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PROJECT REVIEW COMMITTEE
STAFF REPORT
Project Manager: Brett McCuIIy, P.E. Date: April 23, 2003
Email: bmccully @ci .college - station.tx.us
For
5114 Sycamore Hills Driveway Variance (03- 00500106)
Zoning District: The property is zoned R -1
Location: The property is located on Sycamore Hills Drive near the intersection with
Crooked Stick in Pebble Creek Development Phase 9A
Applicant: Larry Mariott
Item Summary: This item is consideration of a request for a variance from Chapter 3,
Section 3.H.(6)(f) which limits the combination of widths of a residential circular drive to
28 feet measured at the property line. Applicant wishes to construct drives totaling
approximately 43 feet.
Item Background: On 2/18/03 a residential building permit was issued for the
construction of this home. The site plan submitted with the application indicated a
single driveway with a width at the property line of 28 feet. During construction, the
applicant decided to add a second driveway to form a circular access. The second
driveway was formed and prepared for concrete at the time staff was made aware of the
addition. The width of the second drive is 14 feet, bringing the total proposed to 42.
The applicant has stated that he was not aware of the limitation in combined width, as
many homes recently constructed by this applicant as well as others in the same
general area included driveways that exceed the stated maximum.
While there has not been any change in this regulation, the review and enforcement of
residential driveway regulations was not actively pursued during a significant period of
time when 2 of the 3 development engineering positions were vacant. With staff back to
full strength, these activities have been resumed.
This particular site will be more difficult to exit normally due to the proximity of the
Crooked Stick intersection. A circular drive will be safer in this situation allowing
vehicles to exit in a forward manner rather than backing in to three different traffic paths.
For this reason, Staff has approved the addition of a circular drive as allowed by the
Ordinance.
While it would be possible to reduce the main driveway to meet the combined width
limitation, the elimination of room to maneuver from the garage and main drive onto the
circular drive would discourage the use of the safer means of egress. Therefore, Staff
is willing to support the increased width in this situation to maintain the usability of the
safer exit route. The increase of width beyond the 28 feet is not included in the
administrative powers of the Staff, therefore this variance has been brought forward.
The 2 primary purposes of any limitation of drive access width are to preclude
extraneous use of surfacing rather than landscape and vegetation, and to maintain
adequate areas of curbing for the location of ROW accessories (streetlights, storm
drainage inlets, fire hydrants, mail boxes etc.). Because the lot width is larger than
average (appx. 103 feet), there will still be adequate room for landscaping and lawn.
The added driveway width also does not preclude any of the utility accessories in this
location.
In summary, Staff supports this variance as a means of providing safer access without
significant impacts to the appearance or functionality of the public right of way.
Supporting Materials:
1. Location Map
2. Application
3. Copy of site plan