Chapter 12.15
ADDRESSING
Sections:
12.15.030 Adoption and maintenance of “official address map.”
12.15.040 System generally – Matrix established.
12.15.050 Division of city into districts.
12.15.060 Numbering of lots and structures.
12.15.070 Size and placement of numbers.
12.15.090 Coordination with Douglas County.
12.15.100 Renaming streets by council, commission or petition.
12.15.110 Criteria for street name change.
12.15.120 Procedure for street name change.
12.15.140 Violation, penalty and abatement.
Legislative history: Ord. 717.
12.15.010 Short title.
This chapter shall be known as the addressing ordinance of the city of Myrtle Creek. [Ord. 544 § 1, 1985].
12.15.020 Purpose.
That there shall be a uniform system of numbering all residences, places of business and other buildings (excepting sheds and accessory buildings) opening upon or having access to a street within the city, the owner or occupant thereof shall place in a conspicuous place upon the main entrance, or at such other place as provided by MCMC 12.15.070, a number assigned thereto by the city. All public and private streets shall be given a name in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and as approved by the city council. [Ord. 544 § 2, 1985].
12.15.030 Adoption and maintenance of “official address map.”
The planning department shall assign all numbers for all structures, existing or hereafter erected within the city, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and shall prepare and maintain a map of the city whereon the numbers assigned to residences, buildings and premises are clearly indicated. This shall be kept up to date with the numbering and street naming that take place and shall be known as the “official address map of the city of Myrtle Creek.”
The official address map for the city of Myrtle Creek, as originally adopted by City Ordinance No. 544, is hereby amended to apply a street renaming of SE Weaver Avenue to SE Pete’s Avenue. [Ord. 544 § 3, 1985].
12.15.040 System generally – Matrix established.
For the purpose of assigning for buildings or premises situated within the corporate limits of the city as such limits now exist or may hereafter be extended, a grid system of numbering is established as shown by the addressing matrix on file in the planning department. Property numbers shall consist of the assigned structure number, the district prefix (or North/South prefix for Main St.), the proper name of the street such lot or structure faces and the appropriate suffix.
Numbers shall be assigned on a frontage basis proportionate to the length of the grid section with each structure or lot receiving the number nearest to the entrance to the structure or center of the lot, whichever appears to be most practical.
The allocation of numbers for all addresses shall commence at each base line, beginning with 100 and progressing to the larger number following the grid pattern indicated on the addressing matrix. Numbering easterly and westerly shall commence at the division line between the northeast and northwest districts and the division line between the southeast and southwest districts. Numbering northerly and southerly shall commence at the intersection of First Avenue and Main Street, all as shown by the addressing matrix on file in the planning department. [Ord. 544 § 4, 1985].
12.15.050 Division of city into districts.
To indicate the general location of any street, all street signs and addresses shall indicate the district in which the street or portion thereof or address indicated is located, which indication of district shall appear as a prefix to the name of the street, avenue or public or private way (abbreviations may be used for this purpose). The following prefixes shall apply:
(1) Except as designated for Main Street in subsection (2) of this section, each street shall bear the prefix of the quadrant in which it wholly or partly appears as follows:
(a) Northeast District (N.E.). That part of the city lying north of Riverside Drive and east of First Avenue and a line paralleling the east boundary of Section 21 (along Orchard Drive, partially).
(b) Southeast District (S.E.). That part of the city lying south of Riverside Drive and east of South Main Street.
(c) Northwest District (N.W.). That part of the city lying north of North Main Street and Dole Road and west of First Avenue and a line paralleling the east boundary of Section 21 (along Orchard Drive, partially).
(d) Southwest District (S.W.). That part of the city lying south of North Main Street and Dole Road and south and west of South Main Street.
(2) That portion of Main Street lying north and west of First Avenue shall bear the prefix “North” and that portion lying east and south of First Avenue shall bear the prefix “South.” [Ord. 544 § 5, 1985].
12.15.060 Numbering of lots and structures.
(1) Grid Matrix. Building numbering shall be determined on a grid pattern, by ranges or rows of blocks; the distance between numbers varying but proportionate, as shown on the addressing matrix. All streets beginning within any range of blocks shall be allocated numbers beginning with the number of that range and progressing according to its direction on the grid pattern. Wherever practicable (i.e., within areas of generally rectangular blocks), each block shall be in the same hundred series of numbers, allowing 100 numbers to the block (50 on each side).
(2) Irregular Streets. Upon determining the general direction of streets applicable in this section, irregular or winding streets shall take the number sequencing range of nearby streets running that determined direction. Looped streets shall be numbered progressively as if they were a section of the street they originated from. A circular street (having one entrance/exit) shall be numbered progressively from its point of origination and according to that original direction on the grid pattern.
(3) Odd/Even Numbers. Odd numbers shall be assigned to the north and east sides of the street and even numbers upon the south and west sides of the street. In the case where a street changes direction, the odd and even sides shall be assigned to reflect the general direction of the street. Odd and even sides shall remain the same for the entire length of the street, regardless of changes in direction.
(4) Multiple Units. Where a building or premises has several entrances for use by different occupants, the city may assign a different number for each principal entrance. In the case of a multiple dwelling with one principal entrance, or a multi-unit development where insufficient numbers are available, only one number may be assigned to the structure with each unit being identified with the suffix “A,” “B,” “C,” etc., used with the assigned number or a suffix such as “Apt No. 1,” “Apt No. 2,” etc., may be assigned. Mobile home parks and similar developments shall be assigned one number to the principal entrance with each unit or space identified with a suffix indicating the space number.
(5) Driveway Frontage. All developments serviced by unnamed private driveways shall be numbered as if the entire development fronted the public street from which the private driveway begins. [Ord. 544 § 6, 1985].
12.15.070 Size and placement of numbers.
(1) Numbers Assigned. Numbers assigned by the city shall be placed on every structure within the city at the expense of the property owner within 15 days of receiving notification of the assignment of such number. For new construction, numbers shall be assigned within two weeks of the date of issuance of an occupancy permit.
(2) Placement of Numbers. Numbers assigned by the city shall be affixed to the door or door frame of the main entrance to the structure, or as near thereto as practical, in a location conspicuous from the street which the structure faces so that the same may be readily seen from the street.
(3) Size of Numbers. The figures in the numbers required by this section shall be not less than three inches high and shall be a contrasting color to the background.
(4) Address Signs. Where a building is located more than 35 feet from the public or private street on which it fronts, or is situated so that the front entrance is not readily visible from the street, a sign with address numbers shall be located at the intersection of the street and the private driveway serving the building or, if there is no driveway access to the street on which the building fronts, the sign shall be placed within 20 feet of the front property line at a point providing pedestrian access to the building. The sign shall be in conformance with zoning district regulations.
(5) Curb Numbering. The owner or occupant of any residence, structure or place of business (in addition to complying with the provisions of this chapter) may voluntarily place, or cause to be placed, upon the street curb in front of said residence, structure or place of business the appropriate assigned building number. All curb numbering shall adhere to standards of design as follows: block style numbers, black or white in color and not less than two nor more than four inches high. [Ord. 544 § 7, 1985].
12.15.080 Street naming.
All public and private streets shall be named. All street naming shall be subject to approval by the city council. The street name shall not be a duplicating of a street name already in use within the city or within a six-mile radius of the city limits, even if the suffix (Avenue, Drive, etc.) is different, unless there is reasonable assurance that those so-named street sections will be connected in the future. A court that comes off a street at a perpendicular may take that street’s name, but with a “Court” suffix. Public and private ways shall be further named as follows:
(1) Generally, north-south streets shall be designated “Avenue.”
(2) Generally, east-west streets shall be designated “Street.”
(3) Streets designated “Avenue” or “Street” shall retain that same suffix for the entire length of the street, regardless of any changes in direction. The suffix shall represent the general direction of the street.
(4) Arterial streets that are meandering or run diagonally to the north/south or east/west axis may be designated “Road.”
(5) Cul-de-sac streets with no cross streets or intersecting streets shall be designated “Court” or “Place.”
(6) Small cul-de-sacs which consist of inlets off a street (“eyebrows”) shall retain the street name and be numbered as a straight portion of that street.
(7) Collector streets may be designated “Drive.” Local streets may be designated “Way” or “Lane.” Local streets traversing hillsides may be designated “Terrace.”
(8) A continuous loop street that has two intersections with the same street shall be designated “Loop.” A street that runs in a circle with only one entrance/exit shall be designated “Circle.” Loop or circle streets may have only one interior cross street, which shall have a different name than the loop or circle. Loop and circle streets shall have no streets intersecting the exterior of the loop or circle.
(9) Private streets (i.e., within a planned development) shall be designated “Place.” [Ord. 544 § 8, 1985].
12.15.090 Coordination with Douglas County.
Addressing any residence, building, or premises at or near the city boundary shall be coordinated with the Douglas County addressing technician and the numbers assigned to provide for a smooth transition from city to county addresses. All naming of streets shall be coordinated with the Douglas County planning department during preliminary and final subdivision review process to avoid duplication of names within the city and a six-mile radius. [Ord. 544 § 9, 1985].
12.15.100 Renaming streets by council, commission or petition.
(1) By Council or Commission. The common council or the planning commission may initiate the changing of the name of any street within the city of Myrtle Creek. Where the council initiates such change it shall be referred to the planning commission for public hearing and recommendation.
(2) By Petition. A property owner may request a change in the name of a street by filing a petition with the city. The petition shall contain the following information:
(a) Street name proposed for change and a description of the location of the street.
(b) Reason for request.
(c) Suggested new street name and alternative choice.
(d) List of the names and mailing addresses of each owner and resident of all property abutting the street proposed for the name change.
(e) Signatures of the owners of record of at least 51 percent of all property abutting the street proposed for the name change, signifying they agree with the proposed name change. [Ord. 544 § 10, 1985].
12.15.110 Criteria for street name change.
The following criteria shall be used in determining whether or not a street name shall be changed:
(1) Duplicating and Similar Names. The street name is a duplicate of an existing street name (including any name used by Douglas County) or the street name sounds like another street name and causes confusion.
(2) Misspelled Names. Street names that have been misspelled or are words that emphasize a pun or other frivolous association with another word or slang term, resulting in confusion.
(3) Suffix Change. Where future development or street extensions change the classification of a street as described in MCMC 12.15.080, the suffix may be changed to an appropriate suffix. [Ord. 544 § 11, 1985].
12.15.120 Procedure for street name change.
(1) Public Hearing. A public hearing shall be held before the planning commission on any proposed street name change. The hearing shall be scheduled not later than 45 days after receipt of the petition or recommendation from the city council. Notice of hearing shall be given: (a) by mail to all property owners abutting the street in question; (b) to all nonowner occupants residing on the street in question when such information is included with the petition or is a matter of record in the water/sewer clerk’s office; (c) to the general public by the publication of notice in a newspaper of general circulation a minimum of 10 days prior to the hearing; and (d) by mail to the Myrtle Creek police department, the Myrtle Creek fire department, the Myrtle Creek postmaster and other public service agencies requesting notice.
(2) Recommendation of Commission. Following the public hearing, the planning commission shall judge whether such renaming is or is not in the best interest of the city, and the commission shall submit a recommendation on the street name change to the common council for consideration. Notice of the commission’s recommendation shall be mailed to all interested parties and those notified in subsection (1) of this section, except that general public notice shall not be required.
(3) Hearing Before Council. The common council shall hold a public hearing on a proposed street name change whenever there has been filed with the city recorder an objection to the recommendation of the planning commission. Any objection shall be filed, in writing, with the city recorder within 10 days of the date of mailing of the commission’s recommendation to interested parties. If no objection is filed, the council shall base their decision on the record in accordance with the recommendation of the planning commission.
(4) Decision and Filing. After opportunity for hearing has been afforded, the common council shall, by ordinance, rename the street or shall, by resolution, reject the proposed name change. A certified copy of each such ordinance shall be filed for record with the Douglas County clerk. A like copy shall be filed with the county assessor, county surveyor, county elections department and the postmaster at Myrtle Creek, Oregon. Notice shall also be mailed to all property owners of record and other interested parties, including public and private emergency service agencies, utility companies and parcel delivery services. [Ord. 544 § 12, 1985].
12.15.130 Existing addresses.
Numbers assigned prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, or in place upon any house, building, or premises on that date, which comply with and are in conformity with the numbering system herein provided shall be deemed as having been assigned by the city. As to any existing numbers that do not comply with such system, it shall be the responsibility of the owner or occupant of the house, building, or premises having a nonconforming number to apply to the city for the assignment and designation of a new number. [Ord. 544 § 13, 1985].
12.15.140 Violation, penalty and abatement.
(1) Violation and Penalty. Any person (including owner or other person having custody and control of a premises) who shall fail, refuse or neglect to comply with the provisions of this chapter or who shall otherwise violate the terms of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed $300.00.
(2) Abatement. In addition to the penalty described in subsection (1) of this section, the common council shall, on such refusal or neglect, have the power and authority to cause the numbers of the said building to be placed thereon, the cost thereof to constitute a lien upon the property and to be entered and collected as any other lien. [Ord. 544 § 14, 1985].