Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council work session proposes limits on driveway approach widths to aid snow removal, safety
Summary
Staff recommended standards for driveway approaches in the right of way — suggested maximum approach widths of 20–24 feet, minimums of 8–12 feet, apron-radius limits and setback rules — to improve snow‑plow operations, drainage and safety; council offered direction to move forward with code language and further study of swales and landscaping.
City staff presented a work-session briefing on managing driveway approaches and encroachments in the public right of way and asked the council for direction on draft code language. Planner Carter summarized a 20-sample analysis that found an average approach width of about 37 feet and an average approach occupying 35% of a property's frontage in Bellevue, noting wide variation across the town. "Larger approaches hinder our snow removal obligations," Carter said, arguing that limiting widths preserves space for snow storage, stormwater swales and safer pedestrian infrastructure.
Staff recommended several drafting directions for council consideration: limit the number of approaches by lot frontage (Anchorage-style frontage percent rules), set a maximum approach width in the 20–24 foot range with a suggested minimum of 8–12 feet, impose apron-radius limits (3–6 feet), require approaches meet the street at roughly 90 degrees (with a tolerance), restrict approaches from being within 4–10 feet of side property lines, and set slope and cross-slope maxima to reduce damage to plows and aprons. The planner emphasized that existing encroachments would be grandfathered and the rules would apply to future permits and projects; enforcement of current parking and right-of-way codes remains available for existing conditions.
Council members asked about equity for larger lots, circular drives and shared driveways; staff said larger private vehicle storage beyond the public apron could remain allowed while the segment crossing the right of way would be limited in width. Streets staff described operational challenges where contiguous wide approaches leave few places to store snow and force additional truck passes. Council generally favored the recommended direction and asked staff to draft code amendments, consider landscaping/swale rules in a later session, and return language for Planning & Zoning review.
