Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Garrett Park delays introduction of driveway-standards ordinance, directs staff to revise draft
Summary
Councilmembers withdrew a motion to introduce Ordinance No. 2024-5 after extended discussion and instructed staff to clarify definitions and technical figures (including a 90-foot curb-cut figure), add grandfathering for circular driveways, and circulate the revised draft to town committees before reintroduction.
The Garrett Park Town Council on Sept. 9 withdrew a motion to introduce Ordinance No. 2024-5, a draft measure intended to adopt specifications for driveway and access-driveway facilities and to align some town code provisions with county construction standards.
Town Manager Barb Matthews said the ordinance draft would authorize the town to adopt construction standards for driveway aprons by resolution and to add criteria for permit consideration, including limiting curb entrances to one per property except in special circumstances. Councilmembers debated technical elements of the draft and determined it was not ready for introduction.
Councilmembers directed staff to address a set of specific revisions before bringing the ordinance back to the council for review. Key items the council requested include clarifying the use of the term “sidewalk” in Sections 712(a) and 712(d); reconsidering the 90-foot figure in Section 712(e) (many Garrett Park lots do not have 90 feet of frontage); changing references to the Town Manager in Section 712(e) to the Town Council to align the approval process with that for variances; reviewing Section 714(a) given streets in town that are narrower than 26 feet; adding grandfathering language for existing permitted circular driveways; clarifying how curb cuts are counted for properties that abut two streets; specifying that when repairs or replacements are made to circular driveways both aprons must be concrete to a depth of 7 inches; and providing a paver apron alternative set in 7 inches of concrete with an acknowledgement that pavers may be dislodged by snow-plowing and the town would not be responsible for resulting damage. The council also asked staff to address permeable-material options and ensure apron widths consider two-car driveways.
Matthews said staff intends to bring a revised draft back for council review and to share the draft with the Arboretum Committee, Historic Preservation Committee, and Land Use Advisory Committee for comment before reintroduction.
