the City’s revenue from parking meters.
If valet parking is requested as part of the project, it will be evaluated separately by the PWD. The project must adhere to established guidelines and cover any associated costs. Additionally, if the project requires a shared parking analysis, it should be discussed with Culver City staff during the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) process to ensure compliance and accurate assessment.
Curb Space Allocation
Proper management of curb space is vital. The applicant should coordinate with the City to ensure that curb space is allocated efficiently between various uses such as passenger and commercial loading, bus stops, and parking for bicycles and other alternative modes of transportation. This allocation should be managed in a way that maintains clear visibility at driveways and avoids any congestion or safety issues.
Safety Analysis
Vehicular Safety
The applicant must work with the Culver City Public Works Department to determine if the project is situated on or impacts a priority safety corridor within the high injury network (HIN), as identified in the Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) or other safety analyses. If the project is on or affects a HIN corridor, it is necessary to evaluate the project's potential adverse effects on roadway safety.
Should the project negatively impact a HIN corridor, including intersections and road segments, the applicant must collaborate with the City to develop and implement measures to enhance safety conditions. This might involve designing and constructing engineering solutions, as well as potentially introducing safety education measures. It is also crucial to ensure that the project does not obstruct the future implementation of safety improvements identified by the City in the LRSP.
Safety for People Walking and Bicycling
In addition to vehicular safety, the applicant must review the City’s LRSP to determine if the project is near collision hotspots involving pedestrians and cyclists. If the project is in such an area, it must be demonstrated how the project’s design features will not exacerbate the existing safety issues. This involves ensuring that the project’s design aligns with LRSP recommendations and does not worsen the safety conditions for people walking and bicycling.
In summary, the comprehensive approach to driveway and vehicular access planning, pedestrian and bicycle access, parking management, curb space allocation, and safety analysis ensures that projects contribute positively to the urban environment and do not adversely impact safety or functionality. Applicants must collaborate closely with Culver City and adhere to established guidelines and best practices to achieve these goals.