§ 74.193. Site layout and construction standards.

Sidewalks, driveway approaches, curbs, gutters, pavements and appurtenances on public property and other facilities to provide access to abutting property shall be constructed, provided, altered or repaired in accordance with the city's standard specifications and details as maintained in the engineering department and as prescribed by the following standards:

(1)

Type I driveway approaches. Type I driveway approaches shall comply with the following standards:

a.

Width of driveway approach. Width of driveway approaches shall conform to the dimensions as required by table I.

b.

Radius. Driveway approaches shall be constructed with either winged side slopes or with return curbs having a rolled face disappearing at the sidewalks and joining the street curb with a radius to conform to the dimensions as required by table I. Winged side slopes shall be used whenever a curb return may present an architectural barrier within a pedestrian path.

c.

Removal of sidewalk. Where a driveway approach is designed to cross an existing sidewalk, the sidewalk included in the driveway approach area shall be removed and reconstructed as a driveway approach, unless the city engineer has determined that the section of sidewalk fully complies with the requirements of this section for driveway approaches.

d.

Removal of curb and gutter. Where a driveway approach is to be constructed at a location where a curb and gutter is in place, the curb and gutter shall be removed to the nearest existing construction joint or a new construction joint formed by other methods, as may be approved by the city engineer. The driveway approach shall be constructed monolithically with the new curb and gutter section and shall extend back to the property line. If the existing curb and gutter is found to be of satisfactory condition and strength, as determined by the city engineer, a one-inch minimum depth longitudinal and vertical saw cut or equal cut along the face of the curb may be required for curb removal. Curb removal shall extend to the bottom of the cut. New driveway approach concrete at the cut shall be a minimum of two inches thick.

e.

Drainage. Driveway approaches shall be designed to prevent the entrance of water from the street onto private property, except that a drainage system may be provided within the property to handle water coming from the street. Driveway approaches constructed below the street curb grade shall be deemed substandard, and the permit applicant/property owner shall be required to provide a certificate by a state-registered professional engineer certifying to the adequacy of the drainage system provided within the property to handle water coming from the street as a result of the substandard construction.

f.

Release of city. In consideration for the approval of substandard construction, the applicant/property owner is required to release and acquit the city from any and all damages that may result from substandard construction. The form of release shall be as approved by the city attorney.

(2)

Type II driveway approaches. Type II driveway approaches shall comply with the following standards:

a.

Width of driveway approach. The width of any driveway approach shall conform to the dimensions as required by table I, and the width shall be as measured along the property line, except that driveway approaches for motor vehicle docks, within a building, shall not exceed 60 feet in width at the property line. Where more dock space is required, the driveway approaches shall be separated by a traffic island meeting the standards by a traffic island meeting the standards set out in subsection (2)d of this section.

b.

Maximum space to be occupied by driveway approaches. Driveway approaches shall not occupy more than 70 percent of the roadway abutting frontage of the tract of ground devoted to one particular use, except as noted in subsection (2)o. of this section.

c.

Number of driveway approaches allowed. Not more than two driveway approaches shall be permitted on any parcel of property with a frontage of 150 feet or less, except that additional openings may be permitted with the approval of the city engineer for the necessity and convenience of the public.

d.

Separation between driveway approaches. When more than one driveway approach is required to serve a parcel of property, the driveway approaches shall be separated by a minimum distance, as measured at the property line, as required by table I.

e.

Requirements for safety curb or secured parking block. Where the grade at the property line may result in part of the vehicle extending into the pedestrian way, a safety curb or secured parking blocks shall be located so that no part of a vehicle shall extend over the property line into the right-of-way. The safety curb or parking blocks shall be constructed or arranged to end 24 inches from the intersection of the driveway approach with the property line.

f.

Joint approaches. Driveway approaches shall be located entirely within the frontage of the premises abutting the work, except that joint driveway approaches with adjoining property holders may be permitted provided joint application is made by all interested parties and the required width, as measured at the property line, is not exceeded.

g.

Angle of driveway approach. The angle of the driveway approach with the curbline shall be approximately 90 degrees for two-way driveways, or 45 degrees to 90 degrees for one-way driveways.

h.

Radius. Driveway approaches shall be constructed with either winged side slopes or with return curbs having a rolled face disappearing at the sidewalks and joining the street curb with a radius to conform to the dimensions as required by table I. Winged side slopes shall be used whenever a curb return may present an architectural barrier within a pedestrian path.

i.

Sidewalk to be removed. Where a driveway approach is designed to cross an existing sidewalk, the sidewalk included in the driveway approach area shall be removed and reconstructed as a driveway approach unless the city engineer has determined that the section of sidewalk fully complies with the requirements of this section for driveway approaches.

j.

Removal of curb and gutter. Where a driveway approach is to be constructed at a location where a curb and gutter is in place, the curb and gutter shall be removed to the nearest existing construction joint or a new construction joint formed by other methods as may be approved by the city engineer. The driveway approach shall be constructed monolithically with the new curb and gutter section and shall extend back to the property line. If the existing curb and gutter is found to be of satisfactory condition and strength, as determined by the city engineer, a one-inch minimum depth longitudinal and vertical saw cut or equal cut along the face of the curb may be required for curb removal. Curb removal shall extend to the bottom of the cut. New driveway approach concrete at the cut shall be a minimum of two inches thick.

k.

Driveway approaches at intersections. Along either side of any parcel, the driveway approaches shall be located no closer than 100 feet to the corner of the intersecting right-of- way. Corner parcels less than 150 feet in length along the right-of-way shall combine access with adjoining property, wherever possible. Where it can be shown that access is effectively denied a corner parcel because of the 100-foot distance from the corner of the intersecting right-of-way and combined access is not available from adjoining property, a variance to the requirement may be granted by the city engineer, provided the applicant demonstrates that a variance will not create a traffic hazard.

l.

Driveway approaches at roadway facilities. Driveway approaches at or near traffic interchanges, grade separations and traffic circles shall be so located that traffic entering or leaving the street will not impede, confuse, imperil or otherwise interfere with vehicular traffic.

m.

Driveway approaches in existing on-street angle or head-in parking areas. Driveway approaches shall not be constructed in existing on-street angle or head-in parking areas unless all curb is restored to a standard location along the roadway in front of the premises.

n.

Obstruction of driveway approaches. Driveway approaches shall not be constructed or designed so that standing or parked vehicles may obstruct the driveway.

o.

Premises used as motor bank. Premises used as a motor or drive-through bank may have driveway approaches as approved by the city engineer. The approaches shall be utilized for drive facilities and shall not be utilized for angle or head-in parking.

p.

Drainage. Driveway approaches shall be designed to prevent the entrance of water from the street onto private property, except that a drainage system may be provided within the property to handle water coming from the street. Driveway approaches constructed below the street curb grade shall be deemed substandard, and the permit applicant/property owner is required to provide a certificate by a state-registered professional engineer certifying to the adequacy of the drainage system provided within the property to handle water coming from the street as a result of the substandard construction.

q.

Release of city. In consideration for the approval of substandard construction, the applicant/property owner shall be required to release and acquit the city from any and all damages that may result from substandard construction. The form of release shall be as approved by the city attorney.

Table I: Standards for Two-Way Driveways

		Curb
		Width (W) (feet)		Radius (R) (feet)
Driveway	Development	Min.	Max.	Min.	Max.	Min. Spacing (SP) Between Drives
Type I	Single-family	10	20	5.0	5.0	10
	Duplex and townhouses	15	25	5.0	10	20
	Multiresident apartments	24	30	5.0	10	20
Type II	Office, commercial and parking lots	24	35	10	15	20
	Industrial	24	45	10	15	20
	Banks, service stations, and convenience stores with fuel pumps	25	45	10	15	⅓ × Frontage

 

Standards for One-Way Driveways

One-way driveways shall have the same standards as two-way driveways, except for width, which shall be a minimum of 12 feet and a maximum of 25 feet and minimum spacing between drives, which shall be twice the curb radius.

(3)

Site layout, construction and drainage of sidewalks. Sidewalks shall be constructed in accordance with the city's standard specifications and details as maintained in the engineering department. Where sidewalks are installed, the following minimum requirements shall be met:

a.

Sidewalk permits required. Unless sidewalk construction plans are approved as part of subdivision construction plans, site permit or building permit plans, a sidewalk permit shall be issued by the city engineer for all sidewalk construction installed within city right-of-way, easements or property.

b.

Widths and location. Where sidewalks are installed, the following minimum widths and locations shall be required. Sidewalk must conform at a minimum, to the requirements of the Development Code, except where there is a conflict between this subsection and the provisions of the Development Code, the provision requiring the wider width shall control.

1.

Along neighborhood or residential streets, sidewalks shall be a minimum of three feet wide. The sidewalk shall be located in accordance with the approved cross sections in the Development Code or Transportation Master Plan.

2.

Along commercial or multi-family streets, sidewalks shall be a minimum of three feet wide. The sidewalk shall be located in accordance with the approved cross sections in the Development Code or Transportation Master Plan.

3.

Along arterial streets, the sidewalk shall be a minimum of four feet wide. The sidewalk shall be located in accordance with the approved cross sections in the Development Code or Transportation Master Plan

4.

In the central business area (CBA), as defined in the Development Code, in shopping centers or in high intensity zones on the Preferred Scenario Map of the Comprehensive Plan, sidewalks shall be a minimum of seven feet wide.

5.

The city engineer shall permit the construction of sidewalks contiguous with the curb or between the curbline and the property line not less than 1½ feet off the property line in blocks which are predominately residential in character. If the available right-of-way between the curb and adjacent property line is of insufficient size to accommodate the requirements of this section, the location and width of the sidewalk shall be as approved by the city engineer. The sidewalk and the area between the sidewalk and the curb shall be sloped a minimum one-fourth inch in one foot above the curb.

6.

An entrance sidewalk, in the pedestrian way, for a resident in a residential area may vary from the three feet standard sidewalk width if the requirements of the particular location warrant a narrower or a wider walk, provided that no entrance walk shall be less than three feet or more than six feet in width.

7.

Wherever water from roof or adjacent buildings is drained or conducted under sidewalks through aqueducts or concrete troughs, any openings in the sidewalks shall be fitted with strong metal covers which shall be securely held in place with screws or other fasteners that will not rust or corrode. The covers shall be set flush with the surface of the sidewalk and securely bolted, fastened or so constructed that they cannot slip, shift or lose alignment with the surface of the sidewalk. Downspouts shall not drain across the surface of sidewalks or pedestrian ways.

(4)

Sidewalk ramps. Sidewalks constructed to the requirements in this section shall include a standard sidewalk pedestrian ramp whenever a curb return or other structure may present an architectural barrier to handicapped access within a pedestrian path or at street/sidewalk intersections.

(5)

Where there is a conflict between this section and the provisions of the Development Code, the provisions of the Development Code shall govern.

(Code 1970, § 25-56; Ord. No. 2018-04 , § 26, 4-17-18)