Commission weighs driveway setback standard; could set a 30–50 foot minimum from intersections

Willard planning commissioners opened a discussion Aug. 6 about adding a clear driveway-approach setback to the city code to standardize where driveways may be placed relative to intersections.

Planning staff said the requirement currently exists in drawings but not in a concise table in the code. Commissioners debated a numeric standard: some members favored a 30-foot standard accounting for sight lines and local parking rules, while others suggested 50 feet for local-to-local connections or larger setbacks for collectors and arterials. Commissioner (S6) summarized guidance elsewhere: “in Ogden, Utah, driveway approaches must be set back ... at least 50 feet for local-to-local street connections and at least 80 feet if one intersecting street is a non-local collector or arterial,” and commissioners asked staff to collect standards and return with an engineer’s recommendation.

The commission also discussed whether certain driveway limitations along state highways require UDOT approval and whether a minimum should be contingent on the city engineer’s assessment of line-of-sight, speed and traffic volume. Staff committed to bringing comparative standards and proposed language to a future meeting.