PURPOSE:

To provide guidelines and general information for the naming/renaming of municipal assets, including linear assets such as streets and trails, as well some non-linear assets such as parks.

DEFINITIONS:

1.0 STREET TYPES

1.1 The following are street designation descriptions:

1.1.1 Street (run in a north/south direction), Avenue (run in an east/west direction), Road, Boulevard For major thoroughfares of several blocks in length

1.1.2 Drive, Trail, Way For winding or curved streets

1.1.3 Terrace, Gardens, Grove, Heights For minor or short streets

1.1.4 Lane, Close For narrow streets generally used for service

1.1.5 Crescent For streets which form a crescent shape

1.1.6 Court, Place For cul-de-sacs

1.1.7 Circle For streets of a circular shape

1.1.8 Gate For a short street that provides an entrance to a subdivision

1.1.9 Square For streets of a square shape

1.1.10 North, South, East, West, Upper, Lower For a newly created street that is an extension of an existing street that cannot be renamed

POLICY:

2.0 CRITERIA FOR NAMING/RENAMING OF MUNICIPAL ASSETS

2.1 Municipal assets should generally be named after people, places, events and things related to the Town and citizens of View Royal. Proposed names should meet one of the following criteria:

• 2.1.1 to honour and commemorate noteworthy persons associated with the Town;
• 2.1.2 to commemorate local history, places, events or culture;
• 2.1.3 to strengthen neighbourhood identity;
• 2.1.4 to recognize native wildlife, flora, fauna or natural features related to the community and the Town.

2.2 Names of living persons will only be used in exceptional circumstances.

2.3 Only a person’s last name will be used.

2.4 Names will be used, as far as possible, within the geographic areas with which they are associated.

2.5 Names will be reasonably easy to spell and pronounce.

2.6 Names will have no adverse connotations including discriminatory or derogatory.

2.7 Names will not duplicate an existing asset either in the Town of View Royal or in the Capital Regional District.

2.8 Fragmented linear assets will be given separate names for the different sections unless there is a Council approved plan to develop the asset into a continuous linear asset.

2.9 Similar sounding names such as Beach Avenue/ Peach Avenue or Apple Hill Road/ Apple Road will not be accepted.

2.10 The re-use of former asset names will not be accepted.

2.11 Names should vary and not depend on the designation for differentiation (for example, Smith Lane, Smith Park, Smith Street are not acceptable).

2.12 The naming or renaming of a municipal asset to a corporate or business name will not be considered.

2.13 The naming or renaming of a municipal asset will not be through a naming rights agreement.

3.0 RENAMING OF A MUNICIPAL ASSET

In addition to the criteria in section 2.0 that must be adhered to, the following must also be observed for the renaming of a municipal asset:

3.1 Generally, once established, names of municipal assets should not be changed. Renaming will only be considered when:

• 3.1.1 renaming would generally improve the Town’s administration of essential services; or
• 3.1.2 it would be in the public interest.

3.2 A non-refundable fee of $500 must be provided to the Town for municipal costs that the renaming would incur. Such costs include, but are not limited to: signage (public signage will be to Town specifications and will be supplied and installed by the Town at the applicant’s cost); GIS services; re-creation of mapping; required changes to emergency services information; notifications to impacted agencies; and administrative costs. 20% of the non-refundable fee will be required to accompany the application while the remaining 80% will be payable within one week of an approved renaming application.

3.3 If the application is approved, the applicant is responsible to pay for any and all costs, including but not limited to: Town costs that exceed the $500 fee described in section 3.2; private signage as required; and change of address notifications for all impacted properties (if applicable).

3.4 A Town-initiated renaming is exempt from sections 3.2 and 3.3.

4.0 APPLICATIONS

4.1 Applications for naming or renaming a municipal asset – either linear or non-linear – may be made by property owners and/or residents. With respect to linear assets only, applicants must be a property owner and/or resident that is adjacent to the subject linear asset.

4.2 Non-property owners and non-residents can only submit a naming or renaming application for non-linear assets.

4.3 Applications for naming or renaming a municipal asset are to be made in writing to the Development Services Department (application attached as Schedule “A” to this Policy).

4.4 The application should include the proposed name/names; the specific location (a map or sketch may be useful); and a brief but complete background on the proposed name/names, including a description of the name’s compatibility with this Policy.

4.5 Names may also be selected from a list maintained by the Development Services Department (attached as Schedule “B” to this Policy).

4.6 In the case of a renaming application, the application must also include a petition with names, addresses and signatures of all the persons who reside on and/or own property that fronts or is adjacent to the subject municipal asset (petition form attached as Schedule “C” to this Policy). A map that highlights the impacted properties must also be provided. Staff will only accept a renaming application where there is full support of the application by all impacted parties, as determined by the applicant-provided petition.

4.7 Complete applications will be circulated by the Development Services Department to the parties deemed appropriate for review and consideration of suitability.

4.8 Once all referral comments have been obtained, a report will be forwarded to Council for consideration. Council reserves the right to make the final decision on the naming and renaming of municipal assets. (Note: Provincial legislation requires that street names be established by bylaw).

4.9 Private roads do not fall within the purview of Council though developers will be provided with a copy of this Policy to assist in their name selection.

5.0 NAME SUGGESTIONS

5.1 To suggest a name for consideration to the list maintained by the Development Services Department (attached as Schedule “B” to this Policy), applications are to be made on Schedule “A”.

5.2 Name suggestions will be accepted from all sources – regardless of property-ownership or residency status, including societies, organizations, and individuals.

5.3 There is no charge to suggest a name though the criteria of section 2.0 applies and Council will make the final determination as to whether this Policy will be amended to add the suggested name to the Schedule “B” list.

DISTRIBUTION:

Electronic file Y:\Administration\0340 Circulars, Directives, Orders, Manuals, Policies\50 Policies and procedures\Policies - Final\6400 – Planning and Town of View Royal website.