Creating Curb Cuts
I’m looking into building a 1 family residence on a vacant lot and creating a curb cut for a driveway in a non-historic/landmarked nabe. It is NOT a corner lot and is over 100 ft from the corner. The Dept of City Planning & Zoning has told me I can create a curb cut as…
I’m looking into building a 1 family residence on a vacant lot and creating a curb cut for a driveway in a non-historic/landmarked nabe. It is NOT a corner lot and is over 100 ft from the corner.
The Dept of City Planning & Zoning has told me I can create a curb cut as long as I build a garage that exits within the building footprint (ala a carriage house). The curb cut would be new as the previous house on this lot did not have one.
Has anyone done this before successfully without hassles from the city? The DCP&Z doesn’t provide written guarantees for any info given … only verbal replies and I want to make sure the info I was provided is accurate.
I’ve spoken with several architects in beginning my construction process and a few were quite surprised that I was given the ok by the city. Thanks.
“Curb cuts on a nice block are like broken teeth on a beautiful girl…”
I like no teeth on a beautiful girl…
In actuality, offstreet parking in R6A zones is required (the requirement would probably be waived in your situation – one single family house). There should be no problem to incorporate a curb cut into a building that contains off street parking. Your architect would incorporate it into the plans that would need DOB approval to build.
That being said, I firmly believe that taking one parking space away from the public on the street should be replaced by a minimum of two cars being parked off street. With parking such a problem in Brooklyn, a private taking of public space should result in more cars parked than could be managed without the public taking.
The lot width is 25 feet and it’s R6A zoning.
What is the lot width? What is the zoning code (R5B, R4-1, etc) for the Lot??
BTW – The permit is issued by the Dept of Buildings, not the Department of City Planning (maybe that is why you can’t get a clear answer).
City Planning writes the regs; DOB administers them (poorly in many cases).
Thx Gemini … I appreciate the tip about the DOT website. I’ll check it out.
Willy
many people on this blog will be negative in regards to you bulding a curb cut(i suspect b/c they secretly jealous and want their own driveway but I digress) Just make sure you have ALL your permits when doing it. Check the DOT website as they have rules about how much feet you need WxL etc.
This will be a HUGE value add for when you do sell the house, not to mention when you come home late at 2am and you can pull right up in front of your house!
Believe me, it’s not a beautiful block! It’s a mixed use nabe with one old tenement and several unattractive wood frame vinyl-clad houses and a large school-like building. It’s off the beaten path.
I’ll be building a much smaller than allowed, single-family home for myself … a 2-3 story home (depends on the minimum height reqs of the zoning). I’m looking to create a green building, simple in design and designed in a way so as to fit in with the mixed-use area.
Next door to my lot is an old commercial one and half story garage that’s used as a residence. There are already 2 curb cuts on the block.
I’ll be the first to plead with you: Don’t! Curb cuts on a nice block are like broken teeth on a beautiful girl…but then, what exactly are you building?