City of Corunna, MI Streets

Where permits are authorized in this article, they shall be obtained upon application to the Superintendent, upon such forms as he shall prescribe, and there shall be a charge of $1 for each such permit. The permit shall be revocable by the Superintendent for failure to comply with this article, rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this article, and the lawful orders of the Superintendent or his duly authorized representative, and shall be valid only for the period of time endorsed thereon. Application for a permit under the provisions of this article shall be deemed an agreement by the applicant to promptly complete the work permitted, observe all pertinent laws and regulations of the City in connection with the work, repair all damage done to the street surface and installations on, over or within such street, including trees, and protect and save harmless the City from all damages or actions at law that may arise or may be brought on account of injury to persons or property resulting from the work done under the permit or in connection with the permit. Where liability insurance policies are required to be filed in making application for a permit, they shall be in not less than the following amounts, except as otherwise specified in this article:

On account of injury to, or death of, any person in any one accident: $500,000.

On account of any one accident resulting in injury to, or death of, more than one person: $1,000,000.

On account of damage to property in any one accident: $250,000.

A duplicate executed copy or photostatic copy of the original of the insurance policy shall be filed with the City Clerk.

Where cash deposits are required with the application for any permit under this article, such deposit shall be in the amount of $25, except as otherwise specified in this article, and such deposit shall be used to defray all expenses to the City arising out of the granting of the permit and work done under the permit or in connection with the permit. Three months after completion of the work done under the permit, any balance of such cash deposit shall be refunded. In any case where the deposit does not cover all costs and expenses of the City, the deficit shall be paid by the applicant.

§ 70-34 Street openings generally.

[Code 1979, § 4.4]

No person shall make any excavation or opening in or under any street without first obtaining a written permit from the Superintendent. No permit shall be granted until the applicant shall post a cash deposit and file a liability insurance policy as required by § 70-33.

§ 70-35 Emergency openings.

[Code 1979, § 4.5]

The Superintendent may, if the public safety requires immediate action, grant permission to make a necessary street opening in an emergency, provided that a permit shall be obtained on the following business day and the provisions of this article shall be complied with.

§ 70-36 Backfilling.

[Code 1979, § 4.6]

All trenches in a public street or other public place, except by special permission, shall be backfilled with approved granular material to within 12 inches of the surface. The remaining portion shall be filled with road gravel as specified by the Superintendent.

§ 70-37 Placement of utility poles.

[Code 1979, § 4.7]

Utility poles may be placed in such streets as the Superintendent shall prescribe and shall be located in accordance with the directions of the Superintendent. Such poles shall be removed or relocated as the Superintendent shall from time to time direct.

§ 70-38 Maintenance of installations in streets.

[Code 1979, § 4.8; amended 7-12-2004 by Ord. No. 04-01]

Every owner of, and every person in control of, any estate maintaining a mailbox, home delivery newspaper/paper receptacle and any support apparatus attached thereto, house identification numbers attached to a stand alone support post with a total square footage of sign not exceeding a total square footage of one foot and the support post no larger than four inches by four inches or four inches diameter and a maximum height of no more than 42 inches measured from ground level to the top of the post, any gas and electric boxes & tubes thereon, or any other excavations or landscaping as allowed under other sections of the City of Corunna Code in, under, over or upon any street which is adjacent to or a part of his estate shall do so only on condition that such maintenance shall be considered as an agreement on his part with the City to keep the installations and the covers thereof, in good repair and condition at all times during his ownership or control of them, and to indemnify and save harmless the City against all damages or actions at law that may arise or be brought by reason of such excavation or structure being under, over, in or upon the street, or being unfastened, out of repair or defective during such ownership or control.

§ 70-39 Curb cuts.

[Code 1979, § 4.15]

No opening in or through any curb of any street shall be made without first obtaining a written permit from the Superintendent. Curb cuts and sidewalk driveway crossings to provide access to private property shall comply with the following:

No single curb cut shall exceed 25 feet nor be less than 10 feet at the street line nor less than eight feet at the outside sidewalk line.

The minimum distance between any curb cut and a public crosswalk shall be five feet.

The minimum distance between curb cuts, except those serving residential property, shall be 25 feet.

(4)

The maximum number of lineal feet of sidewalk driveway crossings permitted for any lot, parcel of land, business or enterprise, shall be 45% of the total abutting street frontage up to and including 200 lineal feet of street frontage plus 20% of the lineal feet of street frontage in excess of 200 feet.

(5)

The necessary adjustments to utility poles, light standards, fire hydrants, catch basins, street or railway signs, signals or other public improvements or installations shall be accomplished without cost to the City.

(6)

Driveways over sidewalk lines shall be of concrete at least six inches thick. Driveway aprons, between the sidewalk and the street, shall be of concrete six inches thick.

§ 70-40 Materials, machinery in street adjacent to building construction projects.

[Code 1979, § 4.20]

No person shall occupy any street with any materials or machinery incidental to the construction, demolition or repair of any building adjacent to the street, or for any other purpose, without first obtaining a permit from the Superintendent. No permit shall be granted until the applicant shall post a cash deposit and file a liability insurance policy as required by § 70-33.

§ 70-41 Pedestrian passage around building operations.

[Code 1979, § 4.21]

At least six feet of sidewalk space shall be kept clean and clear for the free passage of pedestrians and if the building operations are such that such free passageway is impracticable, a temporary plank sidewalk with substantial railings or sidewalk shelter shall be provided around such obstruction.

§ 70-42 Safeguards.

[Code 1979, § 4.26]

All openings, excavations and obstructions shall be properly and substantially barricaded and railed off, and at night shall be provided with approved warning lights. Warning lights perpendicular to the flow of traffic shall not be more than three feet apart, and parallel to the flow of traffic not over 15 feet apart.

§ 70-43 Shoring of excavations.

[Code 1979, § 4.27]

All openings and excavations shall be properly and substantially sheeted and braced as a safeguard to workers and to prevent cave-ins or washouts which would tend to injure the thoroughfare or subsurface structure of the street.

§ 70-44 Housemoving.

[Code 1979, § 4.31]

No person shall move, transport or convey any building or other similar bulky or heavy object, including machinery, trucks and trailers, larger in width than eight feet eight inches or higher than 13 feet, six inches above the surface of the roadway, into, across or along any street, alley or other public place in the City without first obtaining a permit from the Superintendent. The permit shall specify the route to be used in such movement and no person shall engage in such movement along a route other than that specified in the permit. No housemoving permit shall be granted until the applicant shall post a cash deposit in the amount of $50 and file a liability insurance policy as required by § 70-33.

§ 70-45 Clearing ice, snow, dirt and debris.

[Code 1979, § 4.36; amended 9-16-2002 by Ord. No. 02-11; 4-3-2023 by Ord. No. 23-03]

Prohibited deposits of snow, ice, dirt and debris. Property owners shall deposit snow, ice, dirt, debris or other obstructions from their parking lot and/or driveway within their own property. No person shall shovel or push by means of a plow or otherwise cause to be placed or deposited in or upon the traveled portion of any street or sidewalk or within any ditch or gutter in any public street or obstructing any fire hydrant any snow, ice, dirt or debris removed by him/her, or under his/her direction, from any private property or from any public property abutting any private property owned or occupied by him/her without first obtaining a permit to do so. The existence of any deposit of snow, ice, dirt or debris deposited by artificial means in the traveled portion of any street or sidewalk or within any ditch or gutter in any public street shall be prima facie evidence that the occupant of the abutting property closest thereto placed or deposited the ice, snow, dirt or debris there.

Duty of owner to clear sidewalks. The owner of property abutting upon public sidewalks shall clear and keep the full width of such sidewalks clear of snow, ice, dirt, debris or obstructions of all kinds within 24 hours of the accumulation or placement of snow, ice, dirt, debris or other obstruction. For property owners within the DDA Boundary Limits with sidewalks extending from the property line to the curb, the property owner shall clear the inner five feet of the sidewalk closest to the property line and extending to the curb of any adjacent crosswalks, as well as maintaining a thirty-inch clear walkway to the curb in front of the property. If the owner fails to remove such snow, ice, dirt, debris or obstruction from the sidewalk within the time limited in this article for the removal of the same, the City may, after providing a twenty-four-hour violation notice, remove or contract for the removal of such ice, snow, dirt, debris or obstruction. Said violation notice may be either presented to the occupant of the premises or posted on the premises. The costs of any such notice and removal fees shall be assessed against the owner of the property.

(c)

Clearing by City upon failure of owner to comply. Report of snow, ice, dirt or debris removals shall be made promptly to the Clerk by the Superintendent of Public Works, setting forth the names of the owner of each lot or parcel from the sidewalks of which snow, ice, dirt or debris has been removed, together with the expense thereof. Upon receiving such report, the Clerk shall give notice of such expense to the owner of the premises and demand payment thereof to include an additional fee to cover the costs of publication, overhead and other expenses to the treasurer. Such notice shall be given by first class mail sent to the last known address of the owner (as shown on the assessment roll of the City) or by publication. Where payment is not made, the Clerk shall report this fact to the Assessor, who shall spread such amounts charged against the several persons or descriptions of real property chargeable therewith on the next tax roll for the collection of City taxes.

(d)

Notice of requirements. The City Clerk shall on or before November 1 of each year give notice of requirements and provisions of this article by publishing a notice once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the City.

(e)

Schedule of fees. Fees and expenses levied under this section shall be as established from time to time by City Council resolution.

§ 70-46 Permit for snow deposit in street.

[Code 1979, § 4.37]

The City Council may, by resolution, authorize the City Manager to issue permits to abutting property owners and occupants to deposit snow within the street abutting their property. The City Manager shall establish the fee for such permit which shall be proportionate to the size of the parcel from which the snow and ice is to be removed and deposited within the street. The City Manager shall make such further regulations as shall be necessary in order to properly manage the removal of such additional snow so deposited within City streets. No permit owner shall fail to comply with all such regulations.

§ 70-47 Marquees, canopies, other structures.

[Code 1979, § 4.41]

No person shall erect or maintain any marquee, canopy, awning, clock or other structure or object so it projects over or upon the limits of any street or alley without first obtaining a permit and filing a liability insurance policy as required by § 70-33. Every liability insurance policy required by this section shall be maintained by the permittee permanently in force. Every such insurance policy shall contain a clause obligating the insurer to give the City Clerk, by registered or certified mail, at least 10 days' written notice before the cancellation, expiration, lapse or other termination of such insurance and such liability policy shall name the City as an additional named insured. No such permit shall be granted unless the proposed plans for the marquee or other structure shall be in conformity with the building code. If the marquee or other structure shall thereafter be found unsafe or is not maintained in a sightly condition, or if the liability insurance policy covering the marquee or other structure is not maintained, the marquee or other structure shall be deemed a street encroachment. The City Manager shall notify the permittee to remove or repair the marquee or other structure within 10 days or to reinstate the insurance forthwith, and upon failure of the permittee to comply with the notice such encroachment shall be removed as provided in this article. No such marquee or other structure shall be erected or maintained so as to be less than eight feet above the surface of the sidewalk.

§ 70-48 Trees.

[Code 1979, § 4.42]

No person shall permit the limbs or foliage of any trees or shrubs located on premises owned by him or on the extension of the lawn adjacent to his premises to grow over or upon any sidewalk less than eight feet above the surface of such sidewalk. Every such owner shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, or broken or decayed limbs which constitute a menace to the safety of the public. All shrubs or bushes located on the triangle formed by two right-of-way lines at the intersection of two streets and extending for a distance of 25 feet each way from the intersection of the right-of-way lines on any corner lot shall not be permitted to grow to a height of more than 30 inches above the sidewalk grade. Trees may be planted and maintained in this area provided that all branches are trimmed to maintain a clear vision for a vertical height of eight feet above the roadway surface. Any owner of property failing to trim any trees, shrubs or bushes in conformity with this section shall be notified by the City Manager to do so, and such notice shall require trimming in conformity with this section within five days after the date of the notice. Upon the expiration of such period, the manager may cause the trimming to be done and the cost of the work may be collected from the owner of the property.

§ 70-49 Removal of encroachment.

[Code 1979, § 4.47]

Encroachments and obstructions in the street may be removed and excavations refilled and the expense of such removal or refilling charged to the abutting landowner when made or permitted by him or suffered to remain by him, otherwise than in accordance with the terms and conditions of this article. The procedure for collection of such expenses shall be as prescribed by resolution of the City Council. The City Council may by resolution permit the continuance of an existing encroachment. No such resolution shall vest any permanent rights in the person owning or occupying the structure which encroaches upon the street.

§ 70-50 Temporary street closings.

[Code 1979, § 4.48]

The Superintendent shall have authority to temporarily close any street or portion thereof when he shall deem the street to be unsafe or temporarily unsuitable for use for any reason. He shall cause suitable barriers and signs to be erected on the street, indicating that it is closed to public travel. When any street or portion thereof has been closed to public travel, no person shall drive any vehicle upon or over the street except as may be necessary incidentally to any street repair or construction work being done in the area closed to public travel. No person shall move or interfere with any sign or barrier erected pursuant to this section without authority from the Superintendent.

§ 70-51 Street construction.

[Code 1979, § 4.52]

Major street specifications. Reconstruction of an existing street or construction of a new street defined as a major street under Act No. 51 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1951 (MCL 247.651 et seq., MSA 9. 1097(1) et seq.), as amended, and shall be built to the following specifications:

Minimum width of the street shall be 33 feet allowing for parking on one side of the street.

Minimum pavement surface shall be seven inches of concrete or equivalent thickness of asphalt.

Curb and gutter shall be included wherever storm sewer is available on the street.

Local street specifications. Reconstruction of existing streets and construction of new streets defined as local streets under Act No. 51 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1951 (MCL 247.651 et seq.), as amended, shall be built in accordance with specifications developed by the City's engineering representative. The specifications must be approved by the City Council at the time the street work is proposed.

(c)

Financing of street construction. Street construction work will be financed by funds provided under Act No. 51 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1951 (MCL 247.651 et seq.), as amended, and/or general obligation tax revenues. An exception to this section shall be streets constructed in subdivisions which will be the responsibility of the developer to construct.

§ 70-52 Driveway general requirements.

[Amended 8-1-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

Any work to be accomplished with the right-of-way of any street, under the jurisdiction of the City Department of Public Works requires a permit before commencement of such work. Permits will be issued only on those forms approved by the City. Such permit forms are available at Corunna City Hall, 402 North Shiawassee Street, Corunna, MI 48817.

Pursuant to Act 200 of the Public Acts of 1969, § 4 thereof, charges the highway authority with the responsibility to issue driveway permits consistent with the rules promulgated by the highway authority for public safety and in the public interest.

The property owner or his agent shall maintain all driveways and improvements set forth in the permit.

When the type of volume of traffic using an existing driveway changes, because of a change in land use or roadside development to a more intensified classification requiring a redesign to a higher design standard, the owner, organization, or person responsible for operation of the driveway may be required to obtain and correct the driveway or driveways to the standard contained in these rules.

In the event of a failure to comply with the terms and conditions of any permit issued in accordance with these rules or failure to obtain an appropriate permit, the Department of Public Works shall have the right to halt such activity until such time that adequate compliance is made. All costs incurred by the City in correcting the following:

A failure to comply with conditions and standards of a permit,

A failure to obtain a permit, or

Defective workmanship or materials,

shall be borne by the applicant (or person undertaking the activity).

§ 70-53 Residential driveways.

[Amended 8-1-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

Definition. All driveways for the purpose of serving the residents of a single- or two-family dwelling shall be deemed to be a residential driveway.

Design features. No portion of the driveway entrance within the street or highway right-of-way shall have a grade greater than 10% (one foot vertical in 10 feet horizontal).

All drives shall enter perpendicular to the existing street or highway.

Typical driveway design features, including geometric, can be found in the appendix. The property owner shall follow these standards unless the Department of Public Works gives approval to do otherwise.

§ 70-54 Culvert and drainage requirements.

[Amended 8-1-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

The Department of Public Works or its agents shall determine whether or not a culvert is required and, if required, the size (diameter) and length of the culvert. The property owner shall furnish, install and maintain the culvert so determined including clearing of dirt, debris or other obstructions that may occur over time.

All culvert pipes used shall be of adequate size to carry the anticipated natural flow of the ditch. The culvert size shall be determined by the Department of Public Works. The standard for minimum diameter size shall be 15 inches or larger. A diameter variance may be allowed as determined by the Department of Public Works. In no case shall a diameter less than 12 inches be allowed.

The minimum length of culvert may be determined as the width of the approach over the culvert plus the fore slopes on each side of the approach to the ditch bottom. The maximum fore slope is one on three. Minimum length of culvert allowed shall be not less than 30 feet in length. Example: If the ditch is three feet deep, the slope must travel three feet horizontal before it travels one foot vertical (three-foot depth by three-foot horizontal equals nine feet of slope on each side of drive approach).

Culverts shall be installed in line with and on the same grade as the road ditch. Notwithstanding, the Department of Public Works may require that the applicant regrade the ditch at his or her expense in order to provide adequate cover over the culvert. The cover, or depth of material over the culvert, should be equal to or greater than the diameter of the pipe.

All culverts shall be N-12 dual wall plastic or corrugated metal pipe of the proper gauge corresponding to its diameter, as shown below. Alternate materials may be used as specified on this page.

Diameter	Gauge No.
15" - 24"	16
30" - 36"	14
42" - 54"	12
60" - 72"	10

Other work, such as extending, tiling or filling of ditch will not be allowed without a separate permit from the Department of Public Works.

Use of alternate materials. Department of public works standards allow the use of corrugated metal or dual wall (N-12) plastic culvert for drainage under driveways. Alternate materials may be used, but applicant must obtain separate approval from the Department of Public Works. A signed application to construct a driveway is not an approval to use such material.

All alternate material will be visually inspected and approved by a Department of Public Works representative before placement to ensure its strength and quality.

For example, if concrete pipe is to be used, it must have no visible defects, be free of all voids and cracks, and the bell and spigot end must not be damaged in any way.

Location. A residential driveway approach shall be located to provide adequate sight distance for exiting and entering movements (see sight distance section). The Department of Public Works reserves the right to reject a location that is not in the best interest of public safety.

All portions of a residential driveway, including the radii, shall be located entirely within the owner's property lines extended at right angles to the centerline of the road. This requirement does not apply to joint driveways (see below).

No portion of a residential driveway, including the radii, shall be located closer than 50 feet to the nearest right-of-way line of an intersecting street, or 15 feet from the edge of the driveway surface to the nearest adjoining property line.

No portion of two residential driveways serving the same property, including the radii, shall be located closer than 50 feet, measured parallel to the centerline of the road.

Number of driveways. One driveway is allowed for residential property, held in one piece, with frontage less than or equal to 100 feet. One additional residential driveway may be permitted for each 70 feet of frontage in excess of the first 100 feet of frontage.

Two residential driveways may be permitted, in lieu of the above requirement, to serve a circle driveway if the frontage of the property is 100 feet or more.

Joint driveway (common driveway). When both property owners abutting a common property line agree, they may construct a joint residential driveway, which shall have a minimum width of 20 feet and a maximum width of 30 feet. A joint driveway shall be for two homes and cannot provide access to any additional homes or future building lots. Joint driveways must be approved by the City zoning department.

§ 70-55 Sight distance and clear vision requirements.

[Amended 8-1-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

To provide adequate vision when entering and exiting all drives that adjoin public streets, a two-step process is required. The first is known as a sight distance requirement. The second is known as a clear vision requirement. All drives must pass these requirements to gain permit approval. These requirements are explained in detail as follows:

Sight distance is determined by looking in each direction from the driveway centerline with an eye height of 3 1/2 feet and never losing sight of an object at the height of 4 1/4 feet for a specified distance. These distances are determined according to the posted regulatory speed limit (see figure 1). All measurements shall be taken from existing roadway surface.

Clear vision is determined by looking in each direction from the driveway centerline with an eye height of 3 1/2 feet above road surface, 10 feet from edge of traveled street on gravels, and 15 feet on paved roads, for a specific distance. All obstructions within this area shall be removed. Permission to remove obstructions, including trees, on adjoining property must be obtained by applicant from the property owner. Applicant must maintain clear vision area in perpetuity.

Figure 1
Speed Limit (mph)	Standard (feet)	Minimum Allowed (feet)
30 or below	200	200
35	250	225
40	325	275
45	400	325
50	475	400
55	550	450

In the absence of a posted regulatory speed limit, the basic speed law i.e., and maximum (55 mph) shall prevail.

§ 70-56 Clearing of dirt, debris and other obstructions from culverts and storm sewer catch basins.

[Amended 8-1-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

Prohibited deposits of dirt, debris or other obstructions. Property owners shall deposit dirt, debris or other obstructions from their driveway culvert within their own property. No person shall shovel or push by means of a plow or otherwise cause to be placed or deposited within any ditch or gutter in any public street any dirt, debris or other obstructions removed by him/her, or under his/her direction, from any private property or from any public property abutting any private property owned or occupied by him/her without first obtaining a permit to do so. The existence of any deposit dirt, debris or other obstructions deposited by artificial means within any ditch or gutter in any public street shall be prima facie evidence that the occupant of the abutting property closest thereto placed or deposited the dirt, debris or other obstructions there.