(A) Spacing between driveways and public street intersections is as follows. Along major thoroughfares, the minimum distance from the back of curb of the ultimate thoroughfare street cross-section of the intersecting roadway to the nearest edge of pavement of the proposed driveway shall be 150 feet. On a minor thoroughfare, the minimum intersection spacing shall be 125 feet. In addition, along nonthoroughfare streets that intersect with a thoroughfare street, the minimum intersection spacing along the nonthoroughfare street shall be 75 feet. On intersecting nonthoroughfare streets, the sight distance triangle shall dictate minimum distance from street intersection to nearest driveway.
(B) Along a major thoroughfare, the minimum spacing between driveway centerlines shall be 225 feet. On minor thoroughfares the minimal driveway spacing shall be 175 feet as measured from centerline to centerline of adjacent driveways. These spacing requirements apply to driveways on adjacent properties as well as on individual lots. On nonthoroughfare streets the minimum driveway spacing on individual lots shall be 30 feet between adjacent edges of pavement or back of curbs. The spacing requirement does not apply to adjacent property owners on nonthoroughfare streets.
(C) Along all thoroughfare streets, driveways shall be aligned with existing or proposed driveways on the opposite side of the street. Should strict application of this article unduly limit the use of a parcel or otherwise conflict with articles elsewhere within this chapter, the City Engineer may vary this article. Such variance may only be granted when it will not endanger city property or services, interfere with the flow of traffic and is topographically feasible.
(D) If access to any lot so delineated on a preliminary or final plat, approved prior to the effective date of this article, is unobtainable due to the application of these spacing requirements, then driveways are to be located from one another the greatest distance possible. In no case will the number of driveways be allowed to exceed the number specified in section 6-2-40.1.
(E) If access to a lot, parcel or any other lawful division of land created after the effective date of this article is unobtainable due to the application of the above spacing requirements, then ingress-egress easements will be provided to the nearest driveway.
(F) Driveways may be restricted by the City Engineer to one-way and/or right turn only operations. Proper signs shall be erected and maintained by the person, firm or corporation having control over the driveways, giving notice to such restricted use of the driveways. Failure to erect or maintain the proper signs shall be a violation of this article.
(G) In no case may the total width of all driveways exceed 50% of the total property frontage.
(H) All driveway entrances shall be located so that the driveway curb return, adjacent to the traveled way, will not encroach on the adjacent property frontage.
(1) A minimum distance, measured at the property line and parallel to the edge of the roadway, shall be reserved between any driveway edge of pavement and any adjacent property lines as specified below:
(a) Single-family or duplex residential: five feet minimum at the right-of-way line and may taper to one foot off the property line at a point 20 feet perpendicular from the right-of-way line.
(b) Multi-family, commercial, governmental, institutional: five feet minimum or in accordance with applicable bufferyard requirements.
(c) Industrial, automobile fuel/gasoline sales: ten feet minimum or in accordance with applicable bufferyard requirements.
(2) These distances shall apply in all cases except when a shared driveway is needed or used. Unless otherwise approved, the shared driveway will be centered on the property line separating the two lots.
(I) Driveways may only be incorporated into existing curb and gutter sections by removing and replacing adjacent curb and gutter sections sufficient to maintain existing drainage and alignment. Driveways for undeveloped single-family lots of record existing prior to the effective date of this article may be incorporated into existing curb and gutter sections by breaking off the back of curb at the flow line and pouring a continuous apron from the flow line to the right-of-way line.
(J) No part of a driveway will be allowed to encroach upon the sight distance triangle.
(Ord. No. 2371, § 1, passed 9-23-1991)
(K) All sites developed for residential uses located in the area of special flood hazard as defined in section 9-6-2 shall be required to have all driveways providing access to the site elevated such that the lowest point on the driveway is no less than one foot below the 100-year flood elevation or no lower than the highest accessible point on the adjacent public street providing access to the site, which shall be the point of entry between the development and the public street. Notwithstanding the foregoing, additional points of access onto a public street may be allowed to be constructed at a lesser elevation, provided that the access is no lower than the point of access to the public street, and provided that all elevations are no lower than the minimum necessary to provide safe access to the public street.
(Ord. No. 00-19, § 15, passed 2-10-2000)