TITLE
HOLD a public hearing and consider a memorandum/resolution approving the addition of an honorary street designation of “Bishop Nate Holcomb Mem. Blvd.” to Cunningham Road signs.
SUMMARY
DATE: December 10, 2019
TO: Kent Cagle, City Manager
FROM: Tony McIlwain, Interim Exec. Dir. of Planning and Dev. Services
SUBJECT: HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER A REQUEST TO ADD AN HONORARY DESIGNATION OF BISHOP NATE HOLCOMB MEM. BLVD. TO CUNNINGHAM ROAD SIGNS
Background and Findings:
City staff has received an application for a dual street name of "Bishop Nate Holcomb Mem. Blvd." to be added to all existing Cunningham Road signs located between Little Nolan Road and Stagecoach Road. The purpose of the honorary street name is to pay homage to a long standing community and religious leader, the late Bishop Nathaniel Holcomb, of Christian House of Prayer. Currently, Cunningham Road is an existing public road that runs north from its intersection with Little Nolan Road, south to Stagecoach Road. Cunningham Road is classified as a minor arterial on the City’s adopted Thoroughfare Plan. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) has chosen to not approve the addition of the honorary street name to the signs within the state controlled rights-of-way at the intersection of W. Stan Schlueter Loop and Cunningham Roads. They have authorized the change to the existing shoulder mounted route signs. The staff has provided public notification in accordance with the processing requirements of Killeen Code of Ordinances Section 25-121.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
Article IV, Chapter 25 of the Killeen Code of Ordinances provides a process for street name changes. Section 25-118 of this Chapter specifies that “Applications for a street name change may be considered for any one (1) of the following reasons, which must be specified in the application:
(1) To establish continuity of the street’s name;
(2) To eliminate name spelling duplication, phonetic duplication, or misspelling;
(3) To bring coherence to the street numbering designation (east, west, north, south);
(4) To provide necessary roadway designation (Street, Road, Lane, Circle, Drive, Boulevard, and similar designations);
(5) To honor a person, place, institution, group, entity, event or similar subject;
(6) To enhance a neighborhood through association of the street name with its location, area characteristics, history and similar factors.
Killeen Code of Ordinances Section 25-119, Application for Petition, lists the following criteria:
(a) An application for a change of the name of a street may be filed by any person, group, firm or agency with the department of planning and economic development in the form of a petition signed by not fewer than fifty (50) percent of all owners, or owner's attorney-in-fact of property abutting the subject street. "Owners" of such abutting property shall be determined by the then current city real property ad valorem tax roll.
(b) The application shall state the present official name of the city street, the proposed new name, and the name and address of each person, group, agency or entity requesting the street name change; a statement of reason or reasons from among those listed above, claimed for such a name change; and the person, group, agency or entity responsible for payment of the city's costs for installing standard city street name signs.
The street name petition is not signed by at least fifty (50) percent of all owners of property abutting the subject street, and therefore, does not meet the code requirements for a street name change. The City could approve the addition of an honorary designation to certain street signs without changing the actual street name. Since approval of the addition of an honorary designation would not change the street name, local mailing addresses would not be affected.
THE ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
Which alternative is recommended?
The City Council may:
• disapprove the dual street name change petition;
• approve of the dual street name change petition; or
• approve the addition of an honorary designation of "Bishop Nate Holcomb Mem. Blvd." to certain shoulder mounted route signs on Cunningham Road.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the addition of an honorary designation of "Bishop Nate Holcomb Mem. Blvd." to certain signs on Cunningham Road.
CONFORMITY TO CITY POLICY:
This request for a street name change does not conform to the City’s policy and procedures as detailed in Chapter 25 of the Killeen Code of Ordinances, in that it is not signed by fifty (50) percent of all property owners abutting Cunningham Road. However, addition of an honorary designation without changing the street name would not require a petition signed by fifty (50) percent of all abutting owners.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
What is the amount of the expenditure in the current fiscal year? For future years?
This request does not involve the expenditure of city funds; however the applicant will be responsible for all costs associated with the replacement and installation of new street signs for the sixteen (16) existing locations. The City of Killeen Public Works Department- Streets Division estimates that the total project will cost approximately $3,869. The applicant has accepted financial responsibility of the project should the City Council approve the honorary designation of “Bishop Nate Holcomb Mem. Blvd.” to the Cunningham Road signs.
Is this a one-time or recurring expenditure?
This will be a one-time expenditure by the applicant.
Is this expenditure budgeted?
This is not applicable.
If not, where will the money come from?
This is not applicable.
Is there a sufficient amount in the budgeted line-item for this expenditure?
This is not applicable.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the addition of an honorary designation of "Bishop Nate Holcomb Mem. Blvd." to certain signs on Cunningham Road.
Planning staff notified multiple City departments and other governmental entities. To date, staff has received no protests with the exception of the Texas Department of Transportation.
DEPARTMENTAL CLEARANCES:
This item has been reviewed by the Planning and Legal staff.
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
Request
Map
Proposed Sign and Locations
Responses