[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Oconto Falls 6-8-1999 by Ord. No. 99-011 (Ch. 91). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 194.
Excavations — See Ch. 233.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 420.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APRON
That portion of a driveway lying between the travelled portion of the roadway and the adjacent street or highway right-of-way line.
A. 
Purpose. For the safety of the general public, the City shall determine the location, size, construction and number of access points to public roadways within the City limits. It is the City's intent to provide safe access to properties abutting public roadways suitable for the property to be developed to its highest and best use, provided that access is not deficient or dangerous to the general public.
B. 
Permit required to construct, reconstruct, alter or enlarge. No person, firm or corporation shall construct, reconstruct, alter or enlarge any private driveway, cut any curb, or place obstructions in any drainage ditch within the limits of the dedicated portion of any public street under the control and jurisdiction of the City of Oconto Falls without first obtaining a permit therefor as provided by this chapter.
C. 
Application.
(1) 
Application for such permit shall be made to the City Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee on a form provided by the City and shall be accompanied by a drawing accurately depicting the portion of the proposed private driveway to be constructed, reconstructed, altered or enlarged lying within the dedicated portion of the public street, the dimensions thereof and a statement of the materials proposed to be used. The applicant shall pay a fee as set by the Common Council. Upon receipt of the application and the fee, if required, unless the proposed private driveway is part of construction for a building or other structure for which a building permit has been applied for, in which case, no additional fee is required, the Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee shall approve such application if the proposed driveway complies with the terms and conditions of this chapter and any other applicable City ordinance.
(2) 
All applications for permits shall be made on a form prescribed by the City and be accompanied by a sketch in duplicate showing exact location of any:
(a) 
Driveway and approaches.
(b) 
Property lines.
(c) 
Right-of-way lines.
(d) 
Intersecting roads, streets or roadways within 300 feet.
(e) 
Width of right-of-way.
(f) 
Width and type of road surface.
(g) 
Distance from right-of-way line to gasoline pumps and other structures on the site.
(h) 
Type of surface and width of driveways and approaches.
(i) 
Proposed turning radii.
(j) 
Other pertinent information as may be required by the City, Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee, or Building Inspector.
D. 
Application provisions. All driveway permit applications shall contain the applicant's statement that:
(1) 
The applicant represents all parties in interest, and that such proposed driveway is for the bona fide purpose of securing access to his property and not for the purpose of parking or servicing vehicles, advertising, storage or merchandising of goods within the dedicated portion of the City street, or for any other purpose.
(2) 
The City, notwithstanding the construction of such driveway, reserves the right to make any changes, additions, repairs or relocations within the dedicated portion of the City street at any time, including relocation, reconstruction, widening and maintaining the street, without compensating the owner of such private driveway for the damage or destruction of such private roadway.
(3) 
The permittee, his successors or assigns agree to indemnify and hold harmless the City of Oconto Falls, its officials, officers, agents or employees against any claim or any cause of action for personal injury or property damage sustained by reason of the exercise of such permit.
(4) 
The City does not assume any responsibility for the removal or clearance of snow, ice or sleet or the opening of any windrows of such material upon such portion of such driveway within the dedicated portion of the City street, nor will the City assume responsibility for the removal or clearance of snow, ice or sleet or the opening of any windrows of such material deposited upon the driveway as the result of municipal snow removal operations, whether undertaken by municipal employees or contractors.
E. 
Permit expiration. All driveway permits will expire within eight months of issuance should the applicant fail to construct the driveway described in the permit.
A. 
General requirements.
(1) 
General design. Private driveways shall be of such width and so located that all of such driveways and their appurtenances are within the limits of the frontage abutting the street of the property served. Driveways shall not provide direct ingress or egress to or from any street intersection area and shall not encroach upon or occupy areas of the street right-of-way required for effective traffic control or for street signs or signals. A driveway shall be so located and constructed that vehicles approaching or using it shall have adequate sight distance along the street. Driveway approaches shall be at least 10 feet apart except by special permission from the Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee, and driveways shall in all cases be placed wherever possible so as not to interfere with utilities in place.
(2) 
Number. The number of driveways to serve an individual property fronting on a street shall be one, except where deemed necessary and feasible by the Planning Commission for reasonable and adequate service to the property, considering the safety, convenience and utility of the street.
(3) 
Island area. The island area in the street right-of-way between successive driveways or adjoining a driveway and between the highway shoulder and right-of-way shall constitute a restricted area and may be filled in and graded only as provided in Subsection A(6).
(4) 
Drainage.
(a) 
No driveway apron shall extend out into the street further than the face of the curb, and under no circumstances shall such driveway apron extend into the gutter area. All driveway entrances and approaches shall be so constructed that they shall not interfere with the drainage of streets, side ditches, or roadside areas or with any existing structure on the right-of-way.
(b) 
The surface of the driveway shall not be sloped to drain onto a neighboring property.
(5) 
Reconstruction of sidewalks and curb and gutter. When the construction of a driveway requires the removal of a curb or gutter, the new connections shall be of equivalent acceptable material and curb returns shall be provided or restored in a neat, workmanlike manner. The driveway surface shall be connected with the highway pavement and the sidewalk, if any, in a neat, workmanlike manner. The driveway construction shall include the replacement of such sidewalk areas which are inadequate or which are or may be damaged by means of vehicle travel across the sidewalk. All driveway entrances and approaches which are constructed across sidewalks shall be paved in accordance with the requirements for sidewalk construction noted in the Chapter 420, Streets and Sidewalks, of this Code insofar as such requirements are applicable, including thickness requirements. Standard thickness of residential driveway approaches will be six inches thick.
(6) 
Restricted areas. The restricted area between successive driveways may be filled in and graded only when the following requirements are complied with:
(a) 
The filling or draining shall be to grades approved by the City Engineer and, except where highway drainage is by means of curb and gutter, water drainage of the area shall be directed away from the street roadbed in a suitable manner.
(b) 
Culvert extensions under the restricted area shall be of the same size and of equivalent acceptable material as the culvert under the driveway. Intermediate manholes adequate for cleanout purposes may be required where the total culvert length is excessive.
(c) 
Where no street side ditch separates the restricted area from the street roadbed, permanent provision may be required to separate the area from the street roadbed to prevent its use for driveway or parking purposes by construction of a border, curb, rail or posts as may be required by the City Engineer.
(7) 
Relocation of utilities. Any costs of relocating utilities shall be the responsibility of the property owner with approval of the Street, Public Property and Public Works Committee, Water and Light Commission or Cable Television Commission, as appropriate, before any utility may be relocated and the driveway installed.
(8) 
Construction across sidewalks. All driveway entrances and approaches which are constructed across sidewalks shall be paved in accordance with the requirements for sidewalk construction in Chapter 420, Streets and Sidewalks, of this Code insofar as such requirements are applicable, including thickness requirements.
(9) 
Apron construction. All driveway aprons shall be paved with either concrete or asphalt within six months of the date of the establishment of the driveway.
(10) 
Variances. Any of the above requirements may be varied by the Street, Public Property and Public Works Committee in such instances where the peculiar nature of the property or the design of the street may make rigid adherence to the above requirements impossible or impractical.
B. 
Special requirements for commercial and industrial driveways. The following regulations are applicable to driveways serving commercial or industrial establishments:
(1) 
Width of drive. The maximum permitted width of a commercial or industrial driveway approach shall be 35 feet at the curbline, except as increased by permissible radii. In instances where the unique nature of the commercial or industrial activity or the physical characteristics of the land would require a driveway of greater width than herein specified, the Street, Public Property and Public Works Committee in its discretion may permit a driveway of additional width.
(2) 
Angular placement of driveway. The angle between the center line of the driveway and the curbline shall not be less than 45°.
(3) 
Island areas. Where the public sidewalk is adjacent to the curb, an island of a minimum length of six feet measured along the curbline shall be placed between each entrance to a City street. The curb shall be left intact for the length of this island. Where the public sidewalk is remote from the curb, an island of a minimum length of 10 feet measured along the right-of-way line shall be maintained along each entrance to the City street. All flares shall be tangent to the curbline. A curb length of not less than three feet shall be left undisturbed adjacent to each property line to serve as an island area in the event an adjoining property owner applies for a driveway permit to serve his property.
C. 
Special requirements for residential driveways. The following regulations are applicable to driveways serving residential property:
(1) 
Width. Unless special permission is first received from the Street, Public Property and Public Works Committee, a residential single-type driveway shall be no greater than 18 feet wide at the curbline and 12 feet wide at the outer or street edge of the sidewalk; residential double-type driveways shall be no greater than 24 feet wide at the curbline and 18 feet wide at the outer or street edge of the sidewalk.
(2) 
Angular placement. The center line of the drive may be parallel to the property line of the lot where access is required or at right angles to the curbline.
D. 
Appeal from permit refusal. Any person feeling himself aggrieved by the refusal of the Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee to issue a permit for a private driveway may appeal such refusal to the Street, Public Property and Public Works Committee within 20 days after such refusal to issue such permit is made.
E. 
Prohibited driveways.
(1) 
No person, firm or corporation shall place, construct or locate or cause to be placed, constructed or located any obstruction or structure within the limits of any public road, highway or street in the City of Oconto Falls except as permitted by this section. As used herein the word "structure" includes a private driveway, a portion of which extends into any public road, highway or street, and which is in nonconformance with this chapter.
(2) 
No driveway shall be closer than 35 feet to the extended street line at an intersection. At street intersections a driveway shall not provide direct ingress or egress to or from the street intersection area and shall not occupy areas of the roadway deemed necessary by the City for effective traffic control or for highway signs or signals.
(3) 
The grade of that portion of any private driveway or pedestrian path located within the limits of any public road, highway or street shall be such as shall meet the grade of the existing public roadway at its edge and not cause an obstruction to the maintenance or clearing of such public roadway.
(4) 
No driveway apron shall extend out into the street further than the facing of the curb, and under no circumstances shall such driveway apron extend into any gutter area. All driveway entrances and approaches shall be constructed so as not to interfere with the drainage of streets, side ditches or roadside areas or with any existing structure on the right-of-way.
(5) 
No portion of any curb, parapet or retaining wall, rising above the grade of the driveway, erected by the owner of the premises involved shall extend beyond the culvert spanning the watercourse located in such public way.
F. 
Culvert construction standards.
(1) 
Size. Culverts shall be installed prior to construction work being commenced on the property served. No pipe smaller than 12 inches in diameter (or equivalent elliptical or arch pipe) will be allowed. All culverts shall be constructed of galvanized steel or reinforced concrete and shall be of new manufacture, unless specifically excepted by the Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee.
(2) 
Gauge. The minimum wall thickness for the galvanized steel pipe culverts shall be in accordance with the following:
Pipe Diameter
(inches)
Gauge
15 to 24
16
30 to 36
14
42 to 54
12
60 to 72
10
78 to 84
8
(3) 
The class of reinforced concrete pipe shall be in accordance with the following:
Height of Cover
(feet)
Class of Pipe
0 to 2
IV
Over 2 to 3
III
Over 3 to 6
II
(4) 
Drainage. The culverts shall be placed in the ditchline at elevations that will assure proper drainage.
(5) 
Endwalls. Culverts shall be provided with concrete or metal apron endwalls as directed by the Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee.
(6) 
Backfill material. Material used for backfill shall be of a quantity acceptable to the Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee and shall be free from frozen lumps, wood, or other extraneous or perishable materials. The minimum cover, measured from the top of the culvert to the top of the subgrade, shall be six inches.
(7) 
Erosion control. Erosion control measures shall be implemented as necessary to control erosion or as directed by the Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee.
(8) 
Distance. The distance between culverts under successive driveways shall not be less than 10 feet except as such restricted area is permitted to be filled pursuant to Subsection A(6).
(9) 
Cost. The property owner shall install the culvert and be responsible for the cost thereof. The property owner shall keep his culverts unobstructed and clean. In the event that a ditch is ordered to be constructed within the public right-of-way across previously constructed driveways, the property owner shall be solely responsible for the cost of the culvert installation required in Subsection F(1) above.
(10) 
Appeal. Persons may request a variance from the culvert requirements of this section by filing a written appeal request with the City Clerk, who shall place the matter as an agenda item for the next meeting of the Street, Public Property and Public Works Committee. The Street, Public Property and Public Works Committee may only waive the requirement for a culvert upon a finding that unique physical characteristics of the location in question render a culvert unnecessary. The Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee may be asked to render an opinion on the request.
A. 
Order for driveway closure or modification. In the event of abandonment of the use of a driveway opening for reasons of relocated access by the property owner or change in use of the property, or ongoing safety issues, the City Engineer, Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee or Police Chief shall recommend to the Street, Public Property and Public Works Committee closure or modification of the driveway access. Upon the concurrence of the Street, Public Property and Public Works Committee that said driveway should be closed or modified, the property owner will be notified of the City's order to close or modify the driveway.
B. 
Appeal of order. The affected property owner of any order to close or modify a driveway will be provided an opportunity to appeal the decision to the Street, Public Property and Public Works Committee within 20 days of the date of notification. The date of notification will be the date the closure or modification order is issued and not the date the order is delivered to the property owner.
C. 
Closure.
(1) 
Within four months of the closure order or an unsuccessful appeal, the property owner will be required to carry out the directive of the order.
(2) 
Upon failure of the property owner to implement the City's order within the time frame noted in Subsection C(1) above, the City will then act to close or modify said driveway, with the cost of said closure or modification being charged to the property owner in accordance with the special assessment provisions of Ch. 66, Wis. Stats. All administrative, contractor, engineering, construction, and cleanup and disposal costs incurred by the City will be levied as part of the special assessment.
Any person who violates this chapter shall be subject to the penalties found in § 1-9 of this Code.