Chapter 12.64
STREET ADDRESSING
Sections:
12.64.040 Name and address assignment.
12.64.050 Notification of address change.
12.64.060 Building numbering system.
12.64.070 Posting street names.
12.64.010 Applicability.
This chapter applies to all properties within the city limits of the city of Walla Walla, and to all new developments within the designated urban growth area of the city of Walla Walla. For the purposes of this chapter, public and private ways shall mean public and private ways capable of supporting motor vehicle traffic. (Ord. 98-21 § 1(part), 1998).
12.64.020 Official map.
The official map of the city of Walla Walla shall be the Walla Walla urban area comprehensive plan map adopted by resolution of the Walla Walla city council. The Walla Walla city manager may adopt, maintain, and modify a building number axis map which is consistent with the Walla Walla urban area comprehensive plan map. The official map and the building numbering axis map shall be available for public inspection. (Ord. 98-21 § 1(part), 1998).
12.64.030 Street name review.
With the exception of alleyways, all public ways shall have a name. All private ways serving more than two properties, improved or unimproved, or providing access to three or more dwellings shall have a name. Names shall conform generally with the following guidelines:
A. Where a proposed public or private way is a continuation of or in alignment with an existing public or private way, it shall utilize the same name as the existing public or private way. A new name shall be required if the proposed public or private way is disconnected from the existing public or private way by an offset greater than one hundred fifty feet.
B. Usage of names derived from geographic features shall be limited to locations in close proximity to such geographic features.
C. The following names and naming conventions are prohibited:
1. Names which duplicate or phonetically approximate existing names within the urban growth area;
2. Names of similar pronunciation or spelling with existing names;
3. Variations of the same name with a different roadway designation, unless the public or private way is a continuation or in alignment with another public or private way having the same name;
4. Names which include numbers, dashes, apostrophes or other nonalphabetical characters;
5. Names beginning with articles;
6. Names which duplicate common facility names;
7. Names exceeding three words or twenty-two characters not including the roadway designator;
8. Names which the Walla Walla city manager determines to be unacceptable due to duplication or other difficulties related to emergency service dispatch. (Ord. 98-21 § 1(part), 1998).
12.64.040 Name and address assignment.
The Walla Walla city manager shall have the authority to assign names and addresses in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 98-21 § 1(part), 1998).
12.64.050 Notification of address change.
When the city changes an address or name, the city shall notify affected property owners and residents by mail, at their last address known to the city of Walla Walla, of any name or address change. The city shall also notify the United States Postal Service, any utility companies which serve the affected property, and other affected governmental and emergency service agencies.
An affected property owner may appeal assignment of a name or address by filing a notice of appeal with the Walla Walla city clerk no later than fourteen calendar days after the date of mailing of notice by the city of Walla Walla. Appeals shall be heard by the Walla Walla city council within thirty days after the filing of the notice of appeal. The Walla Walla city council may affirm, reverse, or modify the assignment made by the Walla Walla city manager.
Unless appealed in accordance with this section, assignments made by the Walla Walla city manager shall be final. Assignments made or confirmed by the Walla Walla city council on any appeal shall be final. Property owners shall change the address numbers at affected locations within ten days after an assignment becomes final. (Ord. 98-21 § 1(part), 1998).
12.64.060 Building numbering system.
The property owner is responsible for posting and continued maintenance of the property address on the front of an addressed structure. Numbers shall be plainly visible and legible from the public or private way. Numbers posted shall be Arabic only. Numbers shall be placed on the addressed structure as near to the front door as practicable. Numbers shall contrast clearly with any background color. The figures designating the number shall be not less than three inches in height and three-quarter inches in width. On corner lots, the number shall only be displayed to face the street upon which the property is numbered. If address numbers are not posted and maintained in accordance with this section, the city of Walla Walla shall not be responsible if a property cannot be located by emergency services personnel. (Ord. 98-21 § 1(part), 1998).
12.64.070 Posting street names.
It shall be the duty of the Walla Walla city manager, and his/her designee, to identify all existing public intersections by the erection and maintenance of adequate signs and posts. For new developments, the Walla Walla city manager, or his/her designee, may require erection and maintenance of signs and posts by the developer at his/her expense. Property owners using private ways to access their properties shall be responsible for the erection and maintenance of name signs in locations visible at the intersections between the private way and any other public or private way. Private name signs shall be in compliance with standards established by the Walla Walla city manager, or his/her designee. (Ord. 98-21 § 1(part), 1998).
12.64.080 Enforcement.
Should the Walla Walla city manager become aware that an address number is missing, illegible or incorrect, or otherwise not in conformance with standards of this chapter, the city manager, or his/her designee, may notify the property owner in writing and require that correction be made within ten days. Any person or entity who shall in any manner violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as set forth in Section 1.24.010 of this code. (Ord. 98-21 § 1(part), 1998).