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Council signals support for granting driveway access to 2005 West Lewis Street but requires engineering safety review
Summary
The council discussed an application to grant access to a West Lewis Street parcel designated as a limited‑access roadway. Councilmembers indicated support in principle for allowing access; staff said engineering and safety analysis would follow if council approves beginning the access review process.
The City presented an applicant request to allow access to a parcel at 2005 West Lewis Street, a corridor designated in older ordinances as limited‑access. At the April 28 workshop staff explained limited‑access designations mean property owners do not automatically have a right of access; the council must determine whether granting access would be detrimental to code policies.
Staff described proximity of the site to Twentieth Avenue and US‑395 and said existing driveways exist along the corridor. The applicant’s engineer, Paul Knutson, told the council the applicant first submitted standard right‑of‑way permit drawings and only later learned of the historical limited‑access ordinance. Knutson said his firm had prepared engineered plans and requested that council allow the application to proceed to design review.
Multiple councilmembers indicated support for permitting the applicant to proceed with engineering analysis and staff review rather than denying access outright. Councilmember Prowell said the submitted plan appeared to meet standards and recommended approval “as submitted” subject to engineering and city standards; staff clarified that technical safety review and permit approvals would come after council determines access may be considered. Legal staff and public‑works staff noted the council’s action would allow the applicant to pursue design and for staff to perform a safety evaluation; if the analysis later shows the access cannot be made safe, staff would report back.
Council did not take a formal vote at the workshop but directed staff to proceed with applicant engineering review and to return if conditions cannot be met. No driveway construction was authorized without subsequent permitting and safety analysis.
