Cobourg · Place Name Policy of Canada | CEMVC · Center for Early Modern Visual Culture

objectid

ontario_cobourg

format

record

Settlement Name

Cobourg

Province, Territory, or State

Ontario

Country

Canada

Has Policy?

Yes

Policy

OBJECTIVES 2.1 The Town of Cobourg shall have the authority to name any municipally owned property and the name shall be based upon a criteria established by this policy. The main objectives of this policy shall include:
• To continue the current practice of naming municipal property, buildings and parks after significant geographical, neighbourhood and historical elements.
• To recognize, on an exceptional basis, significant contributions that organizations or individuals have made to public life and the well-being of the residents of Cobourg.
• To provide direction on how to apply for approval to name, rename or dedicate a municipal street, park, or facility.
• To ensure the application of a defined consultation process to encourage community/public participation through public engagement.
• ensure proper approval process and the importance of the role of Municipal Council and Advisory Committee's approval and support;
• ensure a clear, efficient and timely naming process;
• ensure the application of key criteria to determine the validity of a name;
• ensure that all municipal streets, municipally-owned parks and facilities are easily identifiable;
• ensure that the given names of municipal streets, municipally-owned parks and facilities are consistent with the values and character of the area or neighbourhood served;
• encourage the dedication of lands, facilities or donations by individuals, business, developers and/or groups. 3. NAMING PRINCIPLES 3.1 When a municipal street, facility, or park is named, renamed or dedicated, the following principles shall be applied when a name is being considered:
• names should give a sense of place, continuity, belonging and celebrate the distinguishing characteristics and uniqueness of the Town of Cobourg;
• names should promote civic pride in the Town of Cobourg, acknowledge local cultural heritage, history and recognize unique features and geography (such as names that relate to local history, places, and events, native wildlife and natural features or unique characteristics of a neighbourhood or area.)
• the rationale associated with the use of particular names shall be understandable to the majority of Town of Cobourg residents.
• names may recognize the contributions of organizations such as a partnerships with or without financial contributions. 3.2 Priority shall be given to naming, renaming or dedicating a municipal street, facility, or park after:
• the area or street in which the property or building is located to provide a geographical association to help the public to locate a park, bridge, neighbourhood or building more easily;
• an historical name related to the Town of Cobourg's cultural heritage and/or history;
• an organization or individual to recognize particular activities and significant contributions to the community, and/or outstanding contributions and/or sponsorships made toward the development and/or enhancement of a property or building. 4. PROCESSES 4.1 The naming of municipal parks, streets, and facilities and other municipal assets may involve a different process which will depend on the circumstances surrounding the request/requirement for naming. A. Naming a Municipal Street
• The process for naming of new municipal streets shall occur as part of the final subdivision/development approval process and prior to the Town of Cobourg acquiring title to the lands as a road allowance. The process for re-naming an existing municipal street shall begin once the Town of Cobourg has received a written request which includes the background and rationale for considering the street name change, as per the criteria established by this policy. The Cobourg Planning Department receives a written request by the proponent or developer for a name(s) which includes the proposed municipal street name(s) and an explanation of the significance of the name. In the absence of a submission for consideration of a name by the developer or proponent, Planning Department staff will provide the Coordinator of Planning and Development Services with the names available for use as recommended by municipal staff for the specific municipal street(s). The proposed street name(s) will then be included in the Planning Departments report to Council as part of the subdivision/development final approval process or municipal street re-naming process as the case may be.
• Conditions of property donation and/or property improvements or development as agreed upon by the donor/developer and the Town shall be honoured regarding the naming of the municipal street(s) subject to this policy and final approval by Council resolution.
• Processing of an application for a municipal street name request involves confirmation criteria including; submission of relevant background justification by the developer or proponent, discussion with the developer or proponent, discussion with and review by Cobourg municipal staff, including emergency services, and the Cobourg Heritage Advisory Committee where deemed necessary (within the Heritage Districts), and consultation with the Council Coordinator of Planning and Development Services. The Planning Department shall inform the developer or the proponent if the name is known to conflict with existing street names or is otherwise unacceptable to any of the parties consulted and shall provide a reason why the name is not acceptable. Commemorative municipal street name(s) shall be the responsibility of the Planning Department and the Town of Cobourg. Where a request for a commemorative street name has been made, the name shall be evaluated through the criteria and evaluation process of this policy and the processing may include consultation with additional stakeholders as deemed necessary. B. Naming of a Municipal Park or Facility
• The process for naming of municipal parks or facilities should begin when the Town of Cobourg acquires titles to lands or within twelve (12) months after the Town has acquired titles to lands and once the lands have developed into a park or facility.
• Proposed park and facility names are either: 1. Specific to a particular park or facility site (as in the case of the development of a new park or the renaming of an existing park); or 2. Generic park or facility names not related to a specific site.
• Where proposed names are site specific, staff shall undertake to weigh the significance of the proposed name against the policy guidelines for park or facility naming, as well as against those names contained in the parks name listing as maintained by the Recreation and Culture Division.
• All requests for naming municipal parks or facilities are to be submitted in writing and by completing the Naming Application Form as attached to this policy as Schedule "A" to Cobourg Recreation and Culture Division and providing sufficient information as to how the proposed name satisfies the criteria pursuant to the policy. Adequate historical or descriptive information shall be provided to validate the proposed name, in order for Recreation and Culture Division Staff to have a clear understanding and appreciation for the request. In the absence of a submission for consideration of a name for a municipal park or facility, Recreation and Culture Division Staff will provide the Coordinator of Parks and Recreation Services the names as recommended by Municipal Staff for the specific park or facility.
• Where proposed names are site specific, staff shall undertake to weigh the significance of the proposed name against the policy guidelines for municipal park or facility naming, as well as against those considered in the parks name listing inventory as maintained and updated by the Recreation and Culture Division.
• Processing the application involves confirmation of criteria, discussion with the applicable town departments/external stakeholders, including emergency services, and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee in consultation with the Coordinator of Parks and Recreation Services.
• Each application/nomination will be reviewed and evaluated initially by Cobourg Recreation and Culture Division Staff, and each application/nomination that meets the policy requirements will be submitted to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee for review.
• The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee shall review all applications and nominations for municipal park or facility names as forwarded by the Recreation and Culture Division. The Committee shall recommend a name to be forwarded to Council for approval by a committee motion based on the criteria as outlined within this policy.
• When a name is recommended for approval, a report shall be drafted by municipal the Recreation and Culture Division Staff outlining the process that was conducted and the applications received containing the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee recommendation for the municipal park or facility name.
• Once the recommendation is submitted, Council may approve the name through a formal resolution which will confirm the official naming of a municipal park or facility within the Town of Cobourg. The applicant that submitted the official nomination for the name will be notified of Council's decision. 5. COMMEMORATIVE NAMING 5.1 Where the commemorative naming of a municipal street, facility, or park, is being requested, only one of the following criteria shall apply:
• the nominated individual shall have demonstrated excellence, courage or exceptional service to the citizens of the Town of Cobourg, the Province of Ontario, and/or Canada, including past Mayor's and veterans of military conflicts;
• a direct relationship or association that existed between the place of residence and the community efforts undertaken by an individual and the property, building or element to be named;
• an individual may be recognized for a significant financial contribution to a park or facility, where that contribution significantly benefits the community that the park or facility serves, in accordance with the Municipal Sponsorship Policy. 5.2 Where the name of an individual/organization is used, approval shall be obtained from the individual (his/her family) or the organization for such naming. 5.3 The names of municipal parks, streets, and facilities, as well as major elements of such municipal assets named commemoratively should not be changed unless it is found that the individual's personal character is or was such that the continuous use of their name for a park, street, or facility would not be in the best interest of the community. 5.4 The following criteria shall be used in determining the appropriateness of the municipal street naming designation: a) Person who served as a Mayor in the Town of Cobourg; b) Fallen World War 1, World War 2 and Boer War veterans (as endorsed by the Cobourg Legion); c) Fallen Canadian Armed Forces Service Personnel; d) A person, developer, group, or feature particularly identified with the land or a nearby facility; and e) Local names of cultural or historical significance, to the community (as endorsed by the Cobourg Heritage Committee). 6. EXEMPTIONS This Policy is not intended to address:
• Individual memorial dedications such as commemorative benches, trees or plaques.
• Naming Rights/Sponsorships opportunities addressed under the Town of Cobourg Sponsorship Policy. or
• The naming of Town owned facilities leased to commercial tenants.

Contact Info

khearst@cobourg.ca

Policy Score

61