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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExplanationEXPLANATION Gene M. and Judith M. Willis, property owners of 1339 Roosevelt Avenue are requesting that a special driveway permit be issued to install a driveway adjoining the existing alley apron at the southeast corner of their commercial property. Currently tractor trailers delivering materials to their property must enter from 14th Street and backup to the loading dock located at the front of the building. Due to the location of the loading dock, delivery trucks end up blocking the sidewalk and westbound traffic on W. 14th Street. To mitigate this situation, and to allow delivery trucks to load/unload on -site, the property owners wish to relocate the loading dock to the easterly side of the building, This would require installing a new driveway opening directly adjacent to the alley, which does not conform to the City's standards for public works construction. According to NCMC 13.04.220, Subsection D, "No driveway shall be placed nearer than five feet, as measured from beginning of the curb depression, to the beginning of a curb return at an intersection street." In this case, the intersecting street is an alley the runs north -south adjacent to the east side of the property. This standard cannot be met given the location of the existing building, required width of the loading dock, and proximity to the alley. Therefore, the property owners have requested a special driveway permit. The improvements would consist of removing the westerly alley curb return, and a portion of the curb, gutter and sidewalk in front of their property, to construct a single, 36-foot wide opening. Twenty feet would be maintained for the alley and 16 feet would be for the new driveway, which will provide direct access to a new loading dock ramp to be constructed by the property owner. See Exhibit "B" in the attachments. The new leading dock will allow large delivery trucks to load/unload on -site to avoid blocking the sidewalk and street. NCMC 13.04.220, Subsection G, allows City Council, by resolution, to order the issuance of a "special" public improvement permit to construct and maintain driveways that exceed the limitations cited in Subsections A through E. In this case a special permit is required since the improvements would not be able to provide five feet of clearance from the alley opening. The property owners submitted an application for a special driveway permit and paid the required application fee. See attached application letter with supporting documents. Based on review of existing conditions, proposed improvements, City design standards for public works construction, and applicable sections of the municipal code, staff recommends the issuance of a special driveway permit.