Southampton City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXX
Driveway Standards
[Added 7-28-2009 by L.L. No. 32-2009]
§ 330-360 Legislative intent.
Seconds count in a life-threatening medical emergency or a fire, yet many times emergency responders find access impeded or blocked by locked entrance doors or driveway gates. In addition, gateposts, gatehouses, and pillars at driveway entrances and exits which are too narrow have been found to impede emergency access and damage fire protection equipment and rescue vehicles. To help reduce delays in providing emergency assistance and negative impacts to taxpayer-funded emergency equipment, the Town of Southampton finds it necessary to establish driveway standards and to regulate accessory driveway structures, including but not limited to fencing, gates, gatehouses, gateposts, bridges and pillars.
§ 330-361 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Decorative or functional elements placed on or adjacent to a driveway, including but not limited to fencing, gates, gatehouses, gateposts, bridges, pillars, or lights.
The area of a parcel, whether constructed of asphalt, pavement, cement, stone or other material, or property left in a natural state, by which automobiles take access to a parcel of real property and cars are parked on the property, not including the parking area within a structure such as a garage.
The area between the edge of the private or public road surface and the driveway, usually found in the right-of-way for road purposes.
A device, installed at an entrance to driveways, structures or areas, which permits emergency access to a key or unlocking device in order to reduce delays in providing emergency assistance for fire alarms and other life-safety circumstances, located behind a barrier to an entry to a driveway.
§ 330-362 Special standards for accessory driveway structures.
In residential districts and nonresidential districts, accessory driveway structures are subject to the following standards:
No accessory driveway structure shall be erected, constructed, or extended without first obtaining a building permit. No accessory driveway structures shall be permitted within the town highway right-of-way, and said structures shall be located wholly within the lot lines of a subject property.
Accessory driveway structures shall not have canopies or appendages which restrict access by emergency vehicles. A minimum unobstructed clearance of 14 feet in both width and height shall be maintained for emergency access for all improved properties in which the improvement (such as a residential dwelling) is located at or beyond 150 feet from the edge of the public or private road surface. Trees, shrubs, bushes and hedges must be maintained to provide a minimum unobstructed clearance on and around the driveway of 14 feet in both width and height.
A gate and/or gateposts or pillars at a driveway entrance or exit shall not exceed eight feet in height, inclusive of any decorative light fixture or finial.
The aggregate width of driveway gates, inclusive of gateposts and pillars, shall not exceed 25 feet.
Supplemental requirements for all improved properties in which the improvement (such as a residential dwelling) is located at or beyond 150 feet from the edge of the public or private road surface:
Accessory driveway structures shall be erected, constructed or extended no closer than 20 feet to the edge of the public or private road surface in order to accommodate a turning radius which permits entrance by firefighting apparatus and other emergency vehicles.
The minimum opening between accessory driveway structures regardless of installation of driveway gates, shall be at least 14 feet wide to accommodate emergency vehicles.
Gatehouses shall not exceed 20 feet in height, and if designed to be one in which a motor vehicle is expected to drive through, then the gatehouse opening shall be at least 14 feet in width and have a minimum clearance of 14 feet in height to accommodate emergency vehicles.
Any driveway that spans a bridge or culvert shall be consistent with the Fire Code standards for fire apparatus emergency access roads if such driveway is the primary means of access to the property. All driveway bridges and culverts shall have a minimum load capacity of 60,000 pounds, as certified by a New York State licensed engineer prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance for any structure on the property.
Supplemental requirements for electronic security driveway gates:
In the interest of public safety, key boxes for emergency access are required in certain circumstances involving electronic security driveway gates, as provided for in the New York State Uniform Building Code. Additionally, pursuant to special exception standards and performance standards defined elsewhere in the Zoning Code (Chapter 330) of the Town of Southampton, key box installation is required for certain land uses (such as gated communities and congregate housing) for emergency access for electronic security driveway gates and conforming to the requirements of the public safety agencies providing the primary fire protection and emergency medical services to the location.
In circumstances where key box access is not mandated under the powers afforded code officials pursuant to the New York State Uniform Building Code, such as at private single-family residences, voluntary compliance with the guidelines promulgated by the Town Department of Public Safety is encouraged. The Building Department shall provide such guidelines to the property owner or his/her duly authorized representative at the time of building permit application.
In circumstances where relief is requested from the provisions of § 330-362A(9)(a), the Zoning Board of Appeals shall require the applicant to provide certified notice to the public safety agencies having jurisdiction for fire protection and emergency medical services prior to a public hearing. These agencies shall be interested parties for the purposes of any relief granted under Article XXX of Chapter 330 of the Town Code.
§ 330-363 Driveway aprons.
Asphalt, stone (including, but not limited to, bluestone, cobblestone, brick, and Belgian block), drains, cement, concrete or other driveway construction or border material shall not be placed on or adjacent to a driveway apron without a permit from the Town Highway Superintendent. All driveway aprons must be in conformance with Southampton Town Code Chapter 287.
Driveway aprons shall not have a slope of greater than three inches of rise for every one foot of run.