(a) Method of Initiation: Street name changes may be effected in one of two ways:
(1) Initiated by the Town Street Commission or Town Council for the purpose of implementing the Ordinance and these standards/guidelines.
(2) An affected property owner or owners may file an application for a hearing to change the name of a public or private roadway within the Town by filing a petition with the Town Clerk. Name changes initiated by petition shall be only for the purpose of correcting a name duplication or rewording a difficult or unacceptable name. Name changes may not be initiated for frivolous or personal purposes and if a petition if filed, the Town Council may deny such request. If a petition for street name change is filed, the following shall be provided:
(b) Filing: A request to initiate hearings to name or change the name of a public or private roadway within the Town may be filed with the Town Clerk by an affected property owner or group of property owners. Such request shall be accompanied by a petition showing consent of at least 51% of the property owners who live on and travel the entire length of the roadway in question, along with all required components of the application provided by the Town Council as established in the Street Naming and Numbering Guidelines. The Street Commission will assist in the initial street name changes and then approved by the Town Council.
(1) A completed Name Change application as provided by the office of the Street Commission. This application includes the following minimum information:
A. A correct list of names and addresses of all property owners on the street or road suggested for name change including those who signed the petition, to the best of the petitioner's knowledge.
B. A letter stating the reasons why the street name change is needed. (i.e., eliminate duplicate name, help improve emergency services to the area, how the request conforms to the Standard/Guidelines, etc.).
(2) A map giving the location of the road which is the subject of the petition.
(3) Old name and proposed new name and alternate.
(4) Description of the beginning and end of subject road.
(c) Hearing: Upon receipt of a valid petition for a road name change, the Town Council shall set a hearing date before the Street Committee allowing adequate notice to the affected public. Notice of the hearing shall be by first-class mail or hand delivered to all property owners of record, who own property on the road suggested for a name change. Notice should be given a minimum of ten (10) days prior to the hearing date. The Town Council may grant the request, deny the request, or hold the matter until a stated time and date for further consideration.
(d) Protests: Any person may appear in protest/or favor to the requested street name change at the hearing or submit written protests at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing.
(e) Street Name Map: When road name changes are adopted by the Street Commission and ratified by the Town Council they will automatically become part of the official (street) road name map. Adoption of this section will effectuate the official road name map(s). However, such road name change may not be shown immediately on the map until such amendments are made by the Street Commission on quarterly, bi-annual or annual updates to such map(s) as determined necessary by the Town Council.
(f) Effective Date: A road name change shall become effective within 60 days after the date of approval or upon appropriate signing unless a longer term is designated by the Town Council.
(Ord. 09-01. Passed 3-19-09.)