Sec. 35311a.

(1) Notwithstanding section 35316 or any other provision of this part, the construction, improvement, and maintenance of a driveway shall be permitted for any dwelling or other permanent building allowed in a critical dune area, including a dwelling or other permanent building approved under this part or a lawful nonconforming use, subject only to applicable permit requirements under sections 35312 through 35325 and the following:

(a) A driveway shall be permitted either to the principal building or, in the sole discretion of the applicant, to an accessory building, under the provisions of this section. Additional driveways, if any, shall meet the applicable requirements for any other use under this part. The development of a plan for a driveway should include consideration of the use of retaining walls, bridges, or similar measures, if feasible, to minimize the impact of the driveway, parking, and turnaround areas, and the consideration of alternative locations on the same lot of record.

(b) Driveways on slopes steeper than a 1-foot vertical rise in a 4-foot horizontal plane, but not steeper than a 1-foot rise in a 3-foot horizontal plane, shall be in accordance with a site plan submitted with the permit application and prepared for the site by a registered professional architect or licensed professional engineer. The site plan shall include (i) storm water drainage that provides for disposal of storm water without serious erosion, (ii) methods for controlling erosion from wind and water, and (iii) restabilization, by design elements including vegetation, cut-and-fill, bridges, traverses, and such other elements as are required in the judgment of the architect or engineer to meet these requirements.

(c) Driveways on slopes steeper than a 1-foot vertical rise in a 3-foot horizontal plane shall be in accordance with a site plan submitted with the permit application and prepared for the site by a licensed professional engineer. The site plan shall include (i) storm water drainage that provides for disposal of storm water without serious erosion, (ii) methods for controlling erosion from wind and water, and (iii) restabilization, by design elements including vegetation, cut-and-fill, bridges, traverses, and such other elements as are required in the judgment of the engineer to meet these requirements. The engineer shall certify under seal that the driveway is not likely to increase erosion or decrease stability.

(2) Temporary construction access for all construction, including new construction, renovation, repairs, rebuilding, or replacement, and repair, improvement, or replacement of septic tanks and systems, shall be allowed for any use allowed in a critical dune area for which a driveway is not already installed by the owner, subject only to the requirements that the temporary access shall not involve a contour change or vegetation removal that increases erosion or decreases stability except as can be restabilized upon completion of the construction. The temporary access shall be maintained in stable condition, and restabilization shall be commenced promptly upon completion of the construction.

(3) As used in this section, "driveway" means a privately owned, constructed, and maintained vehicular access from a road or easement serving the property to the principal building or accessory buildings, that is paved, graveled, or otherwise improved for vehicular access, 16 feet wide or narrower in the sole discretion of the applicant or owner, and may include, in the sole discretion of the applicant or owner, a shared driveway.

History: Add. 2012, Act 297, Imd. Eff. Aug. 7, 2012 Popular Name: Act 451Popular Name: NREPA