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Council approves modified driveway grade and curb requirement at 105 East Bridger Circle
Summary
The Woodland Hills City Council approved a modification allowing a 21% slope on a lower driveway at 105 East Bridger Circle, requiring a downhill curb and reestablishment of the entrance grade if a culvert is replaced. The council attached conditions and asked staff for follow-up on site-plan documentation and permitting concerns.
The Woodland Hills City Council on an unspecified date approved a driveway grade modification for 105 East Bridger Circle that allows a steeper lower driveway ramp with conditions meant to address safety and code compliance.
Council members debated whether the property represented a genuine hardship and whether the city had other options before approving a modification that deviates from standard driveway-flare and property-line requirements. Council members and staff raised concerns about emergency-vehicle access, the condition and size of the culvert, and inconsistencies between the submitted written materials and what staff observed in the field.
Why it matters: The council’s decision alters how the city will treat a specific driveway installation that city staff say does not meet the city’s usual site-plan or driveway standards. Council members emphasized the safety risk posed by the driveway’s steep grade and discussed measures intended to reduce the risk of vehicles leaving the paved surface.
Council action and conditions - The council approved a motion, moved in the record by a speaker identified only as “Ben” and later seconded by Council member Kinston, to modify the driveway standards for the property with several conditions. - If a culvert replacement is required by the building official, the driveway entrance’s negative grade must be reestablished per the existing site plan and city requirements. - A curb is to be installed along the downhill (outer) edge of the lower half of the driveway, from the base up to the second driveway segment, at a height and specification set by city staff/engineers. - The lower/second driveway segment is to be permitted at a 21 percent slope (the record clarifies the figure is a percentage, not degrees) and may be used at the owner’s discretion and liability; council members said it should be avoided “predominantly” during winter months. - The council directed staff to provide additional information from the city’s technical staff (identified in the record as Ted and Chris) before members who requested it would be prepared to vote without reservation.
Key points from the discussion - Several council members said the written materials submitted by the property owner and the public comments conflicted with what staff reported after a site visit. One council member said earlier inspection reports documented multiple noncompliant items a year prior. - Staff identified the need to ensure compliance with the International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC) where applicable and to coordinate grading and culvert work with the building official and the zoning inspector. - Council members discussed the possibility that the driveway elevations were affected by an inaccurate original topo or by excavation limits during construction, and noted that significant excavation or engineered retaining walls would be required to substantially change the grades. - Members debated alternatives typically used on steep driveways (for example, “S” curves or longer approaches) but said the lot’s size (noted in the record as about 0.7 acre) and proximity to the property line limited options without a variance or other changes to the site plan. - The council discussed whether a full new site plan should be required; some members recommended adding a clear note to the existing site plan reflecting the modification rather than requiring a full new survey or plan until modifications were finalized.
Next steps and follow-up - The building official will determine any temporary-occupancy permit requirements or extensions and the length of such an extension, and staff will coordinate necessary inspections if a culvert or other drainage work is required. - City staff (including the zoning inspector) were asked to provide additional technical answers and to verify property-line and site-plan conditions; council members emphasized they would want that information documented in public record if future issues arise.
The council adopted the modification with the stated conditions after a roll-call-style exchange in which members said “aye” or indicated opposition; the motion passed and council moved to the next agenda item.
