Chapter 17.54
ROADWAYS AND INTERNAL VEHICLE ACCESS
Sections:
17.54.040 Private driveways and private joint-use driveways.
17.54.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards for vehicle circulation roadways that are not public streets. The standards are applicable to all zoning districts, land uses and developments that provide private internal vehicle circulation systems. (Ord. 1198 § 4 (part), 2008)
17.54.020 Private roads.
A. Private roads shall have no more than one intersection with a public street and shall not intersect another private road, except private roads that are loop roads may have up to two intersections with a public street, provided those intersections are no more than two hundred feet apart.
B. Private roads shall be built in accordance with the development standards adopted by city council resolution and the fire standards adopted by city council ordinance.
C. The development standards applicable to private roads shall be determined by the number of lots the private road could serve if developed to the maximum density allowed by the underlying zoning designation.
D. Before building permits may be issued for structures on lots served by a private road, a permit must have been issued for the private road. A permit for the construction of a new private road shall be issued only if the following requirements have been met:
1. The design of the private road conforms to the private road standards adopted by city council resolution.
2. A joint use and maintenance agreement, reviewed and approved by the city, is executed and recorded with the Snohomish County auditor by the owners of all lots served by the private road. The agreement shall establish the rights to use the road and a method by which the road shall be maintained. Any changes to the agreement shall be reviewed and approved by the city before being executed and recorded with the Snohomish County auditor.
3. Traffic and informational signing in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices shall be installed at the expense of the owner or owners of the lot or private road before structures may be occupied.
4. A land use binder or similar document shall be recorded with the Snohomish County auditor, binding on all lots served by the private road to conditions described in the land use binder and requirements of the joint use and maintenance agreement. The land use binder or similar document shall grant the city the authority to do the following at the owner’s expense:
a. Remove private vehicles that block the roadway where removal is necessary for the passage of emergency vehicles; and
b. Trim trees to provide sufficient width and height for emergency vehicles. (Ord. 1314 § 3 (Exh. B), 2012: Ord. 1198 § 4 (part), 2008)
17.54.030 Drive aisles.
A. Drive aisles shall only be used in multifamily, commercial, mixed use, industrial and community use developments that are either single or common ownership types of developments.
B. A drive aisle system may include any combination of the following types of vehicle access:
1. Fire lanes pursuant to Chapter 8.20;
2. Driveways pursuant to this chapter; and
3. Turnarounds built to the development standards adopted by city council resolution.
C. In addition to conforming to the standards within this chapter, drive aisles shall conform to other standards in Mukilteo Municipal Code and city of Mukilteo development standards adopted by city council resolution, including but not limited to:
1. Title 15, Buildings and Construction;
2. Title 16, Subdivisions and Planning;
3. Title 17, Zoning;
a. Chapter 17.20, Bulk Regulations;
b. Chapter 17.25, Design Standards for Mixed-Use Development;
c. Chapter 17.51, Planned Residential Development;
d. Chapter 17.56, Off-Street Parking;
e. Chapter 17.58, Landscaping;
4. City of Mukilteo development standards adopted by Resolution 99-02, Amending Resolution 2001-21, Amending Resolution 2007-14, Amending Resolution 2008-22 and any subsequent amending resolutions.
D. The minimum width of the drive aisle shall be in accordance with Section 17.56.100. The width of drive aisles designated as fire lanes shall be in accordance with the International Fire Code.
E. Parking within or on any portion of a drive aisle is prohibited unless there are at least an additional eight feet of pavement in excess of the minimum aisle width requirement as established by Section 17.56.100.
F. A second access to a public street may be required when a drive aisle serves as a fire lane to conform to the standards in the International Fire Code depending on the number of dwelling units or type and size of building the drive aisle serves. The second access shall conform to the standards in the International Fire Code, Mukilteo Municipal Code and city of Mukilteo development standards for developments with more than one access to a public street as exist now or hereafter amended.
G. A turnaround area shall be provided at the end of the drive aisle, with a minimum twenty-four-foot backup distance from the end of any driveway apron or parking area. If the drive aisle is designated as a fire lane the turnaround shall conform to the standards in the International Fire Code and development standards adopted by city council resolution. (Ord. 1198 § 4 (part), 2008)
17.54.040 Private driveways and private joint-use driveways.
A. Driveways and joint-use driveways shall conform to the city of Mukilteo development standards adopted by city council resolution.
B. Private driveways shall:
1. Serve only one single-family residential lot;
2. Have a pavement surface:
a. Constructed of asphalt concrete pavement or approved equal.
b. At least twelve feet in width although the director of public works or the fire marshal may require additional width.
c. That extends from the edge of the roadway serving the driveway to the front face of the carport, garage or parking area for the lot.
d. With a maximum width that does not exceed the standard established by the city of Mukilteo development standards adopted by city council resolution.
C. Private joint-use driveways shall:
1. Serve two single-family residential lots;
2. Be within a private easement or tract for ingress and egress that is at least four feet wider than the provided pavement width;
3. Have a binding private maintenance covenant/agreement, reviewed and approved by the city prior to recording of the document to provide constructive notice to subsequent purchasers of their obligation to maintain these private facilities as well as the methods to be used in maintaining the private facilities;
4. Have a pavement surface:
a. Constructed of asphalt concrete pavement or approved equal.
b. At least sixteen feet in width although the director of public works or the fire marshal may require additional width.
c. Centered within a private easement or tract for ingress and egress.
d. That extends from the edge of the roadway serving the driveway to the front face of the carport, garage or parking area for the lot.
e. With a maximum width that does not exceed the standard established by the city of Mukilteo development standards adopted by city council resolution.
D. Private driveways and private joint-use driveways shall be maintained by the appropriate property owners and will not be maintained by the city of Mukilteo.
E. Private driveways and private joint-use driveways that exceed one hundred fifty feet in length from their connection to a public or private street:
1. Shall require fire marshal and director of public works review and approval; and
2. May be designated as a fire lane by the fire marshal and may be required to be constructed to a minimum of twenty feet in width as determined by the fire marshal.
F. Minimum Length. The minimum length of a driveway, both regular and joint-use, shall be twenty feet from the face of the garage to the property line. (Ord. 1314 § 4 (Exh. C), 2012: Ord. 1198 § 4 (part), 2008)
17.54.050 Fire lanes.
A. Fire lanes shall be designed to provide fire and emergency apparatus access to buildings and facilities within development pursuant to Chapter 8.20.
B. A driveway, common driveway, private road or drive aisle functioning as a fire lane shall comply with the standards of the International Fire Code, as it exists or is hereafter amended, to the city of Mukilteo development standards adopted by city council resolution and to the standards for driveways, common driveways, private roads and drive aisles under this code.
C. Minimum width of fire lanes:
1. Minimum width shall be twenty feet without a fire hydrant or parking on either side of the fire lane;
2. Minimum width shall be twenty-six feet with a fire hydrant located on a fire lane;
3. Minimum width shall be twenty-eight feet with a parking lane on one side of the fire lane;
4. Minimum width shall be thirty-six feet with parking lanes on both sides of the fire lane.
D. Where a parking lane is provided on one side of the fire lane, fire hydrants shall be located on the opposite side.
E. Fire hydrants shall be located, as required by WAC 246-293-650, so as to be accessible by fire engines and not be obstructed by any structure or vegetation or have the visibility impaired for a distance of fifty feet in the direction of vehicular approach to the hydrant. Fire hydrants subject to vehicle damage (e.g., such as those located in parking lots) shall be adequately protected.
F. The minimum unobstructed vertical clearance over the entire width of a fire lane shall be at least thirteen feet, six inches. (Ord. 1198 § 4 (part), 2008)
17.54.060 Enforcement.
Violations of this chapter are punishable under Title 18 and as otherwise provided by law, and are subject to injunctive and other forms of civil relief which the city may seek. (Ord. 1198 § 4 (part), 2008)
17.54.070 Conflict.
In the event that there is a conflict between the provisions of this chapter and any other city ordinance, the provisions of this chapter shall control. (Ord. 1198 § 4 (part), 2008)