(a) Definitions.
(1) "Driveway apron" means any paved area constructed within the public right of way, connecting the paved public roadway with private property, for the purpose of providing access for motor vehicles to private property.
(2) "Commercial driveway apron" means a driveway providing access to a commercial establishment in business for the purpose of servicing or storing motor vehicles, loading or unloading merchandise transported in the vehicle, or serving the driver of the vehicle while he remains in the vehicle.
(3) "Noncommercial driveway apron" means any driveway providing access to private property not included under the definition of commercial driveway.
(4) "Street line" means the line dividing a property and the public right of way set aside for street purposes .
(5) "Property line" means the line dividing two (2) adjacent properties.
(6) "Curb line" means a raised ledge adjacent to the paved portion of the roadway which delineates that portion of the street maintained for the purpose of vehicular travel. In the absence of a raised curb the edge of the paved portion of the roadway shall be considered as the curb line.
(b) Construction; Modification.
(1) The construction of all driveway aprons shall conform to the standards and specifications established by the Division of Building.
(2) If, at any time, it is found that the driveway apron provisions set forth in this Chapter are impracticable for a particular case, the Building Commissioner shall be authorized to modify the strict application of the same, so as to provide for the safety and convenience of the public and, at the same time, to avoid undue hardships on the property owner, in harmony with the purpose of this Chapter.
(3) When an owner is dissatisfied with the requirements established herein or as modified by the Division of Building, he may appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals with respect only to requirements for width and location.
(c) Commercial Driveway Aprons.
(1) Width.
A. A two-way driveway apron shall have a maximum width of thirty feet and a one-way driveway shall have a maximum width of twenty-five feet, both to be measured at right angles to the center line of the driveway, except as increased by permissible radii.
B. Driveway apron radii (curb return radii) shall not exceed the distance between the curb line and the street line, less four feet. In locations where the use of curb returns is not practicable, the use of flares may be authorized. The width of a flare, measured along the curb line, shall not exceed five feet.
C. The maximum length of a curb cut for a driveway apron and permissible radii, measured at the curb line, shall be sixty feet for a two-way driveway and fifty feet for a one-way driveway.
(2) Angular Placement. The center line of a two-way driveway apron shall meet the curb as close as practicable to a ninety degree angle, and the center line of a one-way driveway apron may meet the curb line at an angle less than a right angle, but at not less than sixty degrees.
(3) Location of driveway aprons.
A. At a property line, with an adjacent property or alley, a curb length of not less than three feet shall be left undisturbed between the near edge of the driveway apron and the property line projected at right angles to the curb line.
B. At a street intersection, a curb length of not less than fifteen feet shall be left undisturbed between the near edge of the driveway apron and the street line of an intersecting street, projected at right angles to the curb line.
C. A curb length of not less than six feet shall be left undisturbed between adjacent driveway aprons on the same property. A minimum island width of six feet, measured both at the street line and at a point four feet outside of the curb line, may be permitted between adjacent one-way drives serving as a combined entrance-exit facility. Such driveway aprons must be clearly designated by signs as "entrance" and "exit".
(4) Number of driveway aprons.
A. For the first one hundred feet (100 ft.) of property frontage along a street line, each property shall be limited to a maximum of one driveway.
B. For each additional one hundred feet (100 ft.) of property frontage along a street line, each property shall be limited to a maximum of one additional driveway.
C. In no case shall more than sixty percent (60%) of a property frontage along a street line be used for driveway apron purposes.
D. The Board of Zoning Appeals shall have the authority to grant a variance where practical difficulty or unreasonable hardship would result from an application of these rules.
(d) Noncommercial Driveway Aprons.
(1) Width.
A. The minimum driveway apron width shall be ten feet and the maximum driveway width shall be twenty feet, both to be measured at right angles to the center line of the driveway apron, except as increased by permissible radii.
B. Driveway apron radii (curb return radii) shall not exceed the distance between the curb line and the street line, less four feet. In locations where the use of curb returns is not practicable, the use of flares may be authorized. The width of a flare, measured along the curb line, shall not exceed five feet.
C. The maximum width of a curb cut for a driveway apron and permissible radii measured at the curb line shall be forty feet.
(2) Angular placement. The center line of a driveway apron shall meet the curb line as close as practicable to a ninety degree angle.
(3) Location of driveway aprons. At a street intersection, a curb length of not less than thirty feet shall be left undisturbed between the near edge of a driveway apron and the street line of an intersecting street, projected at right angles to the curb line.
(4) Number of driveway aprons.
A. Each lot shall have only one driveway.
B. The Board of Zoning Appeals shall have the authority to grant a variance where peculiar difficulty or unreasonable hardship would result from an application of these rules.
(Ord. 5641-86. Passed 5-19-86.)