NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Before the
Board of Skamania County
PURPOSE:
Written testimony/comments to be considered at the public hearing by the Board of Commissioners must be received by the Clerk of the Board by noon on the Thursday preceding the date of the public hearing. Anyone interested may appear and be heard.
Copies of Ordinance 2008-02 and Resolution 2008-01 are available to the public in the Commissioners’ Office, Room 15,
DATE: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
TIME: 5:30 PM
PLACE:
Skamania County Courthouse is accessible for persons with disabilities. Please let us know if you will need any special accommodations in order to attend the meeting. (509) 427-3700.
DATED this 4th day of March 2008.
Pamela Johnson
Clerk of the Board
ORDINANCE NO. 2008-02
Amendments to Skamania County Code Title 12, Chapter 12.03 Private Road Requirements, Sections 12.03.020, .030, .040, .050, .060, .070, .080, 090, and .100; Deletion of Sections 12.03.045,
WHEREAS, Skamania County Code Chapter 12.03 establishes Private Road Requirements; and
WHEREAS, the Skamania County Engineer has determined that the existing descriptions of Section 12.03 pertaining to Private Road Requirements should be changed to reflect public necessity and safety; and
WHEREAS, the Skamania County Board of Commissioners finds that it is in the public’s interest to change Chapter 12.03 as recommended by the
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF
12.03.020 Approaches to county roads.
No private road shall be permitted to approach any county road without first obtaining permission from the
12.03.030 Road classifications.
All private roads within
Category 1 – Driveway for one home.
Category 2 – Joint driveway for 2 - 3 homes.
Category 3 - Road serving 4 – 10 homes
Category 4 – Road serving 11 – 20 homes
Category 5 – Road serving over 21 homes
Category 6 – Commercial Development
Category 7 – Recreational Use with Limited Service
12.03.040 Design and Construction Standards.
All private roads shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the standards for the applicable road classifications as set forth in the Skamania County Private Road Guidelines and Development Assistance Manual, as adopted by
In the event that the
12.03.050 Approval and inspection.
The approval processes for
1) Categories 1 & 2, driveway and joint driveway, shall comply with the approach to county road requirements only as defined in the Approach Permit. These are not required to meet other private road standards.
2) The approvals required for Categories 3 - 7 private roads shall include an evaluation of the criteria used in design, along with the approach to county road requirements. Physical inspections will be performed by Skamania County according to the Skamania County Road Approach and Private Road Standards Development Assistance Manual to verify that Category 3 – 7 requirements have been met.
12.03.060 Maintenance.
The initial construction of access roads is considered by most to be the major cost in a roadway system. Experience indicates that annual maintenance will become the more important consideration. Top quality initial construction will reduce future maintenance and result in minimum costs for continued upkeep. First rate design and construction, however, will never totally eliminate the need for continued maintenance. Failure to establish a good schedule for required maintenance will also lead to unnecessary trouble and added costs. Private road design and construction should be coupled with a good pre-arranged maintenance agreement.
Maintenance tasks on private roads are the sole responsibility of the landowners. The County, or a political subdivision thereof, will assume no responsibility for private loss or damage that may result directly or indirectly from failure to properly maintain a private road.
Maintenance deficiencies on a private road may be reported to the Skamania County Fire Marshal by the emergency services. The Fire Marshal will review the request to insure that adherence to the standards are being met. If not, there may be a maintenance compliance request issued to the owner(s) of the affected areas of the road listing the required maintenance that is impeding the emergency services access. This notice will include a timeline for completion. When the maintenance is completed, the property owner(s) shall respond to the requestor (
In the event any provision in this chapter is found invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction for any reason that provision shall be stricken and the balance of this chapter shall remain in full force and effect. (Ord. 1986-02 (part))
12.03.070 Pre-existing private roads.
Except where a proposed change in use converts a private driveway or private road into a higher category road (i.e. a Category 1 or 2 road moves into a higher Category based on properties being accessed), the provisions of this chapter will not apply to regulate pre-existing roads. (Ord. 2000-07 (part); Ord. 1986-02 (part))
12.03.080 Traffic Study
The developer shall provide an analysis outlying the impacts to the Public Road System completed by a licensed Traffic Engineer on all Category 4 – 7 Roads, with recommendations being made to the county. The
12.03.090 Variances
The requirements as set out in this chapter shall apply uniformly to all future applications for private roads and road approach approvals.
A. Variances from these Standards may be granted by the
B. The Public Works Department shall provide application forms for private road variance requests and prescribe the type of information to be provided in the application. The application shall include a statement signed by the property owner and developer listing the variance request, the specific reasons for the variance request and any proposed substitute standards being proposed. A completed application for a private road variance shall be filed with the Public Works Department accompanied by a non-refundable fee as set by resolution by the Board of County Commissioners. Once a completed application has been received, will start the appeal process.
C. Whenever any variance to the provisions of the private road code is sought, the Public Works Department shall require the applicant to submit a site plan for the variance as part of the application. The site plan drawing shall be at a scale of not less one inch equals fifty feet (1" = 50'), unless an alternate scale is approved by the
a. Boundaries, dimensions and square footage of the property proposed to be developed;
b. All proposed and existing buildings and setback lines;
c. All existing and proposed easements;
d. Locations of all utility structures and lines;
e. All means of vehicular and pedestrian ingress and egress to and from the site and the size (width of physical roadway and width of granted easement) and location of driveways, private roads, existing streets bordering or crossing the site; and,
f. Road profile drawings designed, signed and stamped by a Washington State Licensed Professional Engineer or Professional Land Surveyor showing the existing profile of the ground prior to the private road construction, the profile of the private road with the variance being requested and the profile of the private road if the variance was not granted.
Appeal. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the
12.03.100 Performance Bonds.
A surety shall be posted with the Department of Public Works Office for Categories
3 – 7 roads if the developer requests to delay construction to allow the sale of property(s) with-in the development before construction is complete. This surety will guarantee the completion of the road and/or drainage improvements that are required and shall conform to the following conditions:
A. The surety shall be of a form approved by the Skamania County Prosecuting Attorney.
B. The surety shall be equal to three hundred (300%) percent of the total road and drainage construction estimate by the
C. The surety shall be for two (2) years, at which time it may be extended for (1) additional year at the option of the Director of Public Works. A new amount will be calculated at that time.
D. The surety shall be used by the Director of Public Works to make the required improvements if the improvements are not made in the allotted time.
E. The surety shall include granted and notarized agreements for access for public officials, or their designee, to ensure the completion of the development utilizing the surety to fund the completion as designed.
F. One hundred (100%) percent of the surety may be released upon completion of the work by the applicant and approval of the completed work by the Director of Public Works.
G. No building permits for any lots within the proposed development will be issued until the work covered by the surety has been completed and the final approved development drawings have been recorded.
H. A surety commensurate with the extent of work to be done shall be required and posted with
REVIEWED IN REGULAR SESSION this 4th day of March 2008 and set for public hearing on the 25th day of March 2008 at 5:30 PM.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION 2008-01
(Adopting
WHEREAS, on March 25, 2008, the Board of Commissioners held a public hearing amending Skamania County Code Title 12.03 Private Road Requirements by Ordinance 2008-02; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2008-02 authorizes the adoption of a Skamania County Road Approach and Private Roads Standards Development Assistance Manual to aid in the design of private roads; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the attached document consisting of 29 pages and titled “Skamania County Road Approach and Private Road Standards Development Assistance Manual” is hereby adopted.
PASSED IN REGULAR SESSION this _____ day of March 2008.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST:
SKAMANIA COUNTY
ROAD APPROACH AND
PRIVATE ROADS STANDARDS
Development Assistance Manual
The purpose of this handbook is to assist you in understanding
The content of this handbook provides guidance not referenced by Ordinance No. 2008-02, which establish the Road Approach and
This handbook, adopted by Resolution No. 2008-01 is the guide to provide the required criteria to aid in your design of the road. It is not intended to replace engineering, legal and other professional services.
The
Skamania County Department of Public Works
(March 2008)