[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Groton 12-14-1998. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
Driveways shall be designed to provide adequate
access for emergency vehicles and shall meet the following minimum
standards.
Traveled widths shall be a minimum of 10 feet.
Shoulders shall be a minimum two feet in width. Shoulders shall have
a two-percent cross-sectional slope. Shoulders shall not be impeded
by obstructions (e.g., light poles, mailboxes, trees, tree limbs,
shrubs, etc.). A minimum of one shoulder shall pitch away from the
driveway to direct stormwater runoff off of the driveway.
The center-line grade for any driveway shall
not be less than 0.75% nor greater than 10%. The driveway intersection
with a traveled way shall provide a leveling area not to exceed three-percent
grade from the edge of the traveled way for a minimum distance of
30 feet. The driveways shall be graded to not create low points within
the driveway that will create puddling/icing conditions.
The proposed center-line of the driveway shall
not be greater than seven feet above or below the existing grade.
[Amended 10-1-2018 ATM
by Art. 14]
Slopes abutting driveways shall not exceed 3:1
in fills and 2:1 in cuts. Rip-rap slopes are allowed at a 1:1 slope.
Vertical retaining walls are also allowed. Guardrails may be required
by the Select Board or its designee.
[Amended 10-1-2018 ATM
by Art. 14]
Driveways with slopes greater than 5% shall
be constructed of three inches of bituminous concrete placed in two
lifts. Driveways with slopes less than 5% do not have to specify surface
cover. All driveways shall be of three inches of bituminous concrete
for a minimum of the first 20 feet or longer, if so directed by the
Select Board, or its designee, from the driveway intersection. Concrete
driveways shall be allowed as authorized by the Select Board, or its
designee, as directed by the Highway Surveyor, provided that the concrete
driveways provide an adequate friction surface to mitigate skidding
conditions.
[Amended 10-1-2018 ATM
by Art. 14]
The stormwater runoff from all impervious areas
shall not discharge into the public right-of-way. The peak rate of
runoff at the street shall not increase from the predeveloped rate
during the two-, ten-, twenty-five- or one-hundred-year storm event,
unless an increase is authorized by the Select Board, or its designee.
Stormwater runoff may discharge directly into rights-of-way of new
subdivision roads if the overall stormwater management plan for the
street is designed to accommodate the runoff and a catch basin is
located within 10 feet of the downslope side of the driveway. The
purpose is to prevent ice jams in the winter.
[Amended 10-1-2018 ATM
by Art. 14]
Driveways shall be located and designed so as
to minimize conflict with traffic on public streets and to provide
visibility and sight distances which are safe and adequate for observation
of approaching vehicles and pedestrian traffic. Driveways on the same
side of the street shall not be located within 100 feet of the edge
of an existing driveway or 100 feet from the point of tangency of
a roadway intersection along the road that the lot has frontage unless
authorized by the Select Board, or its designee. A minimum sight distance
in all directions shall be provided as follows:
|
AASHTO Minimum Sight Distance*
| |
|---|---|
|
Design Speed of Public Way
(miles per hour)
|
Minimum Sight Distance
(feet)
|
|
20
|
125
|
|
30
|
200
|
|
40
|
275
|
|
50
|
400
|
|
NOTES:
| |
|---|---|
|
*
|
AASHTO PGDHS-1990, Tables III-1 and III-5.
|
Pull-off areas for emergency vehicles shall
be provided on driveways a minimum of every 200 feet. The pull-off
areas shall be constructed of material capable of supporting emergency
vehicles.
[Amended 10-1-2018 ATM
by Art. 14]
Strict compliance with the requirements of these
regulations may be waived when, in the judgment of the Select Board,
or its designee, such action is in the public interest and not inconsistent
with the Code of the Town of Groton.
[Amended 10-1-2018 ATM
by Art. 14]
The Select Board shall hear appeals of denials
of permits by its designee.
[Amended 10-1-2018 ATM
by Art. 14]
The permit application must be approved or denied
within 15 calendar days by the Select Board, or its designee.
