Chapter 15.16
DRIVEWAYS
Sections:
15.16.010 Construction permits required – Establishment of grade.
15.16.020 Construction requirements.
15.16.030 Commercial driveways – Spacing.
15.16.050 Impairing street use prohibited – Curb requirements.
15.16.070 Violation a misdemeanor.
15.16.010 Construction permits required – Establishment of grade.
Building permits shall be secured in the office of the city building inspector for the construction, relocation or alteration of all driveways and for the paving of any parking strips hereafter constructed or altered within the city. Whenever an application for the construction, relocation, alteration or paving is received for which the street grade has not previously been established by the city, the building inspector shall request the city engineer to promptly establish such grade and to notify the building inspector in writing when said grade has been established. The building inspector shall not issue any such permit until receipt of said written notice from the city engineer. [Ord. 481 § 1, 1979].
15.16.020 Construction requirements.
All driveways hereafter constructed, reconstructed or altered shall be constructed in accordance with the following requirements:
A. The width of such driveway shall not be less than 12 feet nor more than 30 feet, including radii, slopes or connections to the normal or established curb grade;
B. No driveway shall be constructed within a distance of 10 feet from the extended property line of an intersected street at any street intersection nor within a distance of 10 feet from any alley or crosswalk;
C. The total width of all driveways entering from any street shall not exceed 40 percent of the frontage of the property on the street to which such driveway connects and contained in one ownership or leasehold served by such driveways and fronting on or adjoining such street; provided, that this regulation shall not prohibit one driveway having a width of 12 feet for each such ownership or leasehold; and further provided, that whenever it is possible without reducing the number of car parking spaces otherwise available under the provisions of this chapter, an additional five feet may be allowed for each driveway to provide for the construction of radii, slopes or connections to the normal or established curb grade. [Ord. 481 § 2, 1979].
15.16.030 Commercial driveways – Spacing.
The spacing between commercial driveways serving one leasehold or ownership shall not be less than six feet, and if it exceeds eight feet, it shall be in whole units of car parking spaces; provided, that driveways serving one leasehold or ownership may be reduced or the spacing between such driveways may be entirely eliminated whenever the combined width of such driveways plus the spacing between the same does not exceed 30 feet; provided further, no commercial driveway shall be closer than three feet to any inside property line. [Ord. 481 § 3, 1979].
15.16.040 Variances.
Subject to the approval of the city engineer and with the consent of the council first had and obtained, the provisions of CRMC 15.16.020 and 15.16.030 may be varied where the topography of the property for which the permit is requested or the irregular shape of the lot or lots for which such permit is requested makes such variance necessary. The city council may, in its discretion, grant or refuse to grant permits varying the provisions set forth in this chapter. [Ord. 481 § 4, 1979].
15.16.050 Impairing street use prohibited – Curb requirements.
A. No permit shall be issued which may impair the use of streets or be unduly dangerous to traffic.
B. All permits hereafter issued for driveways shall provide for the installation of a curb in place of said driveway or entrance, at the expense of the abutting property owner. Such plan for installation shall be approved by the city engineer and shall be constructed in accordance with the Standard Specifications for Municipal Public Works Construction, proposed by the Washington State Chapter of the American Public Works Association, on file in the office of the building inspector. [Ord. 481 § 5, 1979].
15.16.060 Permit fee.
A permit fee as set by the city council shall accompany each application. [Ord. 481 § 7, 1979].
15.16.070 Violation a misdemeanor.
Violation of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor. [Ord. 481 § 8, 1979].