14.60.130 Private roads.
A. Private roads shall be contained in an easement or tract and will be allowed when:
1. A covenant that provides for maintenance and repair of the private road by property owners has been approved by the city and recorded with King County; and
2. The covenant includes a condition that the private road will remain open at all times for emergency and public service vehicles; and
3. The private road would not hinder public street circulation; and
4. At least one of the following conditions exists:
a. The road would ultimately serve no fewer than three lots and no more than nine lots; or
b. The road would ultimately serve more than nine lots, and the review engineer and the fire marshal determine that due to physical site constraints or preexisting development no other reasonable access is available. In addition, the proposed private road would be adequate for transportation and fire access needs, and the private road would be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood character; or
c. The private road would be part of a commercial or residential planned unit development; or
d. The private road would serve commercial or industrial facilities where no circulation continuity is necessary; or
e. The private road would serve a dense residential development of four or more units, such as a unit lot subdivision or condominium, and the road is not part of any existing or future public road grid.
5. Absent any of the above, public streets are required.
B. The design and construction of private roads shall conform to the requirements of the transportation department design manual and the fire department development standards.
C. Private roads shall be designed such that vehicles attempting to enter the private road will not impede vehicles in the travel lane of the public street.
D. Combined vehicular access for adjoining properties is encouraged. Joint access shall be established in a tract or easement.
E. Access onto arterial streets from private roads may be denied at the discretion of the review engineer if alternate access is available.
F. The continued use of a preexisting private road is not guaranteed with the development of a site.
G. All abandoned private roads on the street frontage to be improved shall be removed and new curb, gutter and sidewalk shall be installed.
H. Private road grade and configuration shall accommodate future street widening as described in adopted city plans and codes to prevent the need for major private road reconstruction.
I. No private road shall be approved where undesirable impacts, such as vehicles backing onto the public sidewalk or street, will occur.
J. Left turns to and from a private road may be restricted either at the time of development or in the future if such maneuvers are found by the city to be hazardous.
K. The requirements of this section may be modified by the director if:
1. The modification is reasonable and necessary for development of the property; and
2. The modification will result in more efficient access to and circulation within the property; and
3. The modification will not create a hazardous condition for motorists or pedestrians. (Ord. 6749 § 1, 2023; Ord. 6181 § 2, 2014.)