The city's current driveway width ordinance was last adopted in 1963.  The current standards establish a 20 foot width for residential driveways and a 25 foot width for commercial driveways.  Current housing construction favors three-car garages which require a driveway much wider than 20 feet.  The street superintendent and city engineer are finding that almost every house constructed requires special approval from the city engineer to deviate from the 20 foot width cap.  

In order to update and remove any confusion regarding the current code.  Staff and Anderson Perry have drafted new language for driveways.  Under the new code all driveways are capped at 36 feet in width.  This clarifies that all driveways can be up to three lanes wide (a typical travel lane is 12 feet) regardless of the type of use.  Also, when multiple driveways are proposed, no more than 60% of the lot frontage may be driveway and at least 25 feet must remain between driveways to preserve vision clearance.

The previous spacing standard of requiring at least 18 feet from an intersection is removed.  In its place, the spacing standards of the transportation system plan will apply.  Typically at least 50 feet from an intersection is required for a driveway.

Unchanged in this ordinance are the existing Sections 94.71 and 94.73.  These sections allow the city engineer to make a case by case exception to spacing, width, or other requirements if special circumstances warrant an exception.  When an exception is granted, it is necessary to demonstrate that public safety is unaffected.

The city council may choose to:

• Approve the ordinance
• Deny the ordinance