§ 40-286. Driveways.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    General. The developer shall design, construct, upgrade, reconstruct, or repair driveway approaches (also referred to as driveways or curb cuts) for access to lots according to the standards of this section. Driveways shall be permitted only along streets where full street improvements exist and are maintained as a public street; provided, however, that residential driveways may be permitted on public alleys or other accepted public access facilities in existence prior to the adoption of this chapter. Prior to construction of a driveway, the developer shall obtain a driveway permit from the city. Driveways shall be paved according to the minimum standards provided in subsection 40-282(b)(2).

    New driveways, repair of existing driveways, expansion of existing driveways on properties located within a historic district or those that have been designated as a Palestine Landmark shall adhere to the standards found in chapter 40 development, article IV, historic preservation.

    (b)

    Driveway design. Driveway design will depend on the land use, the volume, the character of both through traffic and driveway traffic and the speed of traffic on the through street. Dependent upon these factors, the critical design elements include radii of curb returns, driveway throat width and the angle between the driveway centerline and the edge of the roadway. Driveway geometry shall adhere to standards and dimensions shown in the figures and tables in the appendix of this section.

    (1)

    The developer shall design driveway entrances to be able to accommodate all vehicle types having occasion to enter the lot, including delivery vehicles.

    (2)

    The developer shall design driveways with minimum curb return radii according to the type of driveway and the classification of the street as provided in figure 2, high-volume driveway criteria, and/or based on the characteristics of certain design vehicles (AASHTO-based) which will regularly use the driveway.

    (3)

    Tapered or channelized deceleration lanes for vehicles turning right into high-volume or intersection-type driveways may be required on arterial streets. Where such lanes are necessary, acquisition of additional right-of-way may also be required. The design of such lanes shall adhere to the latest TxDOT standards and guidelines.

    (4)

    Figure provides approved minimum design criteria for limited movement driveways. Deceleration lanes may also be required to be incorporated into the design. The design of such lanes shall adhere to the latest TxDOT standards and guidelines.

    (5)

    The developer shall design driveways so as not to interfere with, block, hinder or impede the flow of traffic on a public street. Where it is determined that a proposed driveway will block, hinder or impede the flow of traffic, the developer shall provide alternative means of ingress and egress to the lot or lots such that the negative effects of the proposed driveway are eliminated. These alternatives will be subject to review and approval.

    (c)

    Design criteria.

    (1)

    Geometry—fuel stations. Driveway design standards for sites that include fuel pumps parallel to the adjacent street are necessary due to the special access needs that characterize such developments. The developer shall design sites for fuel pumps according to the following standards:

    a.

    The minimum corner clearance shall be a distance of 35 feet measured from the point of intersecting right-of-way lines to the point of tangency of the curb return radii leading to the driveway approach. The point of tangency of the curb line corner radius and that of the curb return radius of the driveway approach shall not be compounded.

    b.

    The minimum spacing between driveway approaches within the same property lines shall be 25 feet of tangent curb length.

    c.

    A minimum distance between the fuel pump island and the right-of-way or property line shall be 25 feet.

    (d)

    Residential driveways.

    (1)

    Location and construction of residential driveways.

    a.

    The developer shall locate residential driveways entirely within the frontage of a lot and not less than one foot from any side property line as extended perpendicularly to intersect with the curb line. This applies to driveways within property boundaries; not driveway approaches.

    b.

    The developer shall construct driveways so as not to interfere with pedestrian crosswalks.

    c.

    Any new residential driveway which will cross an existing sidewalk, or which will be constructed in conjunction with a proposed sidewalk, shall ensure that the cross slope of the sidewalk as it crosses the driveway does not exceed two percent, in accordance with ADA requirements.

    d.

    The developer shall construct driveways a minimum of three feet from any obstruction such as a street light or utility pole, fire hydrant, traffic signal controller, telephone junction box, etc.

    e.

    The developer shall construct residential driveways to conform to the criteria shown in figure 4, low volume driveway criteria.

    f.

    The developer shall design residential driveways with curb return radii according to the classification (curbed or non-curbed) of the street as provided in figure 4, low volume driveway criteria.

    g.

    All driveway approaches constructed within the rights-of-way of public streets shall conform to material standards found in subsection 40-282(b)(2). Refer to figure 5, standard driveway approach detail.

    (e)

    High-volume driveways.

    (1)

    Location and construction of high-volume driveway approaches. The location of high-volume driveway approaches is based on a number of factors, including the location of individual property lines, available street frontage, requirements of internal site design, number of vehicles to be accommodated, and traffic safety. As a general rule, the farther from an intersection a driveway can be located, the less it will affect through traffic and the less delay it will cause to vehicles using the driveway.

    a.

    The developer shall locate high-volume driveway approaches entirely within the frontage of the lot and not less than ten feet, not including curb return radii, from any side property line; provided, however, that joint driveway approaches may be permitted where a permanent joint access is provided by the respective property owners either through platting or a mutual access easement.

    b.

    The developer shall consider the location of other driveways on the opposite side of the street when locating a proposed driveway. Where possible, driveways on both sides of the street shall be aligned in order to minimize adverse effects on through traffic and to optimize efficiencies of the driveway. Driveways directly opposite each other shall be given preference over staggered driveways. Where it is not possible to place driveways directly opposite each other, a driveway shall be placed so that adequate left-turn storage capacity is provided in advance of each driveway in order to avoid the overlap of left-turn movements.

    c.

    The developer shall construct high-volume driveway approaches so as not to interfere with pedestrian crosswalks.

    d.

    Any new high-volume driveway which will cross an existing sidewalk, or which will be constructed in conjunction with a proposed sidewalk, shall ensure that the cross slope of the sidewalk as it crosses the driveway does not exceed two percent, in accordance with ADA requirements.

    e.

    The developer shall construct high-volume driveways a minimum of three feet from any obstruction such as a street light or utility pole, fire hydrant, traffic signal controller, telephone junction box, etc.

    f.

    The developer shall construct high-volume driveways to conform to the criteria shown in figure 2, high-volume driveway criteria.

    g.

    The maximum number of driveways per lot, based on the street classification and lot width, shall be as shown in figure 2, high-volume driveway criteria.

    h.

    Driveways located on streets and highways controlled by the state shall be permitted by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

    i.

    Driveway spacing for high-volume driveways. The developer shall design and construct high-volume driveways according to the spacing standards shown in figure 2, high-volume driveway criteria.

    (f)

    Restrictions.

    (1)

    Access to public streets will not be provided where the conditions described in this section restrict or compromise the safety and efficiency of the access.

    a.

    Backing maneuvers. Access points shall not be approved for parking or loading areas that require backing maneuvers in a public street right-of-way except for single-family residential uses on local streets or if authorized by the public works director per subsection 40-282(b)(3).

    b.

    Sight distance requirements. The minimum sight distance shall be provided at all access points as shown in figure 6, sight distance at entrance.

    c.

    Signalized intersections proposed. Access drives within the area of an intersection of public streets where traffic signals are installed, or are anticipated to be installed in the future, will not be permitted.

    d.

    Provision of access. If a lot has frontage on more than one street, access will be permitted on each street, based upon whether or not the standards set forth in section 40-282 can be met on each street frontage. If a lot cannot be served by any access point meeting these standards, access points shall be designated by the public works director based on traffic safety, operational needs and conformance to as much of the requirements of these guidelines as possible.

    e.

    Driveway approaches. Driveway approaches shall not be constructed or used for the standing or parking of vehicles.

    (g)

    Abandoned driveway approaches.

    (1)

    Driveway approaches that have been abandoned for a continuous period greater than 12 months shall be removed and the curb restored by the property owner adjoining the driveway according to the city's specifications.

(Ord. No. O-14-16, § II(Exh.), 7-25-2016)