This bill amends existing law to establish a clear timeline for the approval or denial of permit applications for driveways or public access to state highways. Specifically, it mandates that the commissioner of transportation must issue or deny permits within 60 days of receiving a completed application for any residential use of land, including multifamily developments that do not qualify as major driveways. Additionally, the bill introduces a new expedited permitting process for major entrances serving residential developments of 20 units or more, which must also be approved within 60 business days following the approval of a traffic impact study.

To facilitate this expedited process, the bill outlines a non-refundable permit fee of $120 per unit, with provisions for the commissioner to adjust this fee with the governor and council's approval. It also requires applicants to pay a retainer for third-party professional engineering reviews during the permitting process, with any unused funds refunded within 120 days of permit issuance. Furthermore, the bill establishes a classified position of business operations specialist within the department of transportation to oversee the expedited permitting process. The act will take effect 90 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 236:13
As Amended by the Senate: 236:13
As Amended by the House: 236:13
Version adopted by both bodies: 236:13
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 236:13