§ 17.20.170. Access from arterial streets.

Driveways providing vehicular access from streets which are designated by the planning commission on the adopted major street plan as arterial streets shall comply with the following provisions.

A.

Number of Driveways. Table 17.20.170 sets forth the maximum number of driveways based on the amount of lot frontage along an arterial classification of street. Driveways shall be a minimum of thirty feet apart. The traffic engineer may require a greater minimum distance between driveways if it is in the best interest of public safety. When appropriate, all new driveways shall be placed directly across from driveways on the opposite side of the street to enhance traffic flow and public safety.

B.

Driveway Separation from Intersecting Streets. To protect the safety of the motoring public, the following standards shall apply:

1.

Along the frontage of an arterial street, no driveway ramp shall be located within one hundred eighty-five feet of a street intersection.

2.

Along any classification of street, no driveway ramp shall be located within two hundred fifty feet of a controlled access highway ramp.

3.

A platted lot existing on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, which does not have sufficient street frontage to satisfy the separation requirements of this section, may be granted one driveway ramp provided that it is located as far from the intersection as is reasonably feasible and does not create a hazard to the motoring public.

C.

Building Permit Restrictions. If an undeveloped lot or unplatted parcel has less street frontage than the minimum spacing required in subsections A and B of this section and is adjacent to another lot under common ownership on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, establishment of a joint access driveway may be required by the traffic engineer.

D.

Alternative Access. Where the configuration of properties located on arterial streets precludes spacing of driveway access in accordance with the requirements of this section due to topography or prior site development layout, the metropolitan traffic engineer shall be authorized to require joint access driveways or cross access corridors (See Figure 17.20.170). The following provisions set forth standards for joint use driveways and cross access corridors for reduced spacing situations.

Table 17.20.170
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF DRIVEWAYS

Lot Frontage	Maximum Number of Driveways
Up to 150 feet	1
150 to 299 feet	2
Each additional 300 feet	1

 

1.

Joint Use Driveways. Wherever feasible, the metropolitan traffic engineer may require the establishment of a joint use driveway serving two or more abutting properties. If a proposed development abuts an existing development which contains an existing joint access driveway, the vehicular circulation of the proposed development shall be designed to connect to the abutting access and circulation areas. If a proposed development abuts an existing undeveloped property, the vehicular circulation of the proposed development will contain a joint access driveway which is designed to connect to the abutting property at a later date.

2.

Cross Access Corridors. The metropolitan traffic engineer shall be authorized to designate cross access corridors on properties adjacent to arterials. The developments within the affected cross access area shall be designed so as to provide for mutually coordinated parking, access and circulation systems. Such designation shall be referenced on a plat of subdivision. Additionally, if a development within the cross access area abuts an existing developed property which is not in the cross access area, but has an abutting joint access driveway, it shall be designed to tie into the abutting access and circulation system.

3.

Recording Easements. Wherever cross access corridors or joint use driveways are provided in accordance with this section, the site plan shall not be approved unless the plan grants an easement for cross access to and from abutting properties. Such easement shall be recorded by the applicant in the public records of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County and constitute a covenant running with the land.

4.

Closing of Interim Driveways. Wherever a permanent joint use driveway or cross access easement is constructed in accordance with this section, all preceding interim driveways shall be closed and eliminated. In the case of a joint use driveway, the property owner shall enter into a written agreement with the metropolitan government, recorded in the public records of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County and running with the land, that existing driveways shall be closed and eliminated after the construction of both sides of a joint use driveway.

5.

Where Unified Access and Circulation is Not Practical. The metropolitan traffic engineer shall be authorized to waive the requirements of this subsection when abutting properties have been developed in such a manner that it is clearly impractical to create a unified access and circulation system with all or part of the affected areas.

 

(Ord. 96-555 § 5.4(D), 1997)