Access for subdivision lots shall meet the standards of this section.
(A) Generally, one driveway access shall be permitted per lot, except for corner lots where one driveway per road is permitted, except for circular driveways where up to two driveway accesses are permitted and except where common easements of access may be required as provided below.
(B) To achieve more creative planning and preservation of natural property features, pipestem lots are permitted provided each has exclusive unobstructed private access easement of at least 20 feet width to a public road. Two pipestem lots with no more than one dwelling on each lot may share a common access easement of at least 24 feet width.
(C) The Plan Commission may require common driveways to be shared by two adjoining non-pipestem lots if they deem it appropriate for the purpose of highway access safety or design.
(D) (1) Access easements providing legal access to more than two pipestem lots or more than one regular lot shall be at least 50 feet in width and shall have the capability of providing suitable locations for future public streets meeting the standards set forth in this chapter.
(2) Generally, up to four lots may receive access from a private access easement if by reason of topography, traffic safety, or other condition peculiar to the property, the Plan Commission finds it appropriate.
(3) The subdivision plat shall be properly noted that the access easement is private and a plan for maintenance shall be filed with the plat.
(4) The Plan Commission shall approve a plan for maintenance and the proposed access easement road improvements.
(E) An access easement serving more than four lots shall be considered a street and must be constructed according to the street standards in § 153.090, even if the street remains private. In this case, the subdivider must submit a plan for maintenance for approval by the Plan Commission.
(F) Lots in residential subdivisions shall not, in general, have access directly from an arterial. Where a subdivision borders on, or contains, an existing, or proposed, arterial the Plan Commission may require that access to the streets be limited by one or more of the following means:
(1) The subdivision of residential lots so that they back onto the arterial and front onto a parallel subdivision street; no access shall be permitted to the collector or arterial from any lots, and screening may be required in a planting strip inside the rear property line of the lots;
(2) A series of cul-de-sacs, U-shaped streets, or short loops entered from, and designed generally at, right angles to such a parallel street, with the rear lines of their terminal lots backing onto the arterial;
(3) A marginal access or service road (i.e., a perimeter street separated from the arterial by a planting or grass strip and having access thereto at suitable points); however, marginal access or service roads shall generally be discouraged in residential subdivisions; and/or
(4) A common driveway between two adjoining lots, as provided by § 153.089.
(G) Driveways shall be constructed according to the following standards.
(1) Where possible, driveways shall be designed and arranged so as to prevent vehicles from having to back onto any road or driveway.
(2) No driveway shall interfere with drainage flow within any right-of-way.
(3) Appropriate state permits shall be obtained for driveway access onto any state highway.
(4) Permits as required by the County Highway Access Ordinance, if adopted, shall be obtained prior to access onto county roads.
(5) Driveways shared by two lots or driveways shared by two pipestem lots shall meet the following minimum standards:
(a) It shall have a minimum width of 16 feet;
(b) It shall have a minimum depth of eight inches of Type P or Type 0 made stone or gravel; and
(c) These standards only apply to the portion of the driveway that is jointly shared.
(6) All other applicable standards of the Access Control Handbook shall be followed for driveway construction.
(Prior Code, § 152.089) (Ord. 87, passed 4-18-1988)