The standards established in this subsection shall apply to all driveways and to all curb cuts made to provide vehicular access to any lot or parcel of land, whether the curb cut or driveway is on public or private property.
A. Width. Each driveway permitted under this section shall be of such grade and of such width, not exceeding sixteen (16) feet at the lot line and sidewalk for driveways in single-family residential zones and not exceeding twenty-two (22) feet at the lot line and sidewalk for driveways in all other zones.
B. Location. Each driveway shall be constructed at such location as the Director of Public Works, in his or her discretion, shall find proper after making the investigation in the light of the standards specified in this section.
C. Properties located on blocks served by public alleys.
1. Any interior lot adjoining a public alley shall be accessed exclusively by a single driveway from such alley, except that an interior lot fronting on a street without on-street parking on the block face.
2. Any corner lot adjoining a public alley may construct a single driveway from either the alley or street intersecting such alley.
3. Any corner lot located on a block served by an alley, but which does not abut such alley, shall be accessed by a single driveway on the street perpendicular to the alley.
D. Maximum Number of curb cuts for vehicular access.
1. Lots less than 75 feet in width. On lots less than 75 feet in width, there shall be no more than one curb cut for vehicular access to street, whether the curb cut is for a driveway, a vehicle turnaround or a parking area.
2. Lots 75 feet wide or greater. The Director of Public Works may, in his or her discretion, issue a permit for one additional curb cut for vehicular access to any lot or parcel of land concerning which such application shall have been made if, upon investigation, the Director of Public Works finds that the construction and maintenance of the additional curb cut and the driveway, turnaround or parking access connected to it will not substantially impair, endanger or interfere with the public safety. In exercising such discretion the Director of Public Works shall consider the amount of pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the proposed driveway and on the street or sidewalk adjacent to the property sought to be connected with any street or thoroughfare. The Director of Public Works shall also consider the grade or elevation of the public street with which any such driveway is to be connected and the proximity of the property sought to be so connected to any street intersection, railroad or railway crossing, fire or police station, or school or church. The following standards shall also apply: (1) The minimum distance between a vehicular curb cut and the nearest return of the intersection of two streets shall be 50 feet, as measured at the curb line of the street; (2) the minimum distance between the pavement surface and any tree on public property shall be 10 feet.
E. Applicability of standards to existing driveways.
1. Driveways that are in existence prior to April 6, 2004, and that do not conform with this Section are permitted to be repaired or replaced as a means of providing repair and maintenance, provided that the area of such a driveway is not increased by more than 10 percent.
2. In the event that a new home is constructed on a property and the driveway does not comply with this section, the driveway shall be removed and replaced with a driveway which conforms with this section.
3. The area used for vehicular access or parking shall not exceed the limitations on front yard impermeable surface established by Section 17.30.030 of this Code.
F. Materials. That portion of the driveway extending from the property line or edge of the sidewalk to the street shall be paved with either Portland cement concrete, bituminous concrete or other hard surfaced pavement. That portion of the driveway which crosses any concrete sidewalk shall be constructed of Portland cement concrete, with a similar finish to that of the adjoining sidewalk. The portion of the driveway located on private property shall be paved, for a distance of at least twenty-four (24) inches from the property line, with either Portland cement concrete or the same arterial as the portion of the driveway that extends from the property line or edge of the sidewalk to the street. The use of metal edging strips in the construction, reconstruction, repair or resurfacing of any portion of a driveway located on public right-of-way, and on any portion of a driveway within twenty-four (24) inches of any public street, sidewalk or right-of-way is prohibited.
G. Grade. That portion of a driveway which crosses a sidewalk must be kept as nearly as possible at the same grade as the walk so as to avoid interference with pedestrian traffic.
H. Cutting Curbs. Whenever the construction of a driveway requires that a curb be broken or disturbed in any way, this work shall be done so as to avoid any injury to the curb remaining in place, which shall be rounded off and finished as prescribed by the Director of Public Works.
I. Drainage. No driveway shall be so constructed as to interfere with the drainage of the adjoining street, or so as to permit the forming of pools of water in the driveway.
J. Safety Measures. Adequate barriers and lights must be maintained whenever any sidewalk is obstructed by construction of a driveway to prevent injury to any pedestrians.
(Ord. MC-184-97 § 1, 1997; prior code § 7.16)
(MC-2-2004, Amended, 04/06/2004)