Coaldale Street Naming Policy:
POLICY STATEMENT: Street names are critical for municipal addressing and emergency response purposes. This Policy establishes criteria to name or rename a street or assign a ceremonial name to a Street
CRITERIA FOR NAMING OR RENAMING A STREET OR ASSIGNING A CERAMONIAL NAME TO A STREET: a. The Town will consider proposals for street naming but is under no obligation to accept a proposal to name, or rename a street, or assign a ceremonial name to a Street. b. Street names, including ceremonial Street names should portray a strong positive image and have historical, cultural or social significance or contributions to the community, the Town, the Province of Alberta or Canada. c. Street names shall not impair the ability of First Responders to respond to emergencies or impair the Town’s ability to deliver services. d. Streets that have been named, renamed, or assigned a ceremonial name within the previous ten years will not be renamed. e. Suffixes for Street names are assigned by Infrastructure Services to ensure the appropriate suffix is used to describe the type, function, length and configuration of the Street. f. All Town costs involved in renaming a Street shall be the responsibility of the individual requesting a street name or renaming or ceremonial name. g. Street names, including ceremonial names, shall not: i. Result in, or be perceived to confer, any competitive advantage, benefit or preferential treatment or advertisement to the named party, or a development, product, service or a particular business; ii. Be or be perceived to be discriminatory or derogatory of race, colour, ethnic origin, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, creed, political affiliation, disability or other social factors; iii. Result in inappropriate abbreviations or acronyms; iv. Duplicate or be similar sounding to an existing Street name; v. Place the Town in conflict with any agreements established in the acquisition or management of the street; and vi. Make a direct or indirect reference to recent events or recently deceased individuals, except where the event or the individual had a legacy or significant contribution to the Town of Coaldale. Names of recent events or recently deceased individual may be considered after two years. h. Street signs must comply with the Town’s corporate identity and the physical location of the sign shall be determined by the Town. i. Naming or renaming a Street, or assigning a ceremonial name to a Street, on behalf of an individual, event, or an organization requires the written consent of the named party or the named party's representative. i. In circumstances where consent has not been received, despite reasonable efforts, the Town, in absence of any refusal to provide consent or legal concerns, may approve the name if the applicant is able to demonstrate efforts to obtain consent to the satisfaction of the
NAMING AN UNNAMED TOWN STREET: A proposal to name an unnamed Street is to be made by written request through Infrastructure Services and at minimum is to include: a. The proposed name; b. Rationale for naming the Street; c. Documented support from property owners/ residents who directly abut the unnamed street or local community members and/or organizations, and d. A map or an illustration, including major intersections of the unnamed street. If the proposed name complies with this Policy, the Town shall give public notice on its intention to name the street including the proposed name in compliance with its Public Participation Policy. If the proposed name does not comply with this Policy, the Division Head of Infrastructure Services will report to Council;
RENAMING TOWN STREETS: A proposal to rename a Street is to be made by written request through Infrastructure Services and at minimum is to include: a. Rationale for changing the name and significance of the proposed name; b. Relevance of the proposed name to the Street; c. Documented support, including but not limited to petitions and support letters, from at least 75 percent of property owners that abut the street; and d. A map or an illustration, including major intersections of the street to be renamed. If the proposed name complies with this Policy, the Town will provide public notice on its intention to rename an existing street and the proposed name in compliance with the Town’s Public Participation Policy. If the proposed name does not comply with the Policy, the Division Head of Infrastructure Services will report to Town Council.
ASSIGNING A CEREMONIAL NAME TO A TOWN STREET: Assigning a ceremonial name to a street is symbolic and should be reserved for honouring individuals, events or organizations that have made a significant positive contribution to their local community, the Town of Coaldale, Alberta or Canada. Assigning a ceremonial name to a street needs to consider the impact of multiple signs on the street, the broader street network, and the public realm, to ensure that signage is not confusing to the public. A proposal to assign a ceremonial name to a Street is to be made by written request and at minimum is to include: i. The Street proposed for the ceremonial name; ii. Rationale and significance of the proposed name; iii. Relevance of the proposed name to the Street, community and Town; iv. Documented support from the local community, including but not limited to petitions and support letters; and v. A map or an illustration, including major intersections of the Street. The proposed name will be considered by Town Council in accordance with the criteria set out in this Policy. If the proposed name complies with this Policy, the Town will provide public notice on its intention to assign a ceremonial name and the proposed name in compliance with the Town’s Public Participation Policy. In circumstances, where a specific Street or location is not identified, Infrastructure Services will provide Street location options in a report to Council.
Statement from senior town planner:
"We do not have a 'name bank' as such. Historically, western settlements have adopted the simple numeric naming formula (i.e. 1st Street/Ave, 2nd Street/Ave, etc). This naming convention aligns very well with the grid system street network that is the prevailing urban development pattern for prairie communities.
Typically the numbering will be centred on a main thoroughfare which was often the railroad. You can see this in many southern Alberta communities which have a 'Railway Avenue', 'Main Street' or 'Centre Street' that is usually located adjacent to the historic rail line.
With regards to new development, our naming conventions are oftentimes tied to the specific subdivision. For example: the streets within the 'Parkside Acres' subdivision in Coaldale are 'Parkside Green', 'Parkside Drive', and 'Parkside Way'. Streets within the 'Cottonwood Estates' are named after different types of trees (i.e. Aspen Drive, Cedar Crescent, Elm Place, etc.). These names may be proposed by the developer, but must be ultimately approved by the Town Council.
In terms of place naming, there are a few possible methods:
- the place is named for a benefactor, donor or sponsor (i.e. Kinship Park for the Kinsmen Club of Coaldale)
- the place is named by the developer when they plan a subdivision for the area (i.e. Cottonwood Park is within the Cottonwood Estates subdivision)'"
