§ 156.029. STREETS, ROADS AND OTHER MEANS OF ACCESS.

(A) Intent. Unimpeded, safe access to parcels of land throughout the township is necessary to provide adequate police and fire protection, ambulance services and other public services, and to otherwise promote and protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. The standards and specifications set forth herein are determined to be the minimum standards and specifications necessary to meet the above stated intentions.

(B) Public access required/minimum frontage. The front lot line of all lots shall abut onto a publicly dedicated road right-of-way. The required frontage on an approved road right-of-way shall be equal to or greater than the minimum lot width for the district in which the lot is located, as specified in §§ 156.400 through 156.405; except that the minimum frontage of lots that abut the turnaround at the end of a cul-de-sac shall be equal to or greater than 50% of the minimum lot width. On lots located on a curve, frontage shall be measured along a straight line between the two points where the side lot lines intersect the curved right-of-way line (see drawing). Frontage on a "T" turnaround shall not be counted toward the minimum road frontage requirements.

[Reserved for Measurement of Lot Frontage illustration]

(C) Access on residential through lots.

(1) On through lots in residential districts, the driveway providing the primary means of vehicular access shall intersect the road on which lot frontage is greatest. However, if the property line abutting the other road has been designated as the "front lot line" on an approved lot split application or subdivision plat, then the driveway providing the primary means of vehicular access shall intersect the road that abuts the front lot line.

(2) The Planning Commission may approve a primary means of access that varies from these requirements upon finding that the access would facilitate traffic safety (for example, by limiting access on an arterial street) or achieve consistency with existing adjacent and nearby residences.

(D) Road and driveway standards.

(Ord. rev. 2-3-1998)

(1) General. Public roads shall comply with the requirements of the Ingham County Road Commission or Michigan Department of Transportation, as applicable. Driveways shall comply with the following minimum requirements in addition to engineering standards that are enforced by the township.

(2) Minimum driveway setbacks. Driveways shall be set back a minimum of ten feet from any side or rear property line, unless otherwise specified, except that in R-1 and R-1-S Districts and in Rural Open Space developments, driveways shall be set back a minimum of four feet.

(Ord. added 2-3-1998; Ord. rev. 3-6-2001)

(3) Paving waiver.

(a) Upon request from an applicant, the Planning Commission may waive paving requirements for driveways, parking areas, and other vehicle maneuvering areas upon making a determination that another surfacing material would be adequate and not in conflict with township planning and zoning objectives. In making a determination whether an alternative surface material can be approved, the Planning Commission shall consider the following considerations: the level, type and frequency of traffic expected; the types of vehicles expected to use the facility (recognizing that certain types of heavy equipment may damage paved surfaces); alternatives to handle storm water run-off; and, visibility and appearance of the areas from public roads and adjacent private property.

(b) Prior to making an evaluation whether unpaved surfacing should be permitted, the Planning Commission may require the applicant to provide engineered plans and specifications. In all cases main vehicle maneuvering lanes and roads through any development shall be paved. The Planning Commission may require a performance guarantee and/or recordable document to provide for re-evaluation and possible completion of paving in the event that the intensity or nature of the use changes.

(Ord. added 2-3-1998)

Single-Family Detached Residential
Plat, site condominium, lots created through lot splits
Driveways to individual lots in plat or site condominium4	9 ft. pavement
Driveways to individual lots not within a plat or site condominium4	9 ft. gravel of paved
	(Ord. rev. 2-3-1998)
Single-Family Attached (Townhouse or Cluster)
Roads throughout the development, including entrance road	Must comply with Ingham County Road Commission Standards
	(Ord. rev. 2-3-1998)
Driveways to individual units	9 ft. pavement
Multiple-Family Residential
Roads throughout the development	24 ft. pavement, curb and gutter
Roads or driveways within a parking area	See §§ 156.070 and 156.071
Entrance road1	27 ft. pavement, curb and gutter
Commercial and Office Development
Driveway serving 2 or more parcels (i.e., office park)	31 ft. pavement, curb and gutter
Main access driveways and internal circulation truck routes	31 ft. pavement, curb and gutter2
Roads or driveways within a parking area	See §§ 156.070 and 156.071
Entrance road1	31 ft. pavement, curb and gutter
Internal circulation routes not used by trucks	24 ft. pavement, curb and gutter
Industrial Development
Driveway serving 2 or more parcels (i.e., industrial park)	31 ft. pavement, curb and gutter
Main access driveways and internal circulation routes
For 3 buildable parcels or less	27 ft. pavement, curb and gutter, no parking2
All others	31 ft. pavement, curb and gutter2
Roads or driveway within a parking area	See §§ 156.070 and 156.071
Entrance road1	31 ft. pavement, curb and gutter
Internal circulation routes not used by trucks	24 ft. pavement, curb and gutter2
Mobile Home Parks
All roads	See §§ 156.265 through 156.267
Miscellaneous
Boulevard entrances with median (not public)	18 ft. pavement with curb and gutter in each direction.
	Minimum width of median: 16 ft.
"T" Turnaround3	"T" Turnarounds shall comply with Ingham County Road Commission standards
Cul-de-sac3	The minimum radius for the cul-de-sac right-of-way or easement shall be 60 feet
Secondary access roads	24 ft. pavement, minimum 30 ft. setback from edge of parallel public road
Vertical Clearance
Driveways and roads needed for emergency and Fire Department access shall maintain a minimum vertical clearance of 13-1/2 feet.
Notes to Table
1 The entrance road extends from the edge of the public road to the edge of any parking lot, intersection, tee or similar terminus within the development.
2 Curb and gutter requirements are not applicable for access routes through parking lots.
3 Subject to Ingham County Road Commission review and requirements, "T" turnarounds shall only be used at the end of the stub streets that have no dwelling units fronting on them, and a cul-de-sac shall be constructed at the end of all dead-end public roads, regardless of whether the roads are expected to be extended in the future.
(Ord. rev. 12-1-1998)
4 Shared driveways for adjoining single-family parcels shall be permitted; provided that, an access easement is recorded that provides for joint use and maintenance of the driveway. Both parcels shall comply with minimum road frontage and lot width requirements.
(Ord. rev. 2-3-1998; Ord. rev. 12-1-1998)

(E) Access across residential district land. No land which is located in a residential district shall be used for a driveway, walkway or access purposes to any land which is located in a non-residential district, unless the access is by way of a public road. This provision is not intended to prevent access across residential district land to gain access to adjacent agricultural lands.

(F) Service roads/secondary access roads. If the Planning Commission determines that proposed or anticipated development will result in an excessive number of entrance or exit drives onto a public road, thereby creating potentially hazardous traffic conditions and diminishing the carrying capacity of the road, the Commission may permit or require construction of service roads across abutting parcels and generally parallel to the public road to allow traffic to circulate from one parcel to another without re-entering the public road. The service road shall comply with the following requirements:

(1) An easement shall be recorded with the Ingham County Register of Deeds allowing free vehicular access across the service road between adjoining parcels. The easement shall be in a form acceptable to the Township Board, and it shall be recorded prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the principal building.

(2) The service road shall comply with the design requirements set forth previously in division (C) above. The service road shall comply with the engineering and construction standards established by the Township Board.

(3) In anticipation of a future need for a service drive, the Planning Commission may require, as a condition of site plan approval, granting of an easement to allow future vehicular access between adjoining parcels.

(4) In lieu of a designated service road, the Planning Commission may require the development of parking to permit vehicular circulation between parking lots on contiguous lots or parcels.

(5) Each property owner shall be responsible for continued maintenance of the service road and easement so that it continues to provide a safe means of access from one parcel to another.

(6) Backing from parking spaces onto the service road shall not be permitted except on a temporary basis.

(7) The site plan shall indicate the proposed elevation of the service road at the property line and the Building Official shall maintain a record of all service road elevations so that their grades can be coordinated. Service road elevations shall conform to elevations established by the Building Official.

(G) Performance guarantee. To assure completion of a service road in conformance with the requirements set forth herein, the Building Official may require the applicant or owner to provide a performance guarantee, in accordance with § 156.037.

(Ord. rev. 2-3-1998)

(Ord., § 2.10, passed - -)