[Adopted 11-24-2020 (Ord.
No. 10-053A)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Refers to the person proposing a driveway.
Any and all bonds with surety, agreements, deed, or such
other documents required by these regulations shall be in such form
as may be approved by the Town Attorney.
The Select Board for the Town of Thompson, Connecticut, or
its authorized representative.
A document issued by the Building Official, allowing the
occupancy or approval of a building or structure and certifying that
the structure or use has been constructed and will be used in compliance
with all applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations.
The Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Thompson,
Connecticut, or its authorized representative.
An access onto or an egress from an approved Town street.
Includes corporations, partnerships, firms, associations,
or any other entity.
The standards and specifications set forth in the Public
Improvement Specifications prepared by the Northeastern Connecticut
Council of Governments.
Any Town-owned way constructed for and dedicated to movement
of vehicles and pedestrians.
The Town of Thompson, Connecticut.
It is the declared purpose of this article to regulate driveways
for the purpose of providing safe and structurally adequate access
onto streets.
A.
Application shall be made to the Building Department on a form provided
by the Town. A plan review and fee, see Ordinance Schedule of Fees
and Fines,[1] must accompany the application. The Public Works Director
may require additional information from the applicant or changes in
the plan. If the driveway cannot be constructed to meet the required
standards, the application will be denied. The applicant will be issued
a driveway construction permit only if all the required standards
are met. The driveway construction permit shall be shall be valid
for one year from the date of Building Department issuance and shall
expire one year from date of issuance.
B.
Construction may start only after issuance of the driveway construction
permit. The Building Department must be notified two working days
in advance of: the start of construction; finishing the subgrade,
finishing the base; and surfacing. The Public Works Director will
then inspect the work at each phase.
C.
Final approval of the driveway will be issued by the Building Department
when all work is completed in accordance with the standards as verified
by the inspections. No certificate of occupancy will be issued until
the Public Works Director issues its final approval of the driveway.
A.
The road standards shall be followed as they apply to driveways.
[Amended 5-30-2023]
B.
Driveways shall intersect streets at an angle of approximately 90°
and shall be located and designed with satisfactory sight lines along
the subject state or Town road. Driveways must comply with the minimum
state-recommended sight distances for the established speed limit
when entering a state highway and shall have a minimum sight distance
of 275 linear feet when entering a Town road. In the event that a
particular property cannot meet the sight line requirements of this
article due to unusual topography or field conditions, the Public
Works Director in consultation with the First Selectperson may issue
a permit upon a showing by the applicant that the proposed location
of the driveway conforms as much as possible to the intentions of
the article and is the best and safest location possible for the particular
site in question. The determination of the best and safest location
for a driveway under these circumstances shall be solely upon the
applicant.
[Amended 5-30-2023]
C.
All driveways shall have a minimum right-of-way width of 50 feet.
This does not apply to existing lots of record that do not meet right-of-way
width requirements.
[Amended 5-30-2023]
D.
All driveways shall be constructed with a base and surface adequate
to support 50,000 pounds of firefighting vehicles and shall not exceed
a slope of 12%.
E.
Driveways in excess of 150 feet in length shall have a base of six
inches of bank-run gravel and two inches of processed gravel on a
firm roadbed. They shall have minimum width of 12 feet, a height clearance
of 12 feet and minimum turning radius of 40 feet. Turnaround provisions
are recommended to be made near the house of each private driveway.
F.
Side slopes of a driveway fill section shall not exceed a slope of
three horizontal to one vertical unless retaining walls or other suitable
stabilizing provisions are utilized. Guardrails, guidepost, headwalls,
flared ends or wider driveway widths shall be used when steep side
slopes or culvert crossings present safety hazards or future maintenance
problems. Driveway culverts in the Town right-of-way shall be maintained
by the private property owner.
G.
A paved apron, extending from the street edge at least 10 feet in
length and 15 feet in width, is required. The pavement shall be minimum
three-inch-thick bituminous concrete. The driveway apron must abut
the Town's existing edge of asphalt.
H.
Driveways shall be designed to prevent stormwater flows from entering
a Town street and, wherever possible, the Town right-of-way. Privately
owned and maintained drainage diversion swales, detention areas, and/or
dry wells shall be utilized to the greatest extent possible. Culverts
with a minimum diameter of 15 inches shall be used when crossing Town
drainageways. Wherever a private swale or private detention area is
utilized in diverting driveway water from the Town right-of-way, the
owner of the subject lot(s) shall be responsible for maintaining the
swale or detention area and any culverts in accordance with the approved
design.
A.
No person, company, or corporation shall construct an access road
cut, including but not limited to timber tree harvesting, the removal
of soils/gravel/stone, etc., or alter any residential access or driveway
apron from any Town road without the approval of the Public Works
Director. Any property owner or their authorized agent seeking such
approval shall file an application for a permit with the Building
Department, which shall respond to the application within five business
days. The line of sight for the driveway permit application shall
be inspected and approved by the Town of Thompson Public Works Director.
[Amended 5-30-2023]
B.
Sight lines are outlined in § 223-25, Standards, and shall be adequate to satisfy all applicable statutes, ordinances, and regulations.
C.
The driveway apron or access road cut, including but not limited
to timber tree harvesting, the removal of soils/gravel/stone, etc.,
shall be constructed in such a manner that it will not interfere with
the existing drainage, the movement of traffic, or the removal of
snow from the Town road.
D.
The owner and his/her contractor shall be responsible for all claims
of damage resulting from the construction or alteration of the driveway
apron, including but not limited to an access road cut for timber
tree harvesting, removal of soils/gravel/stone, etc.
E.
Where existing excavations or fills within the Town's right-of-way
endanger the life of existing trees or other growth, or stones exist
as obstacles to access to or egress from the property, such obstacles,
trees, or growth shall be removed at the owner's expense.
F.
The owner of record or his/her contractor shall repair any disturbed
areas within the Town's right-of-way.
G.
The access road cut and/or driveway apron contractor shall provide
the Town with a certificate of insurance.
H.
The owner or contractor is allowed nine months from issuance of the
certificate of occupancy to complete the driveway apron and repair
any damage or disturbance to the Town's right-of-way. If the work
is not completed within the time period, the bond shall be forfeited.
I.
A non-interest-bearing escrow account has been established for the
purpose of holding deposits in the amount of $2,000 during nonconstruction
months for individuals who are unable to complete their driveway at
this time in accordance with this article.
[Amended 5-30-2023]
Any person violating any provision of this article shall be
fined, see Ordinance Schedule of Fees and Fines, for each offense.
Each day of such violation shall constitute a separate offense and
be subjected to separate punishment.
