No person, firm or corporation shall hereafter construct, build, establish or maintain any driveway which enters onto any portion of a Town road or any road intended to be offered or dedicated to the Town pursuant to Chapter
219, Subdivision Regulations, without first having obtained a written permit to do so from the Board of Selectmen or its authorized agent. No such permit shall be issued for construction or establishment of any such driveway except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
Application for the permission must be made in writing on forms furnished
by the Town of Old Lyme. Said application shall contain the name and address
of the person, firm, or corporation having title to the premises over which
the driveway is to be constructed or reconstructed, the name of the contractor
or person who is to construct said driveway, and the proposed location, specifications
and dimensions of such driveway.
All specifications for construction or reconstruction of any such driveway
must conform to the following requirements before a permit for construction
or reconstruction will be issued:
A. All driveways shall be so graded that it will not be
necessary to change the established grade of the adjacent road.
B. No part of the driveway shall extend beyond the roadway
in such manner as to change the grade of the road or obstruct the free flow
of water draining off the road.
C. Where driveways cross open ditches or where such construction
will interfere with the drainage of stormwater along the side of the road,
culverts of such size and material as determined by the Board of Selectmen,
or its authorized agent, shall be installed.
D. The driveway access shall be designed and constructed
so that it does not interfere with the movement of traffic or snow removal
from the abutting road.
E. The driveway shall be constructed in such a manner that
it does not permit the runoff of water from the abutting road to enter onto
the property of the owner of adjacent properties, unless an easement in form
satisfactory to Town Counsel and approved by the Board of Selectmen is granted
by such adjacent owners to the Town for such runoff.
F. Driveway approaches shall be graded so as to prevent
erosion of earth materials onto said road.
G. Driveway grades within the road right-of-way shall not
exceed 5%.
[Amended 10-29-1979]
H. Driveways shall be constructed and maintained so as to
permit safe access by fire and other emergency vehicles.
The Board of Selectmen shall adopt, and may amend as required, specifications
or guidelines concerning construction of driveways abutting Town highways.
In adopting or amending specifications or guidelines, the Selectmen shall
include, in their consideration, the location of the driveway with respect
to its effect on highway drainage, highway safety, sight distances, the width
and character of the highway affected, the density of traffic thereon and
the character of such traffic. No permit shall be issued unless the driveway
shall conform to the specifications. Such specifications may include the requirement
of a bond.
The charge for the issuing of a driveway approach permit shall be set
by the Board of Selectmen.
Any violation of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of not more
than $100.