(a) A permanent driveway across a sidewalk shall not be constructed, reconstructed or repaired until a permit is issued therefor by the Safety-Service Director.
(b) The construction or reconstruction of a driveway from the paved roadway to the private property shall be not less than seven-inch concrete slab of one to five mix. All commercial driveways shall be adequate to carry the loads to which they are subjected, but no driveway shall be less than seven inches thick, one to five mix. Detailed plans, in triplicate, of the proposed construction or reconstruction will be required showing lot lines, street curb lines, street inlets or public utility structures which may be affected by, or which are immediately adjacent to the proposed driveway, and such other information as may be necessary, all of which shall be subject to the approval of the Safety-Service Director.
(c) Driveway entrances shall have a width of not less than twelve feet nor more than thirty-five feet measured at the curb line. The width of driveways at the property line shall not be greater than the width at the curb line. Multiple driveway entrances will be permitted where necessary and with the approval of the City Engineer, but not to exceed a width of thirty-five feet measured at the curb line for each multiple driveway entrance, provided however, that such multiple driveway entrances shall be separated by pedestrian safety islands. Such safety islands shall be in whole units of car parking spaces, as follows: 28 feet,48 feet, 68 feet, or any additional number of 20-foot spaces. In no case can more than sixty percent (60%) of the property frontage be used for driveway purposes.
(d) Driveways across sidewalks shall have a depth on the abutting private property adequate to permit a vehicle to completely clear the sidewalk right of way so that no part of the vehicle shall remain on or project over such right of way. Where such driveway enters a building, the garage provisions of the Building Code will apply. Where such driveway enters a parking lot, provisions must be made for cars to turn around and head out;
(e) Where driveways serve other than residence property, driving thereover in the sidewalk area shall be confined to a width measured at the property line not greater than the width at the curb line, by the construction of suitable curbs or barriers. Such curbs or barriers shall be constructed of concrete or steel firmly set or anchored in the ground. The curb or barrier shall extend at least seven inches above the surface of the ground or paved area. In cases where the private property is used for parking vehicles in a position other than parallel to the street property line, these curbs or barriers shall be located or constructed as to prevent any part of the parked vehicles from extending over the sidewalk area. The location, specifications and termini shall be subject to the approval of the Safety-Service Director.
(f) Driveways near street intersections, where the angle between the street lines is forty degrees or less, shall be constructed so that the end of the curb cut nearest the intersection is not closer than two feet from a point at right angles to the street line at the point of the street line intersection, and where the angle between the streets is eighty degrees shall not be closer than four feet. For angles between forty degrees and eighty degrees the distance shall vary proportionately. The four-foot distance shall be maintained for angles up to 100 degrees, and for angles of 140 degrees or more shall not be less than fourteen feet. For angles between 100 degrees and 140 degrees, the distance shall vary proportionately.
(1) Where residential driveways are serving interior lots, the curb cut shall not extend beyond a line drawn at right angles to the street line at the corner of the lot.
(2) Where driveways, other than residential driveways, are serving interior lots, the curb cut shall not extend beyond a line drawn at right angles to the street line at the corner of the lot, and the line of the driveway shall be no closer than three feet to the line drawn at right angles to the street line at the corner of the lot at a point three feet back of the curb line. Form this point to the property line the driveway will not be less than three feet from the line drawn at right angles to the street line at the corner of the lot. Driveways may be constructed at an angle not less than sixty degrees with the curb line.
(3) No driveway entrance shall interfere with Municipal facilities such as street-lighting pole, traffic signal standards, signs, catch basins, hydrants, crosswalks, bus loading platforms, bus stops, utility poles, fire alarm supports, underground pipes or ducts or necessary street structures. Arrangements shall be made with the proper authority, at no expense to the City, for the adjustment or relocation of the facility affected before a driveway permit will be issued. In no case will it be permissible for a curb cut to be located closer than three feet to any pole, inlet, etc., i.e. no part of the pole, inlet, etc., shall project within the space between the curb cut and a line drawn at right angles to the curb three feet from the curb cut as measured along the curb.
(4) Filling stations, industrial or business building(s) requiring direct entrances for two or more lanes of traffic shall have their driveway layouts approved by the Director before receiving their building permits.
(5) Where the owner of any premises, existing or proposed building or structure, contemplates constructing or reconstructing a driveway at the same time as constructing or making alterations to a building or structure, or any other time he shall have the driveway layout approved by the Director before constructing the driveway and before building permit is issued.
(g) For residential driveways, where the property to be served by the proposed construction or reconstruction of a driveway abuts on a street on which the curb is of the vertical face type and the walkway is located with its outside edge not less than three feet from the curb line, the driveway shall ramp from the grade at the edge of the walkway to a grade not less than one and three-fourths inch above the gutter grade. Across the walkway and for at least one foot farther towards the street property line, the grade of the driveway shall coincide with the cross grade of the walkway. On improved streets where there are no walkways, the standard walkway grade shall be carried to the street property line. On streets having no curbs or walkways, the traveled roadway shall be considered the established grade and the slope of the driveway from the roadway to the street property line shall rise at the rate of one-half inch per foot.
(1) Where the outside edge of the walkway is less than three feet from the curb line, the grade of the driveway shall attain the sidewalk grade and not exceed that distance. In special cases of narrow walkways laid contiguous to the back of the. curb, the length of the ramp to gutter shall be decreased to permit not less than a three foot walking space. In case of full-width sidewalks, the cross grade of the walkway shall be maintained to the street property line.
(2) For nonresidential driveways, the above provisions for residential driveways shall apply, except that in all cases the cross grade of the walkway shall be maintained to the street property line.
(h) If, at any time, it is found that the driveway provisions set forth in the preceding sections are impracticable for a particular case, the Director shall be authorized to modify the strict application of the same, so as, on the one hand, to provide for the safety and convenience of the public, and, on the other hand, to avoid undue hardship on the owner, in harmony with the purpose of such sections. Any modifications made by the Director shall be submitted to Council for approval prior to issuance of a driveway permit. (Ord. 61-4. Passed 1-12-61.)