7.28.030 Access Drive Requirements - CLEANOrdinance 25-06
7.28.030 Access Drive Requirements, Avon Municipal Code
7.28.030 Access Drive Requirements
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this Section is to direct the design of access to developments to help ensure
the safety and mobility of the traveling public.
(b) Applicability. The provisions in this Section are applicable to all development.
(1) The Town Engineer may accept minor modifications from the standards of this section if an
equivalent level of public safety can be demonstrated by the applicant requesting the
modification. Requests for modifications shall include justification of safety equivalency and a
demonstration of the acceptability of the alternative to the relevant emergency service
providers. A minor modification may include, but is not limited to, grade percent of private
driveway slope or similar.
(c) State Design Standards. Pursuant to Section 43-2-147 (1)(a), C.R.S., access approaches to
roadways under the jurisdiction of the Town must meet the design standards found in Sections 3 and
4 of the Colorado State Highway Access Code, 2 CCR 601-1. In addition, those parcels directly
accessing highways under the jurisdiction of the Colorado Department of Transportation shall be
required to obtain a State Highway Access Permit pursuant to the State Highway Access Code.
(d) Additional Standards. In addition to the foregoing, public and private access approaches and
driveways shall be subject to the following standards:
(1) Access By Emergency and Service Vehicle:
(i) All dwellings and other structures shall be accessible by emergency and service vehicles.
All dwellings and other structures shall be accessible by emergency and service vehicles.
A maximum grade of ten (10) percent and a minimum centerline radius of forty-five (45)
feet is recommended to comply with the International Fire Code (IFC). A maximum grade
of eight (8) percent and a minimum centerline radius of forty-five (45) feet is recommended
for driveways on north-facing slopes or other slopes prone to icing from lack of winter solar
exposure. Curves should be widened generously in both circumstances. Private access
drives that do not achieve the minimum or exceed the maximum recommendations must
obtain preliminary approval of the proposed driveway design from all emergency providers
prior to permit approval and driveway acceptance prior to the issuance of a Certificate of
Occupancy.
(ii) Unless otherwise approved by the Eagle River Fire Protection District, public and private
access approaches and driveways in excess of one hundred fifty (150) feet in length shall
be provided with adequate area for emergency vehicle turnaround in close proximity to the
residence or structure served. Access approaches and driveways in excess of three
hundred (300) feet in length shall provide an area adequate for emergency vehicle
turnarounds in close proximity to the residence or structure served and shall also provide
vehicle turnouts where the driveway is expanded to be at least eighteen (18) feet wide at
one-hundred-fifty-foot intervals. Alternatively, the private accesses or driveways may be
designed to accommodate two-way traffic. Turnarounds shall be constructed in accordance
with Town standards. The Town Engineer may request a turning movement exhibit at any
time during application review.
(2) Driveways in Mountainous Terrain:
Ordinance 25-06
7.28.030 Access Drive Requirements, Avon Municipal Code
(i) Applicability. All driveway access and parking lots on lots containing slopes in excess of
thirty percent (30%).
(ii) Driveways on lots with slopes greater than thirty percent (30%) shall be designed to ensure
safe, convenient and adequate access to individual buildings and shall conform to the
following standards:
(A) Driveways shall to the maximum extent feasible follow natural contour lines.
(B) Driveways shall minimize disturbance or the cutting of slopes. Shared driveways are
encouraged when the design will minimize cut, fill and disturbance of slopes.
(C) Driveways shall not cross slopes over thirty percent (30%) unless specifically
authorized by the PZC, after finding that all of the following conditions and constraints
are applicable:
(1) No alternate location for access is available;
(2) No significant adverse visual, environmental or safety impacts will result
from the driveway crossing, either as originally proposed or as a result of
incorporation of remedial improvements provided by the developer to
mitigate such impacts.
(iii) Proposed development on lots with mountainous terrain may require the preliminary layout
and design of the individual driveways at the preliminary plan stage and the precise design
of the driveway at the final plan stage, to assure that access can be provided to each
dwelling unit served by the driveway in compliance with the standards of this Section.
(iv) Driveways may be considered public improvements and thus collateralized, constructed
and subject to the terms and conditions of the other public improvements in the
development.
(3) Driveways Requiring Significant Cuts and/or Fills Discouraged. Driveways that require significant
cuts and/or fills are discouraged. Applicants are encouraged to relocate development to areas
within the proposed development where such cuts and fills are not required.
(4) Clearance From Intersections. Driveways shall be restricted for a sufficient distance from any
intersection with road approaches to preserve normal and safe movement of traffic. Driveways
shall provide the following intersection clearances, exclusive of driveway and intersection return
radii or flares.
(i) A minimum intersection clearance of fifty (50) feet shall be provided for residential
driveways and a minimum intersection clearance of one hundred (100) feet shall be
provided for commercial driveways.
(ii) In the Town Core, a minimum intersection clearance of fifty (50) feet shall be provided for
residential and commercial driveways where dedicated turn lanes for the driveways will be
present. Where there are no dedicated turn lanes, the minimum fifty-foot intersection
clearance may be extended at the direction of the Town Engineer.
(5) Backing Onto Roads Prohibited. All parking areas shall be located and designed in conjunction
with a driveway, such that vehicles exiting from a parking space shall not be required to back
onto the right-of-way of a public street; provided, however, that vehicles exiting from a parking
space for a single-family or duplex dwelling unit may back onto a local street if it does not
Ordinance 25-06
7.28.030 Access Drive Requirements, Avon Municipal Code
present any safety concerns. Vehicles exiting from a parking space for any use may also back
onto the right-of-way of an alley adjacent to the property.
(6) Maximum Number of Entryways. Generally, no more than one (1) entryway shall be allowed for
any parcel of property where the frontage is less than one hundred (100) feet. Additional
entrances or exits for parcels of property having a frontage in excess of one hundred (100) feet
shall be permitted only when the applicant demonstrates they are required for necessity, create
a better site design and that safety to the traveling public will not be compromised.
(7) Not Encroach. All driveways shall be located so that the flared portion adjacent to the traveled
way shall not encroach upon adjoining property.
(8) Minimum Width. The minimum width of the commercial access driveway shall be ten (10) feet
for a one-way drive and twenty-four (24) feet for a two-way drive. The minimum width of the
industrial access driveway shall be twelve (12) and twenty-four (24) feet, respectively.
(9) Residential Driveway Requirements. Residential curb cuts and driveway grades shall meet the
following requirements:
(i) The driveway curb cut width, not including the radii on driveway return, shall be between
ten (10) feet and fourteen (14) feet wide for single-family and duplex lots. Residential multi-
family accesses (three [3] or more units) shall have a driveway curb cut width, not including
the radii on driveway return, between twenty (20) and twenty-four (24) feet wide;
(ii) The driveway grade shall not exceed four percent (4%) for the first twenty (20) feet
measured from the edge of pavement of the adjoining street, unless otherwise accepted by
the Town Engineer and emergency providers as required in 7.28.030.D.1.i;