The following procedure shall be followed in carrying out the street name changes necessary to avoid name duplication or conflict.
(A) The administering agency, the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission, shall be responsible for identifying such street name duplications during the process of numbering and renumbering structures in the incorporated area of the town.
(B) The street name duplication identification shall be based upon the name designation only, not the directional prefix or the street type suffix, i.e., the address 100 West Main Street is composed of four parts: the number (100); the directional prefix (West); the street name (Main); and the street type suffix (Street).
(C) When such duplications are identified, a Town Development Committee meeting shall be convened and said Committee shall be charged with determining which street names warrant renaming and with selecting new names for those streets which have name duplications elsewhere in the county causing potential confusion and misdirection in the location of individual structures.
(D) The warrants for street name changes shall include consideration of emergency service jurisdiction, identical number ranges, the number of identical names and similar factors deemed appropriate by the Committee membership. The Committee will also consult with post office representatives, emergency service representatives, utility representatives and government representatives as needed to assess the warrants. Whenever a street name, a number range and a jurisdictional area would all be duplicated, the street name under consideration shall be changed.
(E) The selection of new names shall be guided by the following.
(1) New street names shall not reflect the first, middle or last name of current residents on the street or in the area unless a written statement from all residents on the street in question is received requesting a specified resident’s name be selected. Such statement must be filed with the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission Office one week prior to the date for consideration of the street name changes by the Town Council.
(2) Where applicable, selection of new names shall follow existing street name themes such as tree names, bird names, British names, colonial names and the like. Where no street name theme exists, selection of a new name shall be guided by natural features, land usage, historical significance and similar factors to achieve some continuity in street names for an area.
(F) After the Committee has selected new street names, the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission shall send notice, by first class mail, to residents along the street in question using available resources to attempt delivery to such residents. Failure to achieve notification of all residents shall not preclude the renaming of a street.
(G) The notice to residents shall include the proposed new street name and the date, time and place of the Town Council meeting during which the street name changes shall be considered and acted upon by the Council. The notice shall also direct all questions and requests for information to the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission Office. The notice shall include the procedure for requesting that a personal name of a resident be selected. Notice shall also include the procedure for remonstrance which shall be as follows.
(1) Where residents wish to request an alternative street name, they shall present a written statement setting forth the alternative name(s) with signatures representing 50% or more of the properties on the street in question. The written statement shall be filed with the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission Office at least one week prior to the date for consideration by the Town Council. The alternative name shall be automatically approved provided they are not duplicated elsewhere in the county. If such duplication exists, the name proposed by the Town Development Committee shall be used. Residents are encouraged to present more than one alternative, in order of preference, in case of such duplication.
(2) Where residents are opposed to the change, they may appear at the designated Town Council meeting to present oral evidence why such street name should not be changed and to present a written statement of opposition from residents with signatures representing 50% or more of the properties on the street in question. A copy of the written statement of opposition with signatures shall be filed with the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission Office one week prior to the date for consideration by the Town Council. Opposition to a street name change shall not automatically prevent the Town Council from renaming a street.
(3) Absence of response to the written notice shall be construed as acceptance of the street name change as proposed in the notice.
(H) Following the completion of the procedures described herein, a resolution setting forth all proposed street name changes shall be prepared, including resident names and alternative names if properly presented. The resolution shall be presented by the Town Development Committee and the Town Council shall consider the proposed street name changes and take action as deemed appropriate in accordance with I.C. 36-7-4-405.
(Res. 90-33, passed 11-12-1990)