1. Vehicular Access. There shall be a minimum of two primary vehicular accesses. Primary and secondary vehicular access shall be from a street designated collector or greater on the city’s most recent traffic study or analysis.

2. Traffic Impact Analysis. The developer shall submit a traffic impact analysis prepared by an engineer licensed by the state of Alaska under AS Title 8. Operational analysis and determination of level of service (LOS) for the traffic impact analysis prepared under this section must be in accordance with the Alaska Department of Transportation highway standards for highway impact and mitigation.

1. Developments expected to generate 250 or more vehicle trips during the peak hour of the adjacent road on the opening date of the development shall make improvements as follows:

2. If a road has an unacceptable LOS under subsection (B)(2) of this section without traffic generated by the development, either at the opening date of the development or 10 years after the opening of the store, the developer shall make improvements to the adjacent roads so the operation of the roads does not deteriorate more than 10 percent in terms of delay time or other appropriate measures of effectiveness with the addition of the traffic generated by the development at the opening date of the development or 10 years later.

3. A development for which a traffic impact analysis report has been approved shall use signs and markings on approaches to highways within the development that conform to the Alaska Traffic Manual. The city adopts by reference the Alaska Traffic Manual, consisting of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, 1988 Edition, including Revisions 1 through 7, issued by the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and the State of Alaska Supplement, as revised as of January 27, 1992. Internal circulation and parking layout must provide sufficient queuing distance within the development between the road and potential internal block points to ensure no traffic backs up onto the highway, including bicycle or pedestrian facilities.

4. If a traffic impact analysis discloses impacts upon pedestrian and bicycle traffic, a developer shall take steps to mitigate the impact.

5. The city may, in its best interest, relax the requirements for mitigation under this section, if it finds in writing that the:

1. Landscaping shall be equal to 15 percent of the total lot area.

2. Landscaping shall consist of a combination of components such as lawn area, landscape beds, ground cover plants, shrubs, evergreen trees, deciduous trees, earthen berms and wooden fences. No single landscaping component may occupy more than 50 percent of the area to be landscaped.

3. All parking lots visible from public rights-of-way shall be screened with a combination of trees, shrubs or other plant materials, possibly in combination with fences and berms.

4. Where a side, or portion thereof, of an LRE parcel is adjacent to a residential zone, an earthen berm, no less than six feet in height, with evergreen trees a minimum of five feet in height at planting at intervals of 15 feet on center shall be provided on such side or portion thereof. A solid wooden fence, no less than six feet in height, may be substituted for the berm. Due to the high winds in Palmer, an interlap fence (alternating board on each side) may also be used, and may be preferable to solid. For purposes of this subsection, “adjacent” means touching or across from an alley or residential street. “Adjacent” does not mean across from a commercial, collector, or arterial street.

5. All landscaping structural requirements (e.g., drainage, grading, concrete, rock or keystone bed structures, sidewalks) must be met at occupancy. Topsoil addition and final grading and seeding and all plantings of flora must be met within 12 months of occupancy, or within the first growing season after occupancy, whichever comes first. The owner, lessee, etc., shall continue to meet such requirements thereafter and replace all dead shrubs and trees to maintain the landscaping in good condition.

6. Grassy areas shall be maintained according to standard turf practices, which include regular mowing, fertilizing and watering.

1. A detailed parking plan shall address the convenience and safety of patrons, adequate winter lighting, landscaping amenities, and the configuration of parking spaces, walkways, and other amenities. Aesthetic features, landscaping, and the design of parking areas shall, wherever practicable, reduce the appearance of large expanses of parking from neighboring streets and enhance the view of the establishment from its principal point(s) of access.

2. No more than 60 percent of the off-street parking area for the lot, tract or area of land devoted to the large retail establishment shall be located between the front facade of the large retail establishment and the abutting streets (the front parking area).

3. The minimum number of parking spaces is determined by PMC 17.64.010. Additional landscaping and community space may be required where the applicant wishes to provide parking that exceeds 115 percent of the minimum standards of this title.

4. The owner and lessees shall prohibit storage or overnight camping of trailers or recreational vehicles.

1. The outdoor lighting plan shall contain the following information:

1. Facades and Exterior Walls, Including Side and Back Walls. The building shall be designed in order to reduce the appearance of massive scale or a uniform and impersonal appearance and to provide visual interest. Long building walls shall be broken up with projections or recessions.

2. Detail Features. The design shall provide architectural features that contribute to visual interest at the pedestrian scale and reduce the massive scale effect by breaking up the building wall, front, side, or rear, with color, texture change, and repeating wall offsets, reveals, or projecting ribs.

3. Roofs. The roof design shall provide variations in roof lines and heights to add interest to, and reduce the massive scale of, large buildings. Parapet walls shall be architecturally treated to avoid a plain or monotonous style.

4. Materials and Colors. The buildings shall have exterior building materials and colors which are aesthetically pleasing and compatible with the overall development plan. Construction material shall provide color, texture and scale. Predominant exterior building materials shall not include smooth-faced concrete block or prefabricated steel panel.

5. Entryways shall be designed to orient customers and add aesthetically pleasing character to buildings by providing inviting customer entrances that are protected from the weather. Each entrance shall be a clearly defined, highly visible customer entrance featuring no less than three of the following: canopies or porticos; overhangs; recesses/projections; arcades; raised corniced parapets over the door; peaked roof forms, arches, outdoor patios; display windows; architectural details such as tile work and moldings which are integrated into the building structure and design; integral planters or wing walls that incorporate landscaped areas and/or places for sitting.

6. Screening of Mechanical Equipment. Roof- or ground-mounted mechanical equipment shall be screened to mitigate noise and views in all directions. If roof-mounted, the screen shall be designed to conform architecturally with the design of the building, whether it is with varying roof planes or with parapet walls. Ground-mounted mechanical equipment shall be screened. The screen shall be of such material and be of sufficient height to block the view and noise of the equipment.