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09.b1 Driveway Access Standards Staff Report Date of Meeting: March, 18th 2025 To: City Council From: Mike Hinz, Fire Chief Re: Driveway & Fire Access Lanes/Roads Issue The City of Scandia does not have a complete driveway/access standard and what is currently in effect is not complete. Due to the many requests, I have received over the years I have done some research and found that the fire code is very limited on this issue for both commercial and residential properties. Most of the code states that the requirement or any exceptions shall be determined by the fire code official. I have three reasons for presenting this request. 1. We have responded to many calls for medical assistance or fires that have damaged the city equipment or required an adjustment and delay to our process due to driveways that our equipment cannot negotiate adequately. 2. Over the years I receive many requests from residents, developers, staff, and council about what is required for a driveway. Currently we have some requirements and information in our UDC and in our Engineering Standards. Both are limited in the detail for portions that are beyond the right of way. 3. Lastly information is spread over multiple location, making it difficult for residents or others to find the information needed or only finding a portion of the information and installing or modifying there access incorrectly. Proposal Details: I have been working with TJ, Charles, and Kyle to prepare the attached requirements document. We understand that there will need to be discussion on this document, and there will also need to be a public meeting to make changes to the UDC that this document will affect. I am recommending that you direct information in the UDC pertaining to Driveways, Gates, Access Lanes, and Aerial access roads to reference this document instead of defining them there. Options: (1) Direct staff to proceed with any changes and adopt document as a city standard and prepare UDC changes for a planning commission public hearing (2) Review document and direct staff to make any needed changes for future meeting review. (3) Postpone decision for a later date Recommendation: Staff recommends directing staff proceed with finalizing the standard and UDC modification. City of Scandia Driveway and Fire apparatus access road Requirements Access general information The access to your home or business not only affects how easily firefighters can reach and protect your home, but how easily other emergency vehicles can find and reach your home. It starts with signage. Your local fire department may know where your house is, but assisting departments won't easily find your home if your address is not visible from the road. Once firefighters find your home, they need to be able to get to it. If your driveway is less than 150 feet long, firefighters can reach your home from the street. Your driveway should be at least 12 feet wide and be clear of branches 13’ 6” feet up. Longer driveways will have additional requirements. The driveway should also have a firm, all-weather surface and any bridges or culverts should be rated to 33,500 pounds. Curves in long driveways need to be gentle to accommodate large emergency vehicles. Long driveways also need a turnaround near the house. Without a good access, and escape route, firefighters will not endanger themselves to save your home. These requirements apply to any new structure or any Improvement to a structure by 500 sq. ft. will require access to meet these requirements If established requirements cannot be met due to special circumstances, flexibility may be granted by the City Administrator upon recommendation of the City Engineer, Public Works Director, or Fire Chief. These requirements do not apply to agricultural access drives that are not used to access a structure. 1. Residential Driveway a. Width (of travel surface) i. Minimum 12 feet (10’ with Fire Chief Approval) ii. Maximum 24 feet b. Height i. Minimum height is 13’ 6” c. Location i. 50 feet from the curb of an intersecting street on Minor Streets ii. 100 feet from the curb of intersecting street on Collector Streets iii. Access locations on Local Streets shall be setback as required by the City Engineer iv. Property line setbacks 1. All driveways located on a front or rear yard must be setback 5 feet from side lot lines 2. All driveway located on a side yard must be setback 5 feet from front or rear lot lines. d. Slope i. Maximum Slope 12% ii. Maximum Side slope 10% e. Radius i. Minimum inside radius of 30 feet Commented [MH1]: This size could be changed Commented [MH2]: An option if terrain or other natural circumstance interferes with meeting the rules. Commented [MH3]: We had this at one time not sure if we want to keep this here. ii. Minimum outside radius of 50 feet f. Address Marker i. Address needs to be displayed as to be seen from either direction on the road and be at least 3 inch tall with minimum stroke of ½ inch contrasting reflective letters and background. ii. Make sure address is visible during all seasons and directs emergency crews to the correct structure. g. Should have a firm, all-weather surface and any bridges or culverts should be rated to 33,500 pounds. h. If your driveway is over 150 feet long (see Exhibit: A) i. Must provide an approved turnaround that is located a minimum of 50’ from structure and maximum of 150’ from the structure (see Exhibit: C, approved turnaround design sheet) ii. Must provide a pullout at a minimum of every 400 feet (see Exhibit: B) i. Secondary Access i. A secondary access may be allowed, as determined by the city, for the purpose of accessing a detached accessory structure used for storing a vehicle, camper, boat, or similar. ii. Secondary access at the public right-of-way is restricted to a width of 12 feet (minimum and maximum width). iii. A concrete driveway apron per Engineering Standards is required at all secondary access points. iv. Secondary access must meet driveway setback requirements. v. Secondary access must be located at least 15 feet from any other driveways vi. The City reserves the right to deny a secondary access because of safety issues, as determined by the City Engineer, Public Works Director, and Fire Chief. vii. Each secondary access request will be reviewed on an individual basis and Engineering and City Staff will grant final approval 2. Gated Driveway a. Gate entrances shall be at least two (2) feet wider than the width of the travel surface serving that gate and a minimum width of fourteen (14) feet unobstructed horizontal clearance and unobstructed vertical clearance of thirteen feet, six inches (13′ 6″). b. All gates providing access from a Road to a Driveway shall be located at least thirty (30) feet from the roadway and shall open to allow a vehicle to stop without obstructing traffic on that Road. c. Where a One-way Road with a single traffic lane provides access to a gated entrance, a forty (40) foot turning radius shall be used. d. Security gates shall not be installed without approval. Where security gates are installed, they shall have an approved means of emergency operation. Approval shall be by the local authority having jurisdiction. The security gates and the emergency operati on shall be always maintained operational. 3. Commercial Driveway a. Width i. 32 feet Driveway widths greater than 32 feet requires engineering approval b. Location i. Requires engineering approval Commented [MH4]: Do we need or want to add anything about aprons or lead ins, culverts, surface in right of way or just reference engineering standard Commented [MH5]: Do you want to have a rule about secondary access? Commented [MH6]: No standards established for secondary access. Would want to establish reasons for why it’s restricted in it’s use. How is this enforced going forward? How is it ensured that someone doesn’t connect the two driveways on site once access installed. Commented [MH7]: This is just a number to make sure it is not used to create an oversized driveway. Commented [MH8]: Public & Private drive Commented [MH9]: This would be any gate that is locked or automatically operated leading to a structure c. Slope i. Maximum driveway slope 10% ii. Driveways greater than 6% slope shall be paved d. Address Marker i. Address needs to be displayed as to be seen from either direction on the road and be at least 3 inch tall with minimum stroke of ½ inch contrasting reflective letters and background. ii. Make sure address is visible during all seasons and directs emergency crews to the correct structure. iii. Buildings with multiple units require unique identification for each unit. 4. Fire Department Access Lane (Buildings under 30’ high) a. Where the vertical distance between the grade plane and the highest roof surface is less than 30 feet (9144 mm), approved fire department access lane shall be provided. For purposes of this section, the highest roof surface shall be determined by measurement to the eave of a pitched roof, the intersection of the roof to the exterior wall, or the top of parapet walls, whichever is greater. a. Width i. Minimum 20 feet (option: 10’ bituminous with 5’ gravel shoulders) b. Radius i. Minimum inner radius 30 feet ii. Minimum outer radius 50 feet c. Crown Maximum 2% d. Grade i. Minimum 0.5% ii. Maximum 5% e. Distance from building to centerline of Access Lane i. Minimum 25 feet ii. Maximum 150 feet f. Unobstructed Vertical Clearance 13’-6” g. Maximum length dead end Access Lane 150 feet (City approved turn around required if length exceeds 150 feet) h. The alignment of the Access Lane must be approved by the City and may be modified to match the circumstances and capabilities of the fire department. i. Signage (Fire Dept. approval required) within 20’ of every entrance 5. Aerial Apparatus access Road (Buildings over 30’ high) a. Where the vertical distance between the grade plane and the highest roof surface exceeds 30 feet (9144 mm), approved aerial fire apparatus access roads shall be provided. For purposes of this section, the highest roof surface shall be determined by measurement to the eave of a pitched roof, the intersection of the roof to the exterior wall, or the top of parapet walls, whichever is greater. b. Width i. Minimum 26 feet c. Radius i. Minimum inner radius 30 feet ii. Minimum outer radius 50 feet Commented [MH10]: This would be Commercial, but could be used for a residential if deemed necessary Commented [MH11]: This has a few different distance and width rules Commented [MH12]: This would be Commercial, but could be used for a residential if deemed necessary d. Crown Maximum 2% e. Grade i. Minimum 0.5% ii. Maximum 5% f. Distance from building to centerline of Access Lane i. Minimum 15 feet ii. Maximum 30 feet g. Unobstructed Vertical Clearance 13’-6” i. Overhead utility and power lines shall not be located over the aerial fire apparatus access road or between the aerial fire apparatus road and the building. Other obstructions shall be permitted to be placed with the approval of the fire code official. h. Maximum length dead end Access Lane 150 feet (City approved turn around required if length exceeds 150 feet) i. The alignment of the Access Lane must be approved by the City and may be modified to match the circumstances and capabilities of the fire department. j. Signage (Fire Dept. approval required) within 20’ of every entrance TIP 1: In mid-summer, when vegetation is fully leaved, go to the street and see if you can read your address. If you cannot, you may need to move the sign or make it bigger. Contact the City Planner to determine potential restrictions on size. Remember that at times smoke or darkness may make it harder to see your address. Exhibit: A Exhibit: B Exhibit: C UDC Amendments Required for City of Scandia Driveway and Fire Apparatus Access Road Requirements Implementation 153.400.020 Subd. 3 Minimum Design Standards (A) General Standards should be amended to include: Driveway Design Specifications. Public and private improvements shall comply with standards set forth in the City’s Driveway and Fire Apparatus Access Road Specifications, which are herein adopted by reference. 153.400.020 Subd. 3 Minimum Design Standards (G) Streets, Access Spacing Guidelines and Utilities should be amended to include: Access of streets within the subdivision to any public street or highway must meet all requirements of the access spacing guidelines provided in Table 3, and as stated within the adopted Comprehensive Plan. Access is subject to all conditions of the applicable access permitting requirements of the City, Washington County Department of Public Works or the Minnesota Department of Transportation. At the discretion of the City Engineer, a traffic study including trip generation figures may be required of commercial, industrial, mixed-use or residential subdivisions containing 50 or more dwelling units. Table 153.200.020-2: Access Management Guidelines Functional Classification Full- Movement Intersection Partial Movement Intersection Private Driveways Signal or Roundabout Spacing Principal Arterial 1/2 Mile 1/4 Mile Variable 1/2 Mile Minor Arterial 1/4 Mile 1/4 Mile Variable 1/4 Mile Collector 1/8 Mile N/A Variable 1/8 Mile Spacing for all private or public driveways shall comply with standards set forth in the City’s Driveway and Fire Apparatus Access Road Specifications. 153.400.080 Parking, Driveways and Drive-Lanes should be amended to include: 153.400.080 PARKING, DRIVEWAYS, AND DRIVE-LANES Subd. 3. Driveways. All private or public driveways shall comply with standards set forth in the City’s Driveway and Fire Apparatus Access Road Specifications. Subd. 4. Drive-Lanes. All private or public drive-lanes and/or fire access lanes shall comply with standards set forth in the City’s Driveway and Fire Apparatus Access Road Specifications.