§ 17.32.150. Driveways.

A.

Generally. Prior to the installation of a driveway curb cut or other access point onto a public street or right-of-way, the developer or owner shall obtain approval from the City, and if applicable, the Montana Department of Transportation or Cascade County. The City Engineer may require site driveway plans prior to approval and the start of construction on any driveway accessing any public street or right-of-way within the City, and may deny, limit, or modify access.

B.

Width and Surfacing. Curb cuts shall not be wider than the widths listed in Exhibit 32-3. For single-family and duplex uses, the width of curb cuts shall conform to the standards listed in Exhibit 32-3 or the following, whichever is more restrictive:

1.

For lots less than sixty-one (61) feet in width of frontage, the cumulative width of curb cuts shall not be more than thirty (30) percent of the lot frontage width.

2.

For lots sixty-one (61) feet or greater width of frontage, the cumulative width of curb cuts shall not be more than thirty-five (35) percent of the lot frontage width.

3.

For commercial and industrial zoning districts where commercial trucking or transportation is a significant use, driveway width may exceed widths listed in Exhibit 32-3 with approval of the City Engineer. If approved, boulevard landscaped area used for the additional driveway width shall be relocated elsewhere upon the private property.

4.

Driveway width shall not be wider than the curb cut bottom width (excluding driveway wings) for the entire length of the driveway. Exception: For single-family and two-family residential uses, driveways accessing a street may taper to be wider than the curb cut width at the street in order to accommodate vehicle parking needs. This allowance is subject to the following restrictions:

a.

Maximum Additional Width - The additional width of the driveway to accommodate vehicle parking may not be more than ten (10) feet greater than the curb cut bottom width (excluding driveway wings). The combined driveway and associated parking area shall be limited to no more than forty (40) total feet, measured parallel to the residential structure's frontage, and not be located in front of the living area of the structure. See Exhibit 32-4.

b.

Surfacing - The associated parking area shall be surfaced and maintained with Portland cement concrete, asphaltic concrete, pavers, or gravel conforming to the standards prescribed by the City Engineer. The main driveway area must be paved except noted in 17.32.150(B)(4)(d) and 17.32.150 (G).

c.

Alley Accessed Lots - For those properties which are served by an alley, no new driveways or expansions of existing driveways accessing the street are allowed unless authorized by both the City Engineer and the Director of Planning and Community Development. A driveway accessing an alley is allowed. Such driveway and associated parking area shall be surfaced and maintained with Portland cement concrete, asphaltic concrete, pavers, or gravel conforming to the standards prescribed by the City Engineer. The combined driveway and associated parking area shall be limited to no greater than nine hundred (900) square feet. See Exhibit 32-5. For lots that are one (1) acre or larger, the area of the combined driveway and associated parking area may not exceed six percent (6%) of the gross lot area.

d.

Unpaved Streets. Where a property abuts an unpaved street, a gravel driveway and associated parking area otherwise conforming to the chapter may be installed directly off the unpaved street.

e.

Separation for Sidewalk and Street Boulevard - For properties that do not contain sidewalks or have a sidewalk connected to the curb, associated parking areas shall not encroach beyond the front property line into the street boulevard. See Exhibit 32-4a. For properties where the sidewalk is separated from curb, the associated parking area shall only connect at a point where the driveway intersects the sidewalk. The remaining associated parking area must be set back from the sidewalk as shown in Exhibit 32-4b.

f.

Gravel Driveway and Parking Area Maintenance - All gravel driveways and associated parking areas shall be maintained to ensure that they do not become rutted, contain standing water, or contain noxious or nuisance weeds. Gravel shall not be tracked, erode, nor spill over any paved driveway or onto any public sidewalk, path, paved street, or adjacent property. Stormwater runoff from driveways associated parking areas shall not negatively impact adjacent properties.

Exhibit 32-3. Maximum curbcut widths

Type of Use	Maximum Width
Single-family residential & Two-family residential *(see 17.32.150(B) for further restrictions)	• One stall, 10 feet* • Two stalls, 20 feet* • Three or more stalls, 30 feet* • 30 feet is the maximum allowed width*
Multi-family	• 24 feet, two-way • 12 feet, one-way
Commercial zoning district	• 36 feet, two-way • 45 feet with City Engineer approval
Industrial zoning district	• 45 feet • 55 feet with City Engineer approval

 

Exhibit 32-4. Street accessed driveway and parking area

Exhibit 32-5. Alley accessed driveway and parking area

C.

Number. The number of curb cuts shall conform to the standards listed in Exhibit 32.6.

Exhibit 32.6. Number of curb cuts

Residential Lot Frontage	Number Allowed
less than 101 feet	1
101 feet or more	2

 

 

Commercial-Industrial/PLI Lot Frontage	Number Allowed
Less than 51 feet	1
51 feet to 400 feet	2
More than 400 feet	3

 

D.

Location. Curb cuts shall be located at the discretion and by the approval of the City Engineer to ensure traffic safety and the character of the neighborhood is maintained.

E.

Off-street parking. Approval of curb cuts to serve off-street parking that is not connected to a garage or covered carport in residential areas is discouraged and shall be at the discretion of the City Engineer. If approved, such driveways shall be of adequate length onto the private property to allow parking on the private property beyond the building setback. "U" shaped driveways (one continuous driveway with two curb cuts) in single-family residential zoned areas are prohibited.

Exhibit 32.7. Clear visibility triangle

F.

Drainage structures. All driveways shall be constructed so as to not impair drainage within the right-of-way nor alter the stability of the roadway subgrade and at the same time not impair or materially alter drainage of the adjacent areas. All drainage structures required within the public right-of-way and under the driveways as a result of the property being developed shall be installed in accordance with the standards of the City.

G.

Driveway paving in the public right-of-way. Driveways connecting to a paved public street must be surfaced and maintained with Portland cement concrete from the back of curb to the front property line. The use of gravel for driveways connecting to a public street in the R-1 Zoning District may be allowed at the discretion of the City Engineer.

(Ord. 3155, 2017; Ord. 3087, 2012; Ord. 2950, 2007)