Chapter 19.63 — STREET NAMING REQUIREMENTS

The city council finds that street naming review is required for public and private streets to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the city and to provide the development of a greater sense of place for all citizens within the city.

(Code 1972, § 19.63.010; Ord. No. 1109, 6-2003)

The planning commission shall be empowered to approve, conditionally approve or deny street naming proposals subject to the findings stated in this chapter.

(Code 1972, § 19.63.020; Ord. No. 1109, 6-2003)

No building permit or certificate of occupancy shall be issued before a street name proposal has been approved. Accordingly, no person shall commence any new use or intensify any existing use until a street name proposal has been approved.

(Code 1972, § 19.63.030; Ord. No. 1109, 6-2003)

As a condition of granting street name approval, the planning commission shall find that the following exists:

(1)

Choice of names. Names chosen are related to the scale and location of a project.

a.

Objectives. Names should be pleasant sounding, appropriate, easy to read (so that the public, and children in particular, can handle the name in an emergency situation), and should add to pride of home ownership.

b.

Categories. Large developments are to use a single, significant category of names to assist in location of streets. Small subdivisions should use the same category as the surrounding or adjacent area, which helps to establish neighborhood identification.

c.

Unacceptable street names. Unacceptable street names shall include numerical names (1st, 2nd, etc.); alphabetical letter (A, B, C, etc.); surnames of living persons (pioneer families, etc., excluded); frivolous, complicated or undesirable names as determined by the planning commission; unconventional spelling and compound names (use sparingly and not on short streets).

(2)

Suffixes. Unnecessary affixes are to be avoided. Terms that may be utilized are:

a.

"East," "West," "North," and "South," indicating direction.

b.

Street suffixes shall be applied, based upon discretion of the planning commission, in conformance with the definitions shown below.

Suffix Spanish Description Variation

Avenue Avenida A roadway or thoroughfare that is contiguous and not limited to a single subdivision

Boulevard A roadway or thoroughfare with a landscaped median that is contiguous and not limited to a single subdivision

Circle Circulo A horseshoe or crescent shaped street that begins and ends on a major street

Court Corte A permanently dead-end street or cul-de-sac not longer than 660 feet in length

Cove Ensenada A permanently dead-end street or cul-de-sac not longer than 660 feet in length

Drive Carreterra A curvilinear street

Gate A short street that provides entrance to a subdivision

Lane Calle A minor street within a subdivision

Loop A horseshoe or crescent shaped street that begins and ends on a major street

Parkway A thoroughfare designated as a collector or arterial with a landscaped median

Place Lugar A permanently dead-end street, cul-de-sac or short through street none of which are longer than 660 feet

Road Camino A designated thoroughfare

Street A common or default suffix

Trail A curvilinear street with a rural connotation

Way Via A curvilinear street

(3)

Name duplication. Similar sounding names are considered to be duplicative regardless of spelling. No duplication of names is permitted within the projected service area of a United States post office or of local public agencies such as fire and police departments. Where ever possible, the avoidance of duplication should be countywide because of future urbanization.

(4)

Continuity.

a.

A continuous street, or one proposed to be made continuous, should bear the same name throughout, even though it changes directions. If it is interrupted by a channel, freeway, railroad, etc., and eventual connection is not probable, the segments shall bear different names. Notwithstanding the above, loop or U- shaped streets which require two names to avoid duplication of house numbers may be accepted from the continuity provisions. In these cases, the utilization of an appropriate affix may be allowed.

b.

No separate name is to be used for cul-de-sacs that provide street frontage for three or less lots or units. The name shall be the same as that of the intersecting street. However, where there is a series of long and short cul-de-sacs, all should have separate names.

(5)

Street name signs. Street name signs, approved by the director of public works, shall be installed by the subdivider at the intersection of all streets and highways and at such other locations as may be determined to be necessary by the director of public works.

(Code 1972, § 19.63.040; Ord. No. 1109, 6-2003)

After approval of a tentative and parcel map, the subdivider shall submit a street naming proposal application to the department of planning and community development of the city. There shall be ten copies of a map that shall contain the following:

(1)

A map of the overall tract illustrating street layout and the name proposed for each street.

(2)

An alphabetical list of the proposal street names, together with three alternative names for each name proposed.

(Code 1972, § 19.63.050; Ord. No. 1109, 6-2003)

The planning commission or director of planning and community development shall review the street name proposal application for conformance with the city's general plan, zoning, applicable specific plan regulations and the criteria in chapter 19.63. Before an application is accepted and approved as complete, the applicant may be required to clarify, correct or otherwise supplement the information contained in the application.

(Code 1972, § 19.63.060; Ord. No. 1109, 6-2003)

The director of the planning and community development department shall review the proposed street name proposal for duplication of names, and for overall compliance with this chapter. Upon completing the review, the director of planning and community development or his designee may distribute the proposal to the county transportation department for review and comment. Distribution shall also be made to the city's engineering, public works, and police department for review and comment. Upon receipt of comments or recommendations from the county road and survey department and any reviewing city department, the city's planning and community development department shall prepare a report which incorporates any responses, and shall forward the proposal to the planning commission for consideration.

(Code 1972, § 19.63.070; Ord. No. 1109, 6-2003)

A fee assessed by the county transportation department in connection with review of street naming proposals, pursuant to the application processing section, shall accompany the application for a street naming proposal review. The fees assessed by the county transportation department and fees assessed for processing of street name applications may be set and adjusted by resolution of the city council.

(Code 1972, § 19.63.080; Ord. No. 1109, 6-2003)

Street name proposals shall expire two years after the date of initial approval by the planning commission. The submittal of revisions to a street name proposal shall not extend the expiration date specified in this chapter.

(Code 1972, § 19.63.090; Ord. No. 1109, 6-2003)