The street classification system for public streets shall be
defined and set forth in Public Ways Construction Standards adopted
by the City of Hagerstown and included herein by reference. This classification
will be the basis for specific construction details and design criteria.
Driveway entrances shall be constructed in accordance with the
Public Ways Construction Standards and in accordance with the following:
A. Access permits shall be issued in conformance with the policies of the City Engineering Division. No access to a City street or right-of-way from a public or private development shall be allowed except at points approved by the City Engineer and at points for which an entrance permit has been obtained. An entrance permit for lots in new developments may be considered as part of a general street construction permit to work in public rights-of-way issued under the provisions of Article
V of this chapter.
B. The owner of the property under which an entrance is being constructed
shall be held responsible for any damages caused to the roadway facilities
or private property by himself, his representatives, his contractor
or subcontractor or their agents.
C. Unless contained in the general street construction permit for work
in designated public rights-of-way, an entrance permit will be issued
effective for a period of 60 calendar days after the following procedures
have been satisfactorily completed:
(1) The proposed entrance location as it pertains to public safety and
adequate drainage facilities is approved by the City Engineer.
(2) If requested, an acceptable form of surety for an amount not less
than $1,000 shall be obtained in order to insure satisfactory completion.
(3) The payment of the permit fee.
(4) The project is not idle for more than 15 calendar days after portions
of the existing entrance is removed. The permittee must show reasonable
progress in completing the work under the permit.
D. An entrance permit may be renewed at the discretion of the Engineering
Division by remitting a renewal fee equal to the original permit fee.
E. An entrance permit may be revoked under the following circumstances:
(1) The entrance is not completed after the initial sixty-calendar-day
permit period.
(2) Construction is not in accordance with the terms of the permit or
the Public Ways Construction Standards.
F. If a bond is not obtained and the work is unsatisfactory, it is the obligation of the property owner to correct any incorrect or defective work performed by his contractor, subcontractor, representative agent or himself. Failure to do so in the time allotted by the City shall constitute a nuisance and may be abated per §
216-24.
G. If any entrance permit is revoked, the City will so notify the property
owner of the reason(s), and the Engineering Division shall itemize
the corrective actions which must be undertaken to make an entrance
acceptable. After being so revoked, a property owner must reapply
for a new permit and comply with all conditions therein. The City
Engineer may modify or add additional requirements to the entrance
standards provided in the Public Ways Construction Standards based
on field conditions, proposed use, traffic volumes, type of traffic,
etc.
H. The center line of entrances and driveways shall be at a right angle
to the center line of the highway. An angle between 90° and 60°
shall be acceptable only if physical constraints require a skew angle
less than 90°. An angle less than 60° is prohibited.
I. No entrance radius or depression of curb for an entrance shall extend
beyond the property frontage which the entrance serves.
J. In general, the distance between a public street intersection and
a proposed entrance shall be maximized, and approved by the City Engineer.
K. The City reserves the right to close any driveway entrance which
is causing a hazard to the traveling public or causing undue traffic
impediment. The City shall give adequate, written notice to the property
owner and seek alternatives before enforcing this subsection.
L. The access entrance shall be designed to facilitate the movement
of vehicles off the street to prevent the queuing of vehicles on the
traveled way. The City Engineer may require street improvements to
accommodate turning vehicles using the entrance.
M. Access permits shall not be approved for parking areas that require
backing maneuvers within a City right-of-way. All off-street parking
areas must include on-site maneuvering areas and aisles to permit
user vehicles to enter and exit the site in forward drive without
hesitation. The only exception shall be for residential driveways
on local streets, when approved by the City Engineer.
N. Unused entrances or entrances without a stone or paved driveway may
be ordered replaced by the property owner with standard curb and sidewalk
at the discretion of the City.