Wednesday, February 6, 2002
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Wednesday, February 6, 2002 |
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No more shared driveways if new rules get OK By DAVE
HAMRICK
Another bastion of country living driveways and private roads shared by several neighbors may become an endangered species in Fayette County. The county's Planning and Zoning Commission is considering new development rules that would limit the number of homes that could share a driveway to two, and placerestrictions on the circumstances under which such a sharing could occur. Only in cases in which motorists would not have enough sight distance before encountering a driveway would shared drives be allowed under the rules being considered. If more than two want to share, they would have to build a road that meets county standards, under the proposed rules. Commission member Douglas Powell didn't much like the proposal when the group talked it over in a workshop meeting last week. He shares a private drive with several neighbors himself, he said. "I maintain that road with my neighbors because we don't want everybody driving down there," he said. "There's a lot of people that like to live that way." Not being able to drive on the shared driveway is precisely the problem, said Julian Campbell of the county Engineering Department. The new rules were devised by the joint effort of people in several county departments, most notably Public Safety, Campbell said. "The primary issue we want to solve is one of safety," he said. Not only is it often difficult or impossible for fire trucks and ambulances to get down the shared roads, he said, but identifying the various addresses is a problem as well. That's not a problem as far as Powell is concerned. "We assume a higher degree of risk when it comes to fire fighting and we know that and we pay the premiums," he said. But there are other problems to consider, said County Attorney Bill McNally. "Individuals get angry with each other and close off the private road," he said. "People buy off on easements where the easement isn't permanent. A lot of people are not that well informed as to what's going to occur," he said. Commission member Bob Harbison said the regulations should be aimed at developers rather than individuals who make agreements on their own. "If a developer brings in a platted subdivision, I really have no problem with these standards," he said, "but I just honestly have a problem with two adjacent homeowners who want to share a drive." But commission member Al Gilbert said the rules must apply to all. "We have fought this problem for years," he said. "You cannot separate the individual from the developer." The group agreed to put the matter on its next agenda for public hearing and possible vote. That will be Thursday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex.
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