Chapter 4.22
STREET NAMES AND NUMBERING
Sections:
4.22.040 Street names.
4.22.060 Numbering.
4.22.080 Maps and street markers.
4.22.120 Renaming streets.
4.22.140 Assignment of addresses.
4.22.400 Appeals.
4.22.440 No property interest in street names.
4.22.040 Street names.
A. Definitions. The following words or phrases, whenever used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless where used the context clearly indicates to the contrary:
1. “Alley” means a public way-of-travel 20 feet or less in width not designated or improved for general travel and used as a means of secondary access or to the rear of residential, business or other property.
2. “Avenue” means a way-of-travel that runs generally east and west.
3. “Boulevard” means a way-of-travel that meanders and crosses several grids separated by a maintained planting area.
4. “Circle” means a way-of-travel not lining up on the grid of the official map that is less than 2,500 feet and begins and returns back to end on itself at a point on the access road greater than 500 feet from the point where the access road begins. The access road shall be considered part of the way-of-travel.
5. “City” means the city of Ellensburg.
6. “Committee” means the street naming committee which shall meet on an as-needed basis to decide appeals herein and/or as directed by the council. The committee shall establish and adopt its own rules of procedure necessary to conduct its business and shall select from among its membership a chairperson. A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business. The committee shall consist of one individual from each of the following:
a. Ellensburg fire department;
b. Ellensburg police department;
c. Ellensburg public works department;
d. Kittitas County public works department;
e. Kittitas County community development department;
f. Fire District No. 2;
g. KITTCOM;
h. U.S. Post Office;
i. Kittitas County sheriff's department;
j. Central Washington Home Builder's Association;
k. Ellensburg resident appointed by the city manager;
l. Ellensburg city council;
m. Central Washington University.
7. “Court” means a way-of-travel less than 500 feet in length ending in a dead end or cul-de-sac.
8. “Council” means the Ellensburg city council.
9. “County” means Kittitas County.
10. “Department” means the department of public works for the city.
11. “Designate” means to name a way-of-travel whether by name or number.
12. “Drive” means an irregular or diagonal way-of-travel over 500 feet in length.
13. “Lane” means a minor way-of-travel within a subdivision.
14. “Loop” means a way-of-travel not longer than block designations in ECC Title 12 relating to subdivisions, that begins and ends on the same way-of-travel.
15. “Official map” means the city of Ellensburg street name and number designation map on file with the department of public works.
16. “Place” means a way-of-travel under 500 feet long ending in a dead end or cul-de-sac.
17. “Road” means a way-of-travel that heretofore has been designated as a road.
18. “Street” means a way-of-travel that runs generally north and south.
19. “Way” means an irregular or diagonal way-of-travel over 500 feet in length.
20. “Way-of-travel” means a roadway of whatever sort, including but not limited to avenues, streets, boulevards, circles, courts, drives, lanes, loops, places, and ways, which is capable of carrying vehicular traffic.
B. Official Map. The names of ways-of-travel within the city, together with area quadrants for street numbering purposes, are fixed according to the provisions detailed on the official map and are incorporated into this section by reference.
C. New Ways-of-Travel. Newly created ways-of-travel within the city shall be named as follows:
1. The use of directional suffices is strongly discouraged.
2. Every way-of-travel shall be assigned one (and only one) way-of-travel type.
3. Ways-of-travel running primarily east and west or primarily north and south shall be named consistent with the established grid name on the official map to the extent that the way-of-travel is longer than 500 feet and lines up on the grid within 120 feet. Exceptions may be made in the following circumstances:
a. Ways-of-travel that will not connect with an established way-of-travel due to natural or unnatural obstructions.
b. Ways-of-travel that run for a substantial distance on a diagonal and therefore cross several of the existing ways-of-travel.
c. When there is clear reason why using a grid name would cause confusion.
4. Ways-of-travel lining up with the established grid within 120 feet that are less than 500 feet in length shall be permitted to be issued a new name; however, should the way-of-travel eventually link or connect with another way-of-travel, it will be subject to being renamed at the discretion of the department consistent with the restrictions and guidelines herein.
5. Where a way-of-travel is continuous, the same name shall be used along its entire length.
6. Way-of-travel names shall change on a continuous way-of-travel when the east-west vs. north-south orientation changes approximately 90 degrees. A directional change of approximately 90 degrees shall mean a horizontal curve where a reduction in the designated speed is required. Such name breaks should occur at an intersection whenever possible.
7. Established ways-of-travel that are annexed into the city are subject to being renamed at the discretion of the department consistent with the restrictions and guidelines herein.
8. New names shall be subject to the following restrictions:
a. Use of names that are related to a particular business, developer, or property owner are discouraged and shall not be used in place of the primary street address. Such names are permitted to be used as a supplemental address if in compliance with U.S. Post Office standards. Exceptions may be made for names with historical significance if approved by the council.
b. The name may not duplicate an existing name in the county or the city except when used consistently with subsection (C)(2) of this section.
c. The name may not be used if the pronunciation sounds similar to an existing road name (e.g., Larson – Larsen, Cook – Cooke, Marion – Maryann).
d. The name may not be used if there exists another way-of-travel with the same name but different type (e.g., Maple Street and Maple Lane).
e. Names shall be limited to 13 characters with spaces. Suffixes will be abbreviated to save space and the whole spelling of the suffix will not be included in the number of characters permitted.
f. An initial or word suffix or prefix cannot be used with a surname.
g. Names shall not be inconsistent with the geographical location (e.g., Hilltop Lane would be inconsistent with a way-of-travel located in a valley).
h. Names shall not be possessive.
i. Names shall not contain a cardinal direction.
j. Names shall not contain profanity or be derogatory in nature.
k. Names shall be of the commonly acceptable spelling, according to a standard English dictionary.
l. Names shall not contain any punctuation or special characters. Letters and spaces shall be permitted.
D. Schedule of Changes, Amendments, Additions and Deletions.
1. Effective January 15, 2004, the continuous way-of-travel running primarily east and west within the city limits currently designated as Cascade Way, Eighth Avenue, Euclid Way, and Tenth Avenue shall be renamed University Way.
2. Effective January 15, 2004, the continuous way-of-travel running primarily north and south within the city limits currently designated as Main Street, and “A” Street shall be renamed Main Street. The way-of-travel currently designated Main Street and running south off of the way-of-travel currently designated Industrial Way and intersecting with Umptanum Road east of Canyon Road shall be renamed Industrial Way consistent with the contiguous way-of-travel.
3. Effective January 15, 2004, the way-of-travel currently designated as Helena Street primarily running east and west shall be renamed Helena Avenue.
4. Effective January 15, 2004, the way-of-travel currently designated as Illinois Street primarily running east and west shall be renamed Illinois Avenue.
5. Effective January 15, 2004, the way-of-travel currently designated as Idaho Street primarily running east and west shall be renamed Idaho Avenue.
6. Effective January 15, 2004, the way-of-travel currently designated as Regal Avenue primarily running north and south shall be renamed Regal Street.
7. Effective January 15, 2004, the way-of-travel currently designated as Wheaton Drive shall be renamed Wheaton Court. [Ord. 4365, 2003.]
4.22.060 Numbering.
A. All primary buildings such as single-family residences, apartments, retail stores, offices, warehouses, etc., built, constructed, rebuilt, or moved in the city shall be identified as to address by the placement of numerals which can be readily observed from the public right-of-way serving as access to such building and be consistent with the requirements of the ECC.
B. The numerals so used to designate the address of a building shall be permanently affixed to the building, or fence post, or other such accessory structure that is on the same property as the building and more visible from the right-of-way. Where a building number is assigned, upon issuance of a building permit, such number shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the front part of the lot before work on such building is commenced.
C. Numbers shall be issued as follows:
1. Numbering shall be consistent with the grid on the official map with the intersection of First Ave. and Pearl Street as the center point.
2. Numbers shall get bigger to the west and to the south based on the primary direction of the way-of-travel. Exceptions may be made for curvilinear streets; provided, that they are in compliance with respect to the general direction of the full way-of-travel.
3. Odd numbers shall be given to the buildings on the west and north sides of the streets and even numbers on the south and east sides of the streets. If a way-of-travel changes direction or runs on the diagonal, this standard shall be applied given the primary direction of the way-of-travel. Numbering shall begin on the southern or western point of origin of the way-of-travel.
4. Addresses on cul-de-sacs that are not given a separate name should be based on the numbering sequence and parity for the perpendicular way-of-travel that provides access to the cul-de-sac.
5. If there are two or more ways-of-travel with the same name but different type (e.g., Maple Street and Maple Lane), the same number may not be used on both ways-of-travel.
6. The department shall assign at least one full number for every platted lot and also a full number for approximately every 50 feet frontage in business lot or 100 feet frontage of residential lot of vacant ground, building, house, or structure. There shall be an assigned full number to an entrance leading directly from the street to occupancies. All numbers shall be assigned to meet the front door openings as nearly as possible.
7. Numbering of Multiple Unit Buildings.
a. For multiple units at one address, the units shall be addressed as follows: e.g., 1501 Chestnut No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, etc.
b. Where there is one building with more than one story and floor identification is desired or more than one one-story building with multiple units and building identification is desired, the units shall be addressed as follows: e.g., 1501 Chestnut No. 101, 102, 103, etc. (first floor or building 1); No. 201, 202, 203, etc. (second floor or building 2); No. 301, 302, 303, etc. (third floor or building 3).
The use of zeros may be eliminated if there are nine or fewer units on each floor or in each building.
c. Where there is more than one two-story building, and floor and building identification is desired, the units shall be addressed as follows: e.g., 1501 Chestnut No. 1101 through 1199 (building 1, first floor); No. 1201 through 1299 (building 1, second floor); No. 2101 through 2199 (building 2, first floor); No. 2201 through 2299 (building 2, second floor), etc.
The use of zeros may be eliminated if there are nine or fewer units on each floor in each building.
d. Numbering not designated herein shall be at the discretion of the department in accordance with the guidelines issued by the U.S. Postal Service. [Ord. 4365, 2003.]
4.22.080 Maps and street markers.
All maps and street markers shall hereafter describe the streets of Ellensburg in accordance with this chapter. The city shall not approve any proposed plat as an addition unless all proposed streets are designated in accordance with this chapter. [Ord. 2100 § 2, 1949.]
4.22.120 Renaming streets.
A. The city street one block south of First Avenue and appearing on the original recorded plats of Homestead, Santa Anna and Sunnyside Additions to Ellensburg as “Capital” Avenue and on Murray's Addition as “Spring” Street shall hereafter be designated and known as “Capital” Avenue, extending from the west city limits to the east city limits and as the city limits may hereafter be extended.
B. The street, a portion of which is now known as Washington Avenue, and a portion as Summer Street, shall be hereafter known as Washington Avenue for its entire length.
C. The street, a portion of which is now known as Tacoma Avenue and a portion as Winter Street, shall be hereafter known as Tacoma Avenue for its entire length.
D. The street from the north side of Ninth Street to the north city limits in the Tacoma Addition is herewith changed from Tacoma Avenue to Rainier Avenue.
E. The name of Walters Street is hereby changed to Lincoln Street.
F. The following portion of that certain street now known as Highland Drive is hereby changed to and shall be henceforth known as Cora Street: from the north side of that alley situated north of Eleventh Avenue to the south side of Fifteenth Avenue.
G. The following portion of that certain street now known as Tacoma Street is hereby changed to and shall be henceforth known as Rainier Street: from the north side of State Highway U.S. 10 to the north side of Twelfth Avenue.
H. The following portion of that certain street now known as Anderson Road is hereby changed to and shall be henceforth known as Railroad Avenue: from the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 2, Township 17 North, Range 18 East of the Willamette Meridian, to the south boundary of Electric Addition to the city of Ellensburg, Washington.
I. The following portion of that certain street now known as 14th Avenue is hereby changed to and shall be henceforth known as Brook Lane: from a point 10 feet south of Tax Lot 33, east side of Brook Lane, and extending north to the city limits of the city of Ellensburg as presently defined and limited, or as hereafter extended.
J. The following portion of that certain street now known as Lane Avenue is hereby changed to and shall be henceforth known as South Ruby Street: from the south city limits of the city of Ellensburg, as presently defined and limited or as hereafter extended, and extending north to Manitoba Avenue.
K. The following portion of that certain street now known as Illinois Street is hereby changed to and shall be henceforth known as 18th Avenue: from North “E” Street to Alder Street.
L. The following portion of that certain street now known as Kittitas Highway is hereby changed to and shall be henceforth known as Mountain View Avenue: from South Main Street to South Willow Street.
M. The following portion of that certain street now known as 14th Avenue is hereby changed to and shall be henceforth known as Dean Nicholson Boulevard: from “D” Street to Alder Street.
N. The following portion of that certain street now known as Damman Road is hereby changed to and shall be henceforth known as Umptanum Road: from the east end of Damman Road right-of-way to the west city limits.
O. The following portion of that certain street known as Brook Court lying within Schreiner's Subdivision, from Brook Lane to the centerline of Brook Court where the centerline turns and travels southwesterly, is hereby changed and shall henceforth be known as 17th Avenue.
P. The following portion of that certain street known as Brook Court lying within Brookside Circle Plat, from Brook Lane to the centerline of Brook Court where the centerline turns and travels southwesterly, is hereby changed and shall henceforth be known as 15th Avenue. [Ord. 3940 § 1, 1994; Ord. 3913 § 1, 1994; Ord. 3773 § 1, 1991; Ord. 2683 §§ 1 – 7, 1967; Ord. 2501 § 1, 1962; Ord. 982 § 1, 1931; Ord. 692 § 1, 1915.]
4.22.140 Assignment of addresses.
A. The department shall assign addresses at the time of issuance of building permits. The department shall then notify the U.S. Postal Service, corresponding fire district, and other appropriate agencies of such assignments.
B. Should the department find that any building, structure or premises is not provided with an address, is not correctly addressed, or is not using the correct address, the department shall notify the owner, agent or renter of the building, structure or premises of the correct address. The address shall be properly placed in accordance with this chapter by the effective date shown on the notice. It shall be unlawful for any owner, agent or renter to display, advertise or use the wrong address after notification by the department.
C. Whenever there is a doubt or difference of opinion as to the correct way-of-travel designation or correct address, the designation or address shall be determined by the department and shall be guided by the specific provisions of this chapter. [Ord. 4365, 2003.]
4.22.400 Appeals.
A. Appeals of Department Decisions to the Street Naming Committee.
1. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the department made under this chapter may appeal to the street naming committee by filing a written notice of appeal with the public works director. Such appeal shall identify the error or errors claimed to have been made in the department's decision and shall be filed with the public works director within 15 days after the department's decision has been issued.
2. Upon receipt of a timely written appeal, the committee shall schedule a time and place for a public hearing on the appeal. The time, date and place of the public hearing shall be communicated in writing to the appellant and the department. The parties shall be given not less than 10 days' notice of the hearing. At the hearing, any party may appear in person or by agent or attorney.
3. In considering the appeal, the committee may, so long as its decision is not in conflict with this chapter, affirm, deny, or modify, in whole or in part, the decision of the department. The decision of the committee shall be based upon relevant portions of the city code and other relevant city policies, the established public record upon which the department's decision is based, and the written and verbal testimony and argument presented at the hearing.
4. The decision of the committee shall be in writing and be mailed to the parties within 10 days of the conclusion of the hearing.
B. Appeals of the Street Naming Committee's Decision to the City Council. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the street naming committee may appeal to the city council by filing a written notice of appeal with the city clerk within 15 days after the date of the committee's written decision. The city council shall consider such appeal at a scheduled public meeting. Notice of the hearing shall be mailed to the appellant and department at least 10 days prior to the hearing. In considering the appeal, the council may affirm, deny, or modify, in whole or in part, the decision of the committee. [Ord. 4365, 2003.]
4.22.440 No property interest in street names.
The express purpose of this chapter is to provide for and promote the health, safety and welfare of the general public, and not to vest the owner, occupant or tenant of any property abutting a public way-of-travel, or any other particular class or group of persons, with any property interest of any nature or kind in the name of the way-of-travel. [Ord. 4365, 2003.]