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THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF WINDSOR
POLICY
Service Area:
Procedure No.:
Departments:
Building & Development
Approval Date:
January 21, 2008
Division:
Development
Approved By:
CR22/2008
Effective Date:
January 21, 2008
Subject:
Street Name Assignment and Name
Change Policy
Policy Ref.:
Pages:
Replaces:
Date:
1.
PURPOSE
1.1
To provide a street naming and renaming policy that promotes the City"s
positive image and identity through the use of street names that are
indicative of Windsor"s unique historical, geographic and cultural
characteristics, and that assists in accurately pinpointing the location of
properties, and Council"s desire to protect the health and welfare of the
public, by enabling emergency services to quickly attend to urgent
situations. The efficient delivery of goods and services, including mail, is
also a key objective.
1.2
This policy is consistent with the objectives of the Municipal Address
Assignment & Address Change Policy (Appendix no. 2).
2.
SCOPE
2.1
This policy applies to the assignment of names for all new streets, as well as
the renaming of existing streets within the City of Windsor, in consultation
with the adjacent municipalities of the Town of Lakeshore, the Town of
LaSalle and the Town of Tecumseh.
3.
RESPONSIBILITY
3.1
The Building & Development Department, Development Division is
responsible for the coordination and assignment of new street names within
the City of Windsor and providing City Council with recommendations
regarding the renaming of existing streets.
3.2
City Council approval and adoption of a by-law is required for the creation
of any new street (name) not created through the registration of a plan of
subdivision or condominium and for changing the name of any existing
street within the City of Windsor.
3.3
The City will give Public Notice of its intention to change the name of any
existing street within the City of Windsor.
4.
POLICY
4.1
The City of Windsor strives to ensure that all street names promote
Windsor"s civic identity. Street names shall be indicative of the distinctive
social, historical, geographic or cultural characteristics and qualities of
Windsor.
Selection of Names
4.2
That street names shall be chosen, wherever possible, to recognize the
historical significance of figures, groups, neighbourhoods, places, landmarks
and events within the City of Windsor that denote:
a)
the community"s evolution and progress;
b) the unique aspects related to the community"s geographical location or
other distinct characteristics;
c)
figures, events, milestones, and achievements the community may
wish to acknowledge; or
d) any name not covered in a) through c) above which has been endorsed
by resolution of City Council.
4.3
A street name should not be given in recognition of any living person.
4.4
That there shall be no use of awkward, corrupt, discriminatory or derogatory
names, in regard to race, sex, colour, creed, political affiliation, or other
social factors.
4.5
That the Street Naming Policies, Guidelines and Procedures shall apply to
both public and private roadways, condominium roadways, where names are
deemed to be in the interest of public safety.
5.
GUIDELINES
5.1
Street names must not be identical or similar sounding to any existing street
name (both within the City and surrounding municipalities).
5.2
Homonyms, or names that are very close in pronunciation to existing street
names, both within the City and surrounding municipalities are not permitted
(Examples: Allen or Alan, Hinson or Henson). Likewise, names that are
difficult to pronounce or have uncommon spellings of common names
should be avoided (Example: Karen, not Cairyn).
5.3
Street Names, wherever practical, shall be only one-word names. It is
strongly preferred the names not be hyphenated or quotes used.
5.4
Street extensions should continue with existing street names.
5.5
Substantiation is required for proposed street names, (Historical/Personal
significance) if there is any. (i.e. person"s last name).
6.
STREET NAME TYPE DESIGNATIONS
Wherever possible the following street name type designations are to be followed:
6.1
Streets running in an East/West direction are to be designated as Streets.
6.2
Streets running in a North/South direction are to be designated as Avenues
or Roads.
6.3
The same suffix name is generally retained for straight roads and streets
upon the same alignment.
6.4
Narrow secondary streets having less than a 15.2 metre / 50-foot right-of-
way, are to be designated as Lanes.
6.5
Wider collector streets, when separated by a planted median, may be
designated as Boulevards or Drives.
6.6
Dead-end streets less than 305 meters / 1000 feet in length are to be
designated as Courts.
6.7
Streets having 2 - entrances in the form of a loop or an "L", are to be
designated as Crescent, Circle or Way.
6.8
Any other designations are to be approved by Building & Development
Department in consultation with Fire and Rescue Services.
While exceptions to the street name type designation guidelines have occurred as the
result of 1965 and 2002 municipal annexations, as approved by the Windsor Utilities
Commission, these guidelines are intended to reduce or eliminate exceptions especially
where they may cause difficulty in navigation within the City.
7.
NEW STREETS
7.1
The assignment of names for all new streets within the City requires the
submission of an "Application to Create a Street Name or for Creation of
Street Names & Municipal Address Numbers within Plans of
Subdivision/Condominium", to the Building & Development Department,
Development Division, for approval.
7.2
The Application must include a list of possible street names and appropriate
mapping, illustrating the location of the new streets and their proposed
names, as well as a non-refundable processing fee payable to the City of
Windsor.
7.3
City Council approval and adoption of a by-law is required for the creation
of any new street (name) not created through the registration of a plan of
subdivision or condominium within the City of Windsor.
8.
STREET NAME CHANGE
8.1
All street name changes require the submission of an "Application for Street
Name Change", to the Building & Development Department, Development
Division, for acceptance of the submitted replacement street names and
subsequent approval and adoption of a by-law by City Council.
8.2
The Application must include a proposed replacement street name and
location, a sketch of the street and extent/segment of the road to be re-
named, a petition with the name, address and signatures of 80% of the
assessed property owners/residents who reside or own property which fronts
onto or is abutting the subject street, and a non-refundable processing fee
payable to the City of Windsor.
8.3
The City of Windsor reserves the right to rename any street, including
duplicate street names, in the interest of public safety.
8.4
The City of Windsor shall not be responsible or liable for any costs
associated with a street name change.
9.
STREET NAME SIGNS
9.1
Street name signs shall be of such size and shape and constructed of such
materials as required by the Public Works Department, in compliance with
the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the Ontario Traffic
Manuals, and the City of Windsor Sign By-law 250-2004.
9.2
For all new streets associated with a Development Application, it shall be a
condition of application approval that the applicant/developer must obtain
City approval of the names for such streets and have street name signs
erected to the satisfaction of the City.
9.3
Where the name of a street has been changed, the sign shall, unless deemed
inappropriate or unnecessary by Administration, include a reference to the
former name for a period of at least one year.
9.4
A street name sign may also include an address range to the street address
numbers that are located within a street or any portion of a street.
10.
NOTIFICATION
10.1
The City shall notify all internal departments, agencies/bodies and adjacent
municipalities contained in the attached distribution list (Attachment No. 1),
of the assignment of a new street name or change of an existing street name.
10.2
The City will give Public Notice, prior to consideration by Council, of its
intention to change the name of any existing street and for all Applications
for Street Name Changes within the city (Refer to Appendix 1A - Street
Name Assignment & Name Change Procedure Procedures for details).
11.
RECORDS, FORMS AND ATTACHMENTS
Records pertaining to the naming of streets will be retained according to the Records
Retention By-law 12599, as amended