Redesign the Driveway - possibly a circular driveway

9 years ago

Would really appreciate your advice and comments?
Photo1: You see our house has a straight driveway. We wont to modify this existing driveway so that the area marked with a red x has more usability/accessibility to us. That said, we want to avoid any silly temptations as well, which is why need your feedback.
Photo2: It shows a traditional circular driveway (marked with yellow). I like this design (it is symmetrical, can be decorated with a fountain/sculpture in the middle etc) but this driveway does not 'completely' fulfill our goals/objectives.
Photo3: L-shaped. It is not as conventional and nice looking as the prior circular driveway, however fulfills the objective.
Photo4: ZigZag-shaped. It is totally out of convention (so we are not sure how it will actually turn out), however it does satisfy the goals.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (15)

Fredfan
Original Author
9 years ago
Posting again so you can see the larger image.

Here is a link that might be useful:
pixie_lou
9 years ago
What is so important with the red X?

The L doesn't seem to arrive at the red X.

The zigzag looks odd.

Why can't you access the red X from the cul de sac with a separate driveway?
Related Discussions
Pls Help! Any sources re semi-circle driveway=1 driveway?
Q
Comments (12)
A few circumstances that could aid your plight are whether you are on a busy street or not, whether you have room to contruct a turnaround (ie, hammerhead), and how far back from the road the inside edge of the circle is from the road. You could certainly have more leverage in claiming hardship if backing out is a safety hazard and you have no alternative method of turning the car around. Most zoning by-laws have a definition section (sometimes they are hard to find). Many zoning by-laws can now be downloaded from municipal websites in pdf form. These are easily searchable, if that helps. I have seen "driveway" defined as an "The travelway for vehicles between the access and the garage or parking area" (this would not be good for you), but I've also seen it defined as a "travel way" (which would be good). Zoning boards have a lot of descretion that is backed up in court. It is very difficult to overturn their descretion when applying their interpretation of an unclear definition unless they have not applied the definition consistantly. If the definition is not written or not written clearly, your interpretation of it is no more valid than theirs, so you will not stand much of a chance of overturning it. I would suggest that you try to force them into writing a clear definition as early as possible in order for them to have to commit to it. This would open the door for alternatives that do not go outside of their definition. If you proposed something that fits the definitionm it would have to be accepted or it would be much more easily appealed.
...See More
Arbutus 'Marina' & more for circular driveway garden
Q
Comments (10)
I'm not sure what elevation you are at, but assuming the Marina will do ok at your elevation, this looks like a good spot for it. It needs open areas, will take part shade as long is its bright and open, so this looks like it would fit that bill well. I wouldn't hesitate trying the native Madrone there myself, if the soil is well drained. I would NOT add a Japanese maple next to it. They will grow quickly enough to compete for both light and water with the Marina, and though it likes it dry, an active fast growing tree like a Jap maple does not seem like a good fit to me for getting it established. I am intrigued by the thought of the Marina with the Stewartia, honestly. They are both known for their bark, which I think would make for an interesting pairing. The stump may work well for one of your hemlocks too, if you were interested in using it for that. Be aware though, Mountain Hemlock in my experience needs a fair amount of water to get it going, and really prefers more even moisture as it is growing than the Marina may like. Keep the two separated if you plan on supplementing the water for the hemlock. Once established though (which I find takes longer with this alpine than it would for most native conifers, especially if we have dry summers during the establishment phase), they should be fine with the drought, especially if they are growing on or near a "nurse log" which will help with that immensely. Maybe its just my love affair with the native dogwood... but I always like seeing dogwoods up against evergreens, lol. It would probably like the conditions you have their, and would be lovely with the white flowers against the colorful bark and dark green leaves, but I'd be a little worried initially about it overpowering the Marina, especially if you want it to be the star of the bed. Once the Marina gets its head up above the dogwood, it may be less appealing than when its a smaller tree with the combination of the leaves and flowers more apparent. I'm not at all familiar with the Oxydendron, so can't say much of anything about that. Seems to me similar enough in flower shape that if they bloom anywhere close to the same time period, I'd rather see them in separate beds, but close enough to where the flowers can echo each other without looking like you are trying to match them up. But it looks lovely, especially in fall color. On a side note... especially with the woods around you, I kinda get a red neck kick out of the "stump farm" look... I'd be awfully tempted to leave the stumps the way you have them, plug them with different kinds of (edible?) mushrooms, and garden around them for a while. Maybe bowl out the tops of the bigger ones enough to plant some ferns and maybe some ground dogwood in them or something... have fun with them rather than remove them. But then, I like the way these stumps look in the woods as they are decomposing. I kind of think of it as the cycle showing all its splendor right there in front of your eyes, lol. I've had good luck planting red huckleberries, spiny wood fern (Drypopteris expansa), licorice fern and a few others in these stump pots. I think with the new trees and the returning salal etc, you could have a really beautiful bed that way. One trick with this- use something really organic like peat moss or coir to plant these, or if you have it, composted bark. It mimics the decomposing wood, and the roots will be able to adapt easily to the wood as the potting "soil" and stump become one. Most of the usual suspects that grow on nurse logs in the woods will like this kind of organic soil too.
...See More
Pls Help! Any sources re semi-circle driveway=1 driveway?
Q
Comments (26)
Your town's street and road requirements may be defined by state highway regulations, ours are. That is, the state definition of "driveway" is the assumed meaning in our town ordinances. Ours (and the state's) happens to say that two driveways cannot be within 50 feet of each other. Needless to say, there are many grandfathered exceptions all over the place. In any case, I believe it says "driveways" when the concern is clearly about having two entrance/exits too close to each other. I didn't look it up this time, but I think I remember seeing a definition of "driveway" in the state standards as well the requirements for design and construction. Be aware that such things are not always statutory--the highway dept. may simply have statutory authority to establish standards that are then enforceable. So even though you don't find the definition in an actual statute, it may still carry the weight of law. Does that make sense? Anyway, if your town's standards are based on state standards, you may find something useful there. However, taking that a step back, you may want to check the charter of the highway dept. or permitting dept. to see if authority for setting design and construction standards was delegated to whomever you are dealing with now. Also, be aware that there is no such thing as "the town." There are many different and different kinds of people who work for the town and who represent it in the governing body. If you are dealing with a road agent or similar employee, take your query (politely) up the chain. Appeal if there is a process or find out how to accomplish your goal (e.g., getting a special exception or variance, both of which would put you in front of a different town body than the one with which you are dealing now). At the end of the day, town bodies can be powerful on such little things because most people aren't going to pay out of pocket to be "right" in court about something that isn't actually all that important. Ours recently magically transformed all private driveways serving more than one residence into a new thing called a "private street"--subject to all kinds of new regulations and the odd experience of having the town name our property (when it insisted it had the right to name the "private street"--long story).
...See More
Convert existing driveway to hollywood/ribbon driveway?
Q
Comments (4)
1st thing we would need to know is are you in the hills of L.A.? Lot of unstable ground out here & if you get driveway that is 2 strips for your wheels to drive up. The ground around those strips could be moved by too much watering or rain, some areas hardly need anything to "decide to move on down the hill into the neighbors house" The quality of the concrete would make a difference on whether it could take the stress of a jackhammer & saw, I found after the Northridge quake my driveway was cracked & where it was it looked like the cracks could be widened & brick laid side by side . I was told it might not work & they would not be responsible. There were no cracks prior to that quake & it was less than 25 yrs old so I took the chance & it turned out well. What will be between the strips, most places I've seen its weeds. It's like planting between concrete diamonds, most look awful but 1 person did it & it was beautiful haven't gone by it lately so don't know how it is now, probably couldn't even find it.So think about upkeep after you change things & cost of hauling out all that concrete, getting edges straight & not breaking part you want left. Might tackle much smaller jackhammer job 1st. You must be big & strong to even hang on to 1 & control it unless they are very different than they used to be. Good Luck!
...See More
Fredfan
Original Author
9 years ago
Our lot size is a little over 1/2 acre and we currently only get to use 10% of our yard. I think making the driveway of a larger size, will bring usability to most of our yard (primary objective), as well I am hoping increase the value of house (secondary objective) with 2 entry/exit points for vehicles.

The red x only points to the vicinity area. The L-shaped driveway does arrive significantly closer to the red x (compared to circular driveway option)
palimpsest
9 years ago
Why do you need to be able to drive to various points in your yard? Can't you walk to it? I'm not sure I understand because 1/2 isn't huge, and I would think the more of it that's covered with driveway the less usable it is for anything else.
User
9 years ago
Silly reason to spend money that adds zero value to anything. Pave the whole thing if you want. It makes a yard less usable, not more. And wastes your money.

Now if you're planning a garage or workshop for that area of the property, that's something entirely different.
shrubbish
9 years ago
I like both of the circular options. it allows for nice landscaping that can bring the focus on the front of your house.

Would also add a walkway from the street to your front door. I always dislike when you can only get to a front door by using the driveway. It seems to bring the garage more into focus than the house entrance.

I would also check with your city, town or county to see if they even allow two exit points from your property. Depending on location they may not.

And I do think that for resale purposes a circular or otherwise two-exit driveway is a plus and loved by people who hate to back their car up....
Fredfan
Original Author
9 years ago
I love each and every feedback received so far. Thanks so much.

Shrubbish: you said 'i like both circular options', you mean the option1 (circular) and option2 (L-shaped)???
Your idea of walkway from street to front door really appeals me ... attaching the frontal photo ... do you think the house design we have, it will blend in well with such a walkway?

HollySprings: I like your idea of a separate worshop

Pixie_Lou: the area marked with x has a lake closeby, which is reason I want to bring access to that part of lawn. I am thinking building a 'separate' driveway to that part will look odd ... I think architecturally a house should have a one integrated driveway?.

This post was edited by Fredfan on Thu, Jun 12, 14 at 22:40
User
9 years ago
Why do youneed a driveway to the sceenic lookout? Just build a gazebo there and walk to it. If you have someone with mobility issues that needs a smooth surface, a curving landscaped path that they can roll down would add more value to a home than any driveway.
shrubbish
9 years ago
Fred, are you saying there is lake access in the x-spot, or just a good viewpoint? I can't make out the light green shrub/tree area. Could that be trimmed back or replaced with something that uses less space but still provides a screen from the neighbors? Then there is more room to get to the back.

With your lot I would probably work with a landscape architect, especially if you have slope challenges where the x is. In my head I keep seeing the x area as a seating area that has a lattice or other nice wood work toward the neighbors and allows you to sit viewing the lake. If you need shade there, nice overhead beams and climbing plants on that?

You could have a gate by the neighbor with the white fence? Make it wide enough so that landscapers or contractors can go thru with machinery if you ever have the need for that (arborist, septic repair, etc)

Though saddened by the tone in which the opinion is expressed, I agree with Holly that a flat surface path might be nice for handicapped access or elderly people. Based on the house design, I suspect though that a wheelchair bound person might not look at a two story house unless a master suite is on the 1st floor. Realtor friends and a landscape architect should be able to advise better than we can.

And full disclosure, I ripped out my own circular driveway, but my lot is smaller plus the garage side exit point was shared with the neighbor so we had a sea of asphalt in front of our houses. The previous owner Is still in shock....just give me time to landscape :-)
kirkhall
9 years ago
Given that you live on a cul-de-sac, and your current driveway services the house just fine, and is the one that people would see first, I too don't understand the desire to have a connecting driveway to the further location of the culdesac.

A "separate driveway" will not look odd, because no body but your neighbors, tucked around the end of the culdesac will know about it.

I think you need to figure out a different way to access that area of your yard, than a driveway to it. Pull out some trees, or put in some french doors out that end of your house, or... But, the driveway seems extreme, and expensive, and ... permanent.
pixie_lou
9 years ago
Not sure where you are located, but. . .

If you get snow, your plowing bill just doubled or tripled or quadrupled

Asphalt is hot - that will be a lot more heat being trapped in your front yard. This could have an effect on your grass and other plantings.

I still don't understand why you need to be able to drive to the far corner of your yard. You don't seem to have lake access, so I can't imagine trying to haul a boat down there.
annkh_nd
9 years ago
I'm with the others - I don't understand the need/desire for paving more of the yard. Even a turnaround so one doesn't need to back into the street seems unnecessary on a low-traffic cul-de-sac.
live_wire_oak
9 years ago
Most people who want to "use" the yard, as you are saying (terminology issue here??) eliminate paving from the yard to be able to have more green stuff. That's what having a yard is all about! More paving=more commercial parking lot look.
weedyacres
9 years ago
What do you mean by "... only get to use 10% of our yard"? How do you want to use it that you currently can't? What are the obstacles to using it in that way?

Is it steep? Overgrown? Have some large object in the way that can't be circumvented?
Bunny
9 years ago
Okay, now I see the lake and realize that your house faces the driveway with its side to the street. I don't see the point of any modification (esp. the circular drive, what does that accomplish?) unless you plan to launch a boat and it's too hard unless you can get a vehicle back there.

Redesign the Driveway - possibly a circular driveway

Comments (15)

Fredfan
Original Author

pixie_lou

Related Discussions

Fredfan
Original Author

palimpsest

User

shrubbish

Fredfan
Original Author

User

shrubbish

kirkhall

pixie_lou

annkh_nd

live_wire_oak

weedyacres

Bunny

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Redesign the Driveway - possibly a circular driveway

Comments (15)

FredfanOriginal Author

Related Discussions

FredfanOriginal Author

FredfanOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Fredfan
Original Author

Fredfan
Original Author

Fredfan
Original Author