(A) Access required. All lots or parcels shall have direct adequate physical access for emergency or public safety vehicles along the frontage of the lot or parcel from either an existing improved city street or an existing private road approved by the city. In addition to the required direct physical access, a lot or parcel may have a private easement access driveway to the lot over adjacent lots or parcels.
(B) Permit required. Construction or alteration of all driveways onto city streets, approved private roads, county roads and state roads shall require a driveway access permit. All driveways onto a street designated as a state highway shall require an access permit from the state. All driveways onto a street designated as an approved private road or city street shall require an access permit from the City Engineer. All driveways onto a county road shall require an access permit from the county’s Highway Department and must meet all county regulations. A performance deposit shall be required as per the city ordinance.
(C) Permit application. All applications for a city driveway permit shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator. Applications shall include:
(1) Application for driveway permit;
(2) A site plan drawn to scale including, but not limited to, the following information: Proposed location of driveway, all structures on the lot, septic system drainfield, well and major topographic features;
(3) Financial guarantee; and
(4) Copy of an issued county or state access permit if required.
(D) Driveway design standards.
(1) All driveways and all related applications shall indicate that the proposed driveway meets the following standards:
Residential Uses | Commercial and Industrial Uses |
Residential Uses | Commercial and Industrial Uses | |
Culverts | Size and type to be determined by the Zoning Administrator as per engineering standards. Aprons or an alternative as per engineering standards shall be required | |
Maximum grade in right-of-way | 3% | 3% |
Maximum side | 4:1, but slopes as steep as 3:1 may be allowed in an area of fill subject to approval of the City Engineer. Where existing slopes are steeper than 3:1, a driveway may be permitted upon compliance with a stabilization plan prepared by a registered professional engineer to the satisfaction of the City Engineer | 4:1 |
Maximum slope | 12%, but driveways with slopes greater than 10% must have bituminous surface | 8% |
Maximum turning radius onto street | 15 feet | 40 feet |
Maximum width | 22 feet | As determined by the city |
Minimum clearance each side of centerline | 6 feet, but if less 10 feet bituminous surface may be required by City Engineer | 10 feet |
Minimum driveway angle in right-of-way | 60 degrees to 90 degrees | 60 degrees to 90 degrees |
Minimum lot line setback | 10 feet | 10 feet |
Minimum setback from intersection of two or more rights-of-way | 60 feet (20 feet in VHS) | 60 feet |
Minimum setback from principal structure | 3 feet | 5 feet |
Minimum turning radius onto street | 5 feet | 10 feet |
Minimum vertical | 12 feet | 12 feet clearance |
Minimum width | 12 feet | 16 feet |
Minimum width in right-of-way | 16 feet | As determined by the Zoning Administrator |
Surface strength | Minimum of 6 inches class V gravel or its equivalent as determined by the City Engineer | |
(2) All applications for a driveway permit that do not meet these minimum standards shall submit any additional information as may be required by the Zoning Administrator.
(E) Turnaround. All residential structures set back more than 150 feet from the centerline of the fronting city street or approved private road shall provide a turnaround in the driveway near the principal structure. The turnaround area shall be a minimum of 40 feet by 50 feet, have a minimum turning radius of 45 feet if a cul-de-sac, or be a design approved by the Zoning Administrator. All turnarounds shall have the same surface strength as required for the driveway.
(F) Permit issuance restricted. No building or septic permit shall be issued for a particular parcel of property until a driveway permit has been approved or issued.
(G) Conformity of work. Before any site preparation work is done, that part of the driveway located in the street right-of-way shall be constructed according to the permit.
(H) Number and type. The number and types of driveways onto city streets may be controlled and limited in the interests of public safety and efficient traffic flow as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
(I) Change of use. Upon a change in land use or a major change in the traffic pattern of the existing use, existing driveways are not automatically perpetuated and a new driveway application may be required.
(J) Financial guarantee. To assure compliance with this chapter and the conditions of any driveway permit, the Zoning Administrator may require a financial guarantee from each applicant. The financial guarantee may be in the form of a performance bond, irrevocable letter of credit or escrow deposit as regulated in other sections of this chapter. The amount of the financial guarantee shall be equal to 125% of the estimated cost of the construction of the driveway, or an amount determined by the Zoning Administrator. A financial guarantee shall be released to the applicant upon satisfactory completion of the driveway installation according to this chapter and any conditions of the driveway permit.
(K) Typical driveway cross-section.
(L) Typical driveway profile.
(M) Review and approval.
(1) The City Engineer shall review and approve driveway plans that have greater than a 10% grade, provide less than a 16-foot clearance, and have less than a 4:1 side slope. The City Engineer shall determine if the plans must be prepared by a registered professional engineer and if a financial guarantee in the amount of 125% of the cost of construction of the driveway and stabilization of the slopes must be posted with the city.
(2) A financial guarantee valid for one year following completion may be required for erosion control and slope stabilization. Soil conservation service and Watershed District approval (where applicable) will be required.
(3) The applicant will be responsible for all costs incurred by the city for review of the plans, inspection, as well as preparation of any legal documents required for approval.
(Prior Code, § 12-84) (Res. 1997-16, passed 6-17-1997)
Cross-reference:
Streets and Sidewalks, Ch. 151