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County considers ordinance to regulate road approaches; staff to gather examples and legal review
Summary
Commissioners discussed an approach (driveway/access) ordinance that would limit approach widths (citing 40-foot maximums in other counties), require permits and variances for wider approaches, and tasked staff to gather neighboring-county ordinances for legal review.
Commissioners discussed placing approach construction and width limits into county ordinance language rather than leaving decisions solely to road staff. The topic arose after a June 3 moratorium on some approach work and reports of property owners building long approaches without permits.
Speakers said neighboring counties typically set a 40-foot maximum and require a variance to go wider; one board member said Brown County allowed a variance to 60 feet in limited circumstances. A local landowner cautioned that wider approaches could increase accident risk because larger openings allow vehicles to pull out without slowing or checking traffic.
Members agreed to ask staff and legal counsel (Austin) to compile ordinance examples from other counties and to draft permitting language for review. They also discussed engineering details such as slope (four-to-one slope standards) and culvert/maintenance responsibilities.
