Planning & Development Report: ADDRESSING BYLAW No. 825 INTRODUCTION
A report introducing a new bylaw to regulate street naming and civic addressing for emergency services and public interest.
Planning & Development Report
TO: Council DATE: February 14, 2012 FROM: James Davison MCIP, Planning Technician MEETING DATE: February 21, 2012
ADDRESSING BYLAW No. 825 INTRODUCTION
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT Council consider approval of the Addressing Bylaw No. 825 as attached to the report from the Planning Technician at the February 21, 2012 Council meeting.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:
I concur with the recommendation.
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES’ COMMENTS:
I concur with the recommendation.
BACKGROUND:
It has come to staff's attention, through a number of recent staff-initiated civic address changes and subsequent resident objections, that there is no clear enabling provincial legislation or Town-enacted bylaw to regulate these actions. The Addressing Bylaw (attached) has been drafted in response to staff's need to have a formal mechanism for regulate street naming, street addressing (posted addresses on buildings) and civic addressing (legal parcel addresses).
ISSUES AND ANALYSIS:
It is staff's opinion that they must have the ability to work internally to ensure a logical pattern of civic addressing, and that addresses are properly posted on property to reflect these civic addresses. Staff requires the power to create and make changes to civic addresses for the purpose of community legibility as it pertains to Fire and Emergency Medical Services response, and also in improving the efficiency of the municipality in filling community needs and acting in the public interest. Any delay in emergency services locating a residence, property or building can have severe and life-threatening consequences. Additionally, residents request changes to their civic addresses for reasons of legibility or convenience. These have historically been handled at a staff level.
This bylaw addresses all naming and addressing functions the municipality must fill, including granting the Director of Development Services the power to:
- assign civic addresses to newly created lots upon the registration of a plan of subdivision;
- change civic addresses for existing lots as a matter of public interest and safety;
- approve resident applications to change civic addresses of lots;
- ensure street addresses are correctly, clearly and legibly displayed; and
- provide warnings and issue fines for non-compliance in posting correctly, clearly and legibly displayed street addresses.
Staff has inquired with the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and confirmed that the Town has the power to enact a bylaw for such purposes.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS:
This bylaw will formalize a function staff has been fulfilling at the Town, and will serve to create a safer and more efficient system of Fire and Emergency Medical Services for the Town. This bylaw abides by and promotes existing Town policies with respect to public health and safety.
BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS:
The budget considerations in the enacting of this bylaw are minimal; it is hoped that this will be a cost-saving measure for the Town by reducing staff and Council's time and resources in dealing with objections to staff-initiated addressing changes.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION:
THAT Council receive this report for information.
THAT Council request changes to the bylaw in advance of approval.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT Council consider approval of the Addressing Bylaw No. 825 as attached to the report from the Planning Technician at the February 21, 2012 Council meeting.
SUBMITTED BY: James Davison, MCIP, Planning Technician
REVIEWED BY: Lindsay Chase, MCIP, Director of Development Services
ATTACHMENTS
- Addressing Bylaw, February 14 2012
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