HomeMy WebLinkAbout10th Ave Hieights variance letter PROPOSEDJanuary 4, 2021
Project: 10th Ave. Heights Subdivision
Regarding: Variance request for use of a Circulation Driveway in the R3 zone for Multi-family Development
To whom it may concern,
I am requesting relief from the Common Driveway code requirements, §11-03-02 (14) specific to the 10th Avenue Heights Subdivision because a private street is not currently allowed in
Residential Zones and the proposed development does not comply with the Common Driveway requirements. Common drives or circulation streets are widely utilized in multi-family development
in the City of Caldwell and surrounding jurisdictions. I am specifically requesting relief from two elements of the Common Driveway requirements for my development as follows:
§11-03-02 (14) Common Driveways:
Common driveways shall be a minimum of twenty-four feet (24') in width and shall serve no more than six (6) buildable lots.
I am specifically asking to allow my development which exceeds six buildable lots to be served by a common driveway or circulation street. The streets will be named and signed as proposed
on the preliminary plat and required by staff and the fire marshal. I have provided for minimum 24 foot wide paved drives throughout the development and redesigned some of the streets
to accommodate the fire code requirements of minimum 26 foot width where fire hydrants are located (E. Easy Lane and Masey Lane).
Common driveways shall be a maximum of one hundred fifty feet (150') in length.
I am also asking for relief from the maximum 150 foot length requirement. My development has been reviewed by the Caldwell City Fire Marshal and I have made adjustments to the fire
hydrant locations and street widths as requested and those revisions are noted on the preliminary plat for 10th Avenue Heights. Access and appropriate turn radii for the fire department
have been provided. Essentially the life safety and emergency access requirements have been established and will be met for the proposed development. I am asking for your consideration
to strike the maximum 150 foot driveway length for 10th Avenue Heights Subdivision.
The Circulation Driveway we have designed for this subdivision meets all the width requirements for vehicles to pass back and forth comfortably throughout the subdivision and most importantly
the access for life safety vehicles such as large firetrucks. Fire Marshall Alan Parry has reviewed our design and has approved the design including the widths of the driveways, the
firetruck turnarounds and the spacing requirements for the two fire hydrants.
Below are a few other bullet points that support my request:
The design and use of Circulation Driveways are commonly used and allowed in Commercial Zonings. In the near future the City is going to revise their ordinance to allow for the use
of Circulation Driveways in an R3 zoning (which matches the current zoning of the mentioned project.)
The width of the drive aisles is wider than most City streets with parked cars along the sides of them
The proposed Circulation Driveway will have an access and maintenance agreement managed by the 10th Ave. Heights Subdivision HOA
The proposed Circulation Driveway will contain signage prohibiting parking in the driveways
Thank you for your consideration