Access to parking and loading

• (a) Joint access. The sharing of driveway access by two or more properties is encouraged. Such driveways should be located on joint property lines or should be accessible via cross access easements on the private property being served by the joint driveway. The planning commission may waive the setback requirements in subsection 21-275(a) where it finds that such waiver facilitates the coordination of joint access or jointly shared parking areas.

• (b) Access to state roads. All entrance and/or exit driveways onto a state road shall be in accordance with the requirements of the state department of transportation, and all entrance and exit driveways onto a town road shall be in accordance with the requirements of the department of public works.

• (c) Vision clearance. A 30-foot line of sight shall be maintained where a driveway or street intersects with a public street.

Figure 1. Vision Clearance

• (d) Maximum driveway grade. The gradient of driveways shall have a slope no greater than three percent for the first 100 feet. Driveways that accommodate below-grade loading docks shall be exempt from this subsection.

• (e) Driveway placement. Driveways must be placed such that an exiting vehicle has an unobstructed sight distance according to the following schedule:

  Street Speed Limit (mph)	Sight Distance (feet)
  30	200
  35	225
  40	275
  45	325
  50	350

 

• (f) Driveway spacing. At least one curb cut shall be permitted per site. Where it is demonstrated that an additional curb cut is warranted, it may be allowed subject to the approval of the town engineer or state department of transportation. Notwithstanding the limits of lot frontage, driveway spacing, both on site and to a driveway on an adjacent site, should be determined as a function of street speed limit according to the following schedule:

  Street Speed Limit (mph)	Minimum Spacing (feet)
  25	105
  30	125
  35	150
  40	185
  45	230
  50	275

 

These spacings are based on average vehicle acceleration and deceleration rates and are considered necessary to maintain safe traffic operation. Spacing will be measured from the centerline of each driveway.

(Ord. No. 98-7, 5-11-1998; Ord. No. 17-11, § 5, 6-26-2017)

Cross reference— Stopping, standing and parking, § 11-31 et seq.