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County adopts parking and driveway setback changes to reduce curbside conflicts
Summary
The board unanimously approved Land Development Code changes to require deeper driveway pads (25-foot clearance for garage/driveway combinations) in several zoning districts so two vehicles can park without encroaching on sidewalks, a change staff and the Planning Commission framed as a safety and livability improvement.
The Clay County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a county-initiated amendment to Articles 3 and 8 of the Land Development Code on Aug. 27 that tightens driveway and garage setbacks to improve off-street parking and pedestrian safety.
Beth Carson, director of Planning and Zoning, explained the revision is designed so a combination of a two-car garage and driveway will reliably count as two off-street parking spaces. "The change will establish a 25-foot pad from the face of the garage to the property line so two cars can park without crossing the sidewalk," Carson said, adding the text clarifies building setbacks across a range of county districts.
Planning staff presented diagrams showing typical suburban and master-plan scenarios. The Planning Commission had voted 5–0 to recommend approval. Commissioners said the change addresses recurring field complaints about cars blocking neighborhood streets and hampering emergency-vehicle access.
The amendment affects several zoning and master-plan districts (including rural-reserve and village-center categories) with tailored setback adjustments. Staff said the changes apply to developments not yet through the Development Review Committee (DRC); existing approved projects are not retroactively affected.
The board approved the ordinance language unanimously and directed staff to incorporate the changes into the Code rewrite work that is already underway.
