Asphalt Paving in Kentwood, MI

Asphalt paving in Kentwood is mostly about suburban driveways that have reached middle age. Kentwood incorporated in 1967 from what remained of Paris Township, on its third try, partly to stop Grand Rapids and Wyoming from annexing more land. Much of the housing went up in the decades after, in subdivisions with attached garages and two-car driveways. An asphalt driveway poured in the 1990s has seen thirty-odd West Michigan winters. Some of those can be resurfaced; many need to come out.

Front-yard parking rules

Kentwood's code enforcement summary says vehicles in the front yard may be parked in a garage, on a driveway or under a carport, and cannot be parked on the grass or in the right-of-way between the sidewalk and the street. A vehicle for sale has to sit on the driveway or another hard-surface parking area. Recreational vehicles and boats can sit in the driveway for 40 hours before and after use. In practice, that means a driveway wide enough for the household's cars is not a luxury. Widening a drive or adding a side pad is one of the most common Kentwood requests we get.

Winter street parking ban

From November 15 to March 15, Kentwood does not allow street parking from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. so plows can clear the roads. Every car in the household has to fit on the driveway overnight for four months. Driveways that carry that load, plus the turning and shuffling that comes with it, wear faster in the tire paths and at the edges. We look at how many cars use the drive when we set thickness and width.

Permits and easements

Kentwood's inspections FAQ lists slabs on grade among the projects that need a building permit and says they also get reviewed so easements stay clear after construction. Driveway questions go to the city's Inspections Department. Because many Kentwood lots have utility easements along the side or rear lines, we check before planning a widening or a pad that would extend toward a property line.

Sidewalk duty

Residents must clear snow and ice of two inches or more from the sidewalk in front of their homes within 24 hours after snowfall stops. Where a driveway meets that sidewalk, a smooth joint helps the shovel and the snowblower and keeps the asphalt edge from being chipped away.

Planning for four cars in January

If your household relies on street parking in summer, the winter ban changes the math. Before we draw up a widening, we count the cars, look at the turning room in front of the garage, and check where snow will be piled. A drive that is wide enough on paper can still be too tight once a plow ridge sits along one side. Building in a little extra width at the garage end is often the most useful change.

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