(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish uniform criteria and procedures, applicable to all persons, groups, firms, and agencies, for the permanent change of city street names.
(b) Application for name change. An application to change a street name may be filed with the city public works department and must be accompanied by a petition requesting the proposed name change signed by more than 75 percent of the owners of land whose physical address is located on the street for which a name change is proposed. The application should contain the following information:
(1) The current official street name;
(2) The proposed street name, which shall meet the policy guidelines of this division;
(3) Detailed description of the reason for the requested street name change, including discussion of major contributions of the individual or entity to the community of Big Spring;
(4) The name, address, e-mail address and telephone number of the person, persons, corporation, association, group or entity proposing the name change;
(5) The name, address, e-mail address and telephone number of one person with authority to represent binding commitments and take official action relative to such street name change on behalf of the proponents;
(6) A nonrefundable application fee in the amount established in chapter 22 to cover the administrative cost of review, postage, advertisement and name change filing expenses, as well as the amount established in chapter 22 per property requiring an address change to cover the cost of changes to any street name or address signs to be deposited with the public works department.
(c) Review of proposed name change. Following receipt of a completed application, the city public works department will review the application and forward a recommendation to the planning and zoning commission, unless the same street name changed was considered by the city council under subsection (d) and failed within the last two calendar years, in which case, the petition is summarily denied. Except when a petition is summarily denied, the planning and zoning commission shall conduct a public hearing to receive public comment on the proposed change, which hearing shall be held not more than 30 days from the date of filing of the application.
(d) Consideration by city council. The city council shall consider the recommendation of the planning and zoning commission and shall hold a public hearing. A notice of the time and place of such hearing shall be published in accordance with this Code and the Texas Open Meetings Act. The favorable vote of the majority of the city council is required for approval of the application. If a majority of the city council does not vote in favor of the change, it fails. A failed street name change cannot be reconsidered by the city council unless a new petition is filed under subsection (b).
(e) Implementation of approved change. In the event that the city council approves the change to the street name, the public works department shall revise the official street name map, and notify affected property owners, all affected county, USPS, state and federal agencies of the effective date of the new name for the street.
(f) Street name changes. Criteria for street name changes must conform to the following:
(1) Streets named in honor or memory of a person. Streets that are currently named in honor or memory of a person are not eligible for street name changes.
(2) Subsequent name changes. Streets that have experienced a name change are not eligible for additional or further street name changes for a period of no less than 20 years.
(3) Major arterial (thoroughfares) and major collector streets. Major arterial (thoroughfares) and major collector streets are not eligible for street name changes unless such street name change meets the unanimous consent of the city planning and zoning commission and the city council.
(4) Street name changes in honor of a business. Street name changes in honor of a business are not eligible, with the exception of a business that meets all of the following criteria:
a. Business has operated in the same location for not less than 35 consecutive years; and
b. Business has operated under the same name for not less than 35 consecutive years.
(Prior Code, § 17-50; Ord. of 10-14-1997; Ord. No. 024-2023, § 1, 3-28-2023; Ord. No. 013-2024, § 1, 4-9-2024)