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A. Allowance. The maximum number of driveway aprons allowed per lot is two. Additional driveway aprons will not be approved unless there is shown to be an absolute necessity for them.

B. Location. A driveway apron shall not be located in such a place as to interfere with another legal encroachment or create a hazard or nuisance.

1. Separation. Driveway aprons on the same lot must be separated by a minimum of 30 feet measured from an apron edge to the next apron edge at the right-of-way line.

2. Proximity to Intersections. Driveway aprons may not be constructed closer than 35 feet measured at the right-of-way line to the intersection of two public rights-of-way, of a lot corner or point of curve return.

3. Side Lot Line Setback. Driveway aprons may not be constructed less than 10 feet from the side lot line. An exception will be granted by the city for planned unit developments, zero lot line type facilities, four-plex or larger residential buildings, and common driveways. This restriction may be waived for narrow lots 60 feet wide or less.

4. Angle of Intersection. Driveway aprons should intersect the public right-of-way at a 90-degree angle and in no case may intersect at less than a 60-degree angle.

5. Fillet Radii. The intersection of a driveway apron and a public road shall be constructed with a minimum fillet radii of six feet. Recommended residential fillet radii is 10 feet. Recommended commercial and industrial fillet radii is 15 feet.

6. Traffic Considerations. Driveway aprons for business enterprises that serve vehicles, or provide services or entertainment to customers while in vehicles, shall not be constructed so as to cause traffic congestion within the public right-of-way. The driveway beyond the right-of-way must be of sufficient length and width to accommodate the vehicles and be designed to provide for the safe and expeditious handling of traffic as determined by the city.

C. Width.

1. Residential. The finished surface width of driveway aprons to serve residential or dwelling house lots shall be a minimum of 10 feet and a maximum of 20 feet measured at their narrowest point.

2. Commercial. The finished surface width of driveway aprons to serve commercial/industrial lots shall be a minimum of 11 feet and a maximum of 30 feet measured at their narrowest point.

3. Exceptions. The city will grant automatic exceptions to residential and commercial driveway apron widths if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

a. The driveway apron intersects a public thoroughfare classified as rural, local/neighborhood, or minor collector;

b. The property owner will accept any additional construction or maintenance expense incurred for the installation of culverts, etc.; and

c. The proposed design assures that vehicles will not be backing onto the public thoroughfare from the driveway apron.

The city may grant a width exception if only some of the immediately preceding conditions are satisfied.

D. Length. Driveway aprons shall extend from the edge of the finished surface of the intersecting public thoroughfare to the edge of the public right-of-way at the lot being served by the driveway. For a new driveway apron intersecting an existing paved public thoroughfare, which has no remaining unimproved right-of-way, the property owner will construct a paved driveway apron at least six feet long on his property.

E. Drainage. Driveway aprons shall be constructed so that all runoff is directed to the ditch line (and not across the public thoroughfare), and shall not cause erosion of the public right-of-way or deposition of soils onto the public thoroughfare. In the event that a driveway apron increases drainage to the roadway ditch, the city may require that the applicant provide a means of accommodating the additional drainage.

F. Culverts. Culverts shall be installed when required by the city. Culverts are to be laid to the flow line grade of the existing roadside ditch. Culverts shall extend a minimum of two feet beyond both edges of the slope of the driveway apron or install manufactured end sections where it crosses the ditch line. In areas of major drainage the city may require a steam thaw pipe to be installed in the culvert.

G. Illumination. Driveway aprons onto public thoroughfares from major commercial and/or industrial establishments require a roadway illumination review by the city. The applicant will be required to install roadway lighting if the city determines that lighting is necessary for the safe and efficient use of the driveway apron. The city, using the latest guidelines established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, and/or city luminaries standards will specify the type, number and location of luminaries to be installed.

H. Delineation. For driveway aprons that are intended to serve commercial or industrial establishments markers, signs, curbs or other types of barricades shall be installed to clearly delineate and define the entrances and exits and to prevent egress and ingress at points other than the approved locations. All driveway aprons leading to four-plex or larger residential buildings shall be marked with reflective flexible delineators. Delineators may be required at other sites for traffic safety reasons.

I. Slope. To protect the structural integrity of the public thoroughfare no driveway apron may be constructed with a driveway centerline slope which would cause a standard passenger vehicle to drag bottom.

J. Line of Sight. For public safety reasons the city may require the removal of, or prohibit the construction or installation of any structures or landscaping features over three feet high and one foot wide at site level (between three feet and eight feet in elevation) which obscure the line of sight in the triangular area 25 feet on two sides bounded by the public thoroughfare and the driveway apron/driveway.

K. Snow Storage. The property owner shall make adequate provisions on his or her own lot for the storage of snow plowed off of the driveway apron and fronting right-of-way. (Ord. 02-21 § 2, 2002; prior code § 14.15.040)