§ 89-26. Access management and driveways.  


Latest version.
  • Purpose: this section establishes standards for public roads and streets which ensure that they work efficiently and safely accommodate all modes of travel (including pedestrian, bicycles, transit, and cars). Action Item (1.3.2)

    (a)

    Applicability.

    (1)

    This section applies to the city and the unincorporated areas of the parish.

    (2)

    For developments along state routes, all requirements within this document apply as approved by the state.

    (b)

    Definitions. In addition to article 8, the terms and phrases used in this section are defined below:

    Commercial driveway Any passageway designed or intended for vehicular travel for a commercial or non-residential site between the street and any public or private area outside the street that is designed or intended to park —
      • any commercial vehicle, or
      • more than 3 passenger vehicles, or
      • other than a single-family dwelling.
    Lastly, all driveways to gasoline service stations are considered commercial driveways.
    Residential driveway Any passageway designed or intended for vehicular travel for a detached single-family dwelling between the street and any point outside the street right-of-way that leads to any public or private area designed or intended to park no more than 3 passenger vehicles.

     

    (c)

    Driveway permit.

    (1)

    Applicability. Before constructing, relocating or altering structurally any driveway on a public road, a permit shall be obtained from PW if the work is not associated with a commercial building permit or with a residential building permit within a development with subsurface drainage. However, no permit is required for the construction of any driveways installed as part of the paving or widening of any street in accordance with plans approved by PW.

    (2)

    Requirements.

    a.

    The grantee of any driveway permit shall furnish all materials, labor and equipment necessary for the construction of the driveways authorized in the permit. LCG shall not, as a policy, participate in the construction of any driveway, except when the driveway is part of an LCG sponsored project as set forth in subsection 1 above.

    b.

    The permit is subject to approval as to location, design and driveway materials, as well as pipe size and grade, by PW.

    c.

    All materials shall meet the specifications of LCG and shall be subject to approval of PW.

    (3)

    Indemnification. The grantee of any driveway permit shall hold harmless LCG, its agents and employees against any action for personal injury or property damage sustained by reasons of the exercise of the permit.

    (d)

    Design and construction standards. The following design and construction standards are subject to modification for compatibility with urban development, such as that located in a Mixed-Use Center, or an MX, D, or MN district.

    (1)

    Number of driveways.

    a.

    Unless approved otherwise by PW, driveways must be spaced as indicated in the table below unless the speed limit on the adjacent roadway(s) is 30 mph or less and the lots are in a residential subdivision. Residential drives are permitted one per lot. Full access driveways may require modification (not allowing all movements) based on, but not limited to, sight distance, crash history, and the need for sufficient gaps.

    Posted speed limit (miles per hour)
    25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
    Minimum distance between existing and/or proposed driveways (feet) 165 220 275 340 410 485 565 655

     

    b.

    Joint access and cross access servitudes are required to maintain the driveway spacing in (a) above.

    c.

    A traffic impact analysis may be required by PW and/or the planning commission to determine information such as, but not limited to:

    1.

    The expected volume and direction of traffic from the project and from surrounding development, existing street capacity, the street capacity resulting from funded improvements at the time of development, offsetting mitigation resulting from internal capture of trips, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, and public transit, and

    2.

    Necessary improvements to existing and proposed roadway/driveway/parking lot infrastructure to accommodate trips generated by the proposed development in a safe, convenient and efficient manner.

    (2)

    Residential driveways.

    a.

    Residential driveways and/or parking pads shall be located no closer than three feet to any adjacent property lines and shall not conflict with line of sight regulations subsection 89-44(f) and shall not conflict with utilities servitudes. If the driveway or parking pad is designed and constructed to slope away from the adjoining side and/or rear property line, it may be constructed adjacent to the side and/or rear property line.

    b.

    Circular driveways or parking pads with both access points on the same street are permitted according to the following conditions:

    1.

    Existing or required sidewalk must be continued and maintained through the area according to applicable standards.

    2.

    The sidewalk must remain parallel to the street.

    3.

    If a green space is provided, it must be four-feet deep in relation to the street and at least ten-feet in length as measured by its point nearest the street.

    (3)

    Width.

    a.

    The width of entrance and/or exit driveways is measured at right angles to the driveway.

    89-3-1.png

    b.

    Minimum and maximum driveway width is as follows:

    Minimum Width (feet) Maximum Width (feet)
    Residential Driveways 12 24
    Commercial Driveways 15 35

     

    c.

    The area between driveways and on either side of the driveway shall remain unimproved for vehicular travel or parking. This area shall be considered restricted and may be filled only with sidewalks, landscaping, or stormwater facilities (as provided in subsection d, below). If a curb exists on the roadway, a permanent separation (i.e. six-inch curb) from the roadway shall be present.

    89-3-2.png

    d.

    The area between and on the side of entrances and exits, defined in subsection (c) as restricted areas, may be filled in or paved only when surface drainage is provided so that all surface water of the filled-in areas are carried away from the street roadbed in a suitable manner and the area does not interfere with any required landscaping or open space. The drainage opening beneath the filled-in area shall be adequate to carry the storm water, and the size of the opening and other design features shall be approved by PW.

    (4)

    Separation from street intersections.

    a.

    When measured along the curbline or edge of the roadway, no driveway shall be located nearer than 30 feet to the projection of any intersecting street right-of-way line.

    b.

    Commercial driveways must be at least 150 feet from a public street intersection.

    c.

    Commercial driveways must be right-in, right-out when intersecting a dedicated public street turn lane.

    (5)

    Angle of intersection with street. The angle formed by the intersection of the centerline of a two-way roadway and the centerline of a driveway shall be at least 60 degrees, except for an access driveway on frontage abutting a one-way street; then, the intersection of the centerlines shall be at least 45 degrees.

    (6)

    Sight distance along street. Refer to the street design standards (subsection 89-44(f)). All entrance and exit driveways shall be so located that vehicles approaching or using them will be able to obtain adequate sight distance in both directions along the street in order to maneuver safely and without interfering with traffic.

    (7)

    Parking pads adjacent to street right-of-way shall have a minimum length of 20 feet such that no part of the pad shall protrude into the street right-of-way.

    (8)

    Encroachment on adjoining property or facilities. No driveway shall encroach upon any adjoining property or city-parish facility. The relocation of city-parish facilities may be authorized, however, if the construction of a driveway, as authorized in this section, will encroach on the facility. In that case, the relocation shall be completed by and at the expense of the owner or lessee of the property. Any work done in the relocation shall comply with the specifications of LCG or the public utility having control of the facility to be relocated.

    (9)

    Separation of motor vehicle service structures from right-of-way. No service pump island, vendor stand or other structure designed or intended to be used to service motor vehicles shall be constructed closer than 20 feet to the street right-of-way.

    (10)

    Drainage. Drainage in gutters and side ditches shall not be altered or impeded, and the applicant for a permit under this division must provide, at his expense, suitable structures approved by PW.

    (11)

    Curbing, grades, sidewalk and driveway materials.

    a.

    The grades of the driveway and sidewalk shall be mutually compatible to provide an uninterrupted sidewalk grade for safe pedestrian movement and be in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable federal regulations.

    b.

    Maximum slope of a driveway within the right-of-way is 1:10.

    c.

    The driveway within the right-of-way shall be constructed of the same or more durable material as the adjoining street.

    (12)

    Driveways requiring motorists to back out onto street. A driveway shall not be constructed so as to force a motorist to back out into the street as a means of egress, except for driveways constructed for a single-family or two-family residence, but these must be built in accordance with the head-in/back-out parking requirements in section 89-39(i). Single and two-family residences shall have area within the property to turn around so a vehicle may pull out onto streets designated collector or higher.

    (e)

    Administration.

    (1)

    Inspections. PW may inspect driveways at or after the time of construction and require any changes needed to make the construction conform to applicable requirements. This subsection shall apply even if the driveway was constructed prior to its incorporation into the City of Lafayette or before the establishment of this section.

    (2)

    Correction of violations and assessment of costs.

    a.

    After proper notification to the owner, LCG may enter those areas declared to be in violation of this Section and effect repairs of the area as needed to protect the public.

    b.

    The administrator shall not undertake any work until the owner or occupant of the lot, business or use has had the opportunity to do the work within 30 days after proper notice is given. Notice must be given to the owner or occupant, or to the agent of the leased or occupied premises. Proper notice shall consist of notification by certified mail to the last known address of the owner as reflected by the assessor's tax rolls in and for the parish. If the property is not leased or occupied, the administrator must provide notice by advertisement in the city-parish official journal for two consecutive days.

    c.

    The actual cost to LCG in having the work performed, and any necessary, reasonable and required administrative charges, is declared to be a charge, cost or expense of the property, lot, place, structure, house, business or area where any repairs or maintenances are performed. Expenses shall be collected in the manner fixed by law for the collection of taxes and are subject to the same penalties for delinquencies. The administrator shall demand of the owner of the property the payment of such charges, costs or expenses, by written notice to the owner of the property. If the costs or expenses are not paid within 30 days after demand, the administrator shall, after due notice as stated in this section, send an attached bill of the costs and expenses to the support service manager for the Lafayette Utilities System, who shall add the amount of the bill to the next tax bill of the owner. The administrator shall have recorded, in the mortgage office of the parish, an attached bill showing the cost and expense of the work and the place or property on which the work was done, so as to establish for LCG a lien and privilege securing the payment by the property owner of the charges, costs and expenses.

    (3)

    Removal of noncomplying culverts or drainage grates. After giving a property owner 30 days written notice of the noncompliance, LCG may remove any culvert or drainage grate, with its accompanying drop inlet or curb inlet, for noncompliance with standards set by LCG. The cost and charges for these repairs are assessed in the same manner as outlined in subsection (2) above.

    (f)

    Maintenance.

    (1)

    Maintenance of sidewalks and bikeways passing through driveways. Where a sidewalk or bikeway passes through, traverses or intersects a driveway, commercial or residential, and becomes a part of the driveway, the maintenance and repair of that portion of the sidewalk or bikeway is the property owner's responsibility.

    (2)

    Responsibility for maintenance. The entire maintenance of any driveway, whether it is located on private or public property, or both, is the property owner's responsibility. This does not apply where damages are caused by failure of subsurface structures or utility connections owned by LCG or other utility. The maintenance responsibility includes the driving surface, the parking area and anything located within these areas, such as drainage grates, curb or drop inlets and sidewalks.

    (g)

    Abandoned driveways.

    (1)

    A driveway is "abandoned" if:

    a.

    The parking or land use is situated so that the driveway is not useable or not needed; or

    b.

    The buildings or other structures are remodeled or situated on the property so as to prevent a vehicle from parking completely on the property.

    (2)

    When a driveway is abandoned, PW may order the replacement of the curbing and/or sidewalk so as to effectively close the driveway.

    (3)

    When any abandoned driveway is closed for the reasons set forth in subsection (1) above, PW shall notify the property owner in writing of the work to be done. Upon notification thereof, the property owner shall proceed to perform such work at his/her own cost.

    (4)

    If, within 30 days after notification, work is not started on the installation of the curb and/or sidewalk as set forth in the notification, the work may be done by LCG and all costs thereof assessed to the property owner. The cost and charges for these repairs are assessed in the same manner as outlined in subsection (e)(2) above.

(Ord. No. O-180-2015, §§ 2(Exh. A), 4, 8-18-15)