HomeMy WebLinkAboutDriveway Access Correspondence/~ PR j~\
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4646 Dakota Street S.E.
Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714
Apri126, 2010
James Remarcik
15547 Omega Trail SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
RE: Fish Point Road Second Driveway Access
Dear Mr. Remarcik,
Your home at 15547 Omega Trail is presently served by a three car garage and driveway
access from Omega TraiL You are requesting a second driveway aecess from Fisl~ Point
Road.
As you might imagine, the City receives numerous requests of this nature. Beginning in
2007, the City established eleven criteria to evaluate the potential for second driveway
accesses. I have attached a copy of the criteria. These criteria were officially adopted by
the City Council together with an update to the City's Public Works Design Manual
which is adopted by reference in the Prior Lake City Code.
Based upon the City's eleven criteria, the City of Prior Lake Engineering Department is
denying this request. The request does not meet two of the eleven criteria outlined in the
Public Works Design Manual. Below are the two criteria that are not met by this request:
6. A third stall does not exist or cannot be added to the existing garage.
10. Second driveway will not be on a collector street.
Not only does the request fail to meet the criteria, but the nature of Fish Point Road in
this area includes steep terrain, many horizontal roadway curves, and major bus traffic.
Our collector streets are more heavily used than a typical local street. In this case Fish
Point Road is used heavily by the School District to transport students to both Twin Oaks
Middle School and Hidden Oaks Middle School.
Because Fish Point Road has many be~ds and curves, additional access points can create
additional points of conflict between drivers. Blind spots because of the terrain and
curvature points on Fish Point Road can make it difficult for drivers to anticipate
additional driveway access and egress.
www. cityofpriorlake . com
Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245
Even though the access off of Fish Point Road may be infrequent, the City can not
control the use. Property transfer can also change the frequency of use. The trailer
nature of the proposed storage can lend itself to blockage of Fish Point Road during
access periods creating a potential safety hazard on Fish Point Road.
The City evaluates each second driveway request on an individual basis. The evaluations
are approved or denied by the City Engineer. In this case the above referenced criteria
and analysis form the basis for the denial in this case. If you wish to pursue this matter
further, please contact the City Manager at 952-447-9801. However, the merits of this
case will make it difficult for the City Manager or City Council to justify approval of a
second driveway off of Fish Point Road.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, I can be contacted at 952-447-9832.
Thanks,
Larry Poppler
Assistant City Engineer
City of Prior Lake
CC: Steve Albrecht, Public Works Director
Frank Boyles, City Manager
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City of Prior Lake
Public Works Design Manual
SECTION NINE:
EASEMENTS
Chapter 1004, Subdivision Regulations (Platting) of the Prior Lake City Code contains requirements
relating to protection of public infrastructure facilities within the City.
SECTION TEN:
SECURITY AND WARRANTY REQUIREMENTS
See specifications or Development Contract for warranty requirements.
SECTION ELEVEN: _
RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS - -
Driveways: Residential driveways can not exceed 24 feet in width between the property line and
the street. Residential driveways must be at least five feet from the property line. The minimum
corner clearance from the street right-of-way shall be at least 30 feet to the edge of the driveway.
The slope of the driveway must be designed with a slope of between 2% and 10%. Special
circumstances may require approval from the City Engineer. Residential lots shall not have more
than one driveway unless the criteria established below are met:
Criteria for a second driveway:
1. The lot width is at least 86 feet (100 feet in the shoreland district) for non-corner lots and
103 feet (120 feet in shoreland district) for corner lots. This applies to the lot line with the
driveway.
2. The proposed second driveway on corner lots meets spacing requirements from the nearest
intersection. ~
3. The proposed second driveway is at least 5 feet away from the property line.
4. The combined driveway opening width for both driveways does• not exceed 24 feet in total
width. '
5. The second driveway can't reasonably be connected to the existing driveway.
6. A third stall does not exist or cannot be added to the existing garage.
7. The impervious surface requirements are not exceeded with the new driveway and garage.
8. If the additional garage was constructed at the time of house construction these rules do not
apply and only one driveway is permitted.
9. Contractor is responsible for sawcutting and removing the curb and installing driveway curb
cut, with minimal impact to existing bituminous street.
10. Second driveway will not be on a collector street.
11. Each case will be considered on its own merits and the City Engineer will make the final
determination on whether a second driveway will be considered.
10
Adopted July 16, 2007
G:WdminU'W Design ManuaA2007 PWDM UPDATE~DESIGN MANUAL.doc