🧭 Evaluating Future Residential Development Impacts

🎯 Goal: Assess how incremental low-density growth may affect mobility, safety, and watershed resilience—ensuring proactive planning, ordinance alignment, and ecological safeguards.

I. 📍 Background Context

• 🏡 Land Use Designation:

• Parcel zoned Low Density Residential under Texas Charter Township’s Future Land Use Plan

• No reclassification expected, but overlays (e.g., Cluster Development, Sub-Area Parcel) permit modest expansion

• 📈 Growth Implications:

• Even low-density additions may gradually increase traffic volume

• Potential cumulative effects on road safety, emergency access, and pedestrian exposure

II. 🚦 Mobility Impacts

• 🚗 Trip Volume Surge:

• ITE Trip Generation Manual (LUC 210): 9.44 vehicle trips/day per single-family unit

• New homes could moderately strain local roadways and intersections

• 🔁 Intersection Load:

• Peak-hour trips may reduce Level of Service (LOS) at key junctions

• Risk elevated if access points cluster near collector roads

• 🚶‍♀️ Pedestrian & Multimodal Context:

• Sidewalks improve walkability and reduce pedestrian risk

• Growth may increase exposure near unprotected crossings or high-traffic zones

• 🌧️ Impervious Surface Expansion:

• Added roads, sidewalks, and driveways increase hard surface area, reducing infiltration

• Elevated runoff volumes may overwhelm stormwater systems, accelerate basin discharge, and contribute to lake nutrient loading

• Risk of downstream impacts such as algal blooms, flooding, and groundwater compression rises with cumulative impervious coverage

III. ⚠️ Safety Considerations

• 🚧 Collision Risk:

• Added driveways and turning movements create conflict points

• Especially concerning near school zones or collector corridors

• 🛑 Traffic Calming Deficiency:

• Sidewalks alone may not suffice—speed signage, sightline buffers, and crosswalk upgrades are essential

• Without these, pedestrian and vehicular safety hazards may persist