Title
Ordinance to Change Name of South Aycock Street, North Aycock Street and a Portion of Westover Terrace between West Florida Street and West Wendover Avenue
Body
Department: Planning
Council District: District #1, #3 and #4
Public Hearing: Yes
Advertising Date/By: N/A
Contact 1 and Phone: Sue Schwartz at 373-2149
Contact 2 and Phone: Steve Galanti at 373-2918
PURPOSE:
The request is for City Council to rename South Aycock Street, North Aycock Street and a portion of Westover Terrace between West Florida Street and West Wendover Avenue to North Josephine Boyd Street and South Josephine Boyd Street. The City Council is required to hold a public hearing on this request before considering its approval.
BACKGROUND:
In September of 2017, Mr. Lewis Brandon submitted a petition to City Council asking for the renaming North Aycock Street and a portion of Westover Terrace in honor of Ms. Josephine Boyd. On September 4, 1957, Josephine Boyd became the first black student to attend the previously all white Greensboro Senior High School, now Grimsley High School. Josephine Boyd had been an honor student at the all black James B. Dudley High School at the time of her transfer and went on to graduate in the top 10 percent of her class of 1958. Over the last several months, Planning Staff has evaluated the name change and received public input before presenting several options to City Council. City Council instructed staff to begin the public hearing process to rename all of South Aycock Street, all of North Aycock Street and a portion of Westover Terrace to North Josephine Boyd Street and South Josephine Boyd Street.
The process to revise the street renaming was developed and progressed as follows:
1. Request Received - City Council received the name change request.
2. Evaluation / Initial Proposal - Staff researched the request and formulated several options in keeping with the “Street Naming and Addressing” Manual and its impacts on those along the corridor.
3. On-Line Survey - In November of 2017 staff mailed postcards to 349 owners and residents along Corridor and received 461 Responses via an on-line survey.
4. Open House - In December of 2017 staff mailed postcards to 2,500 owners and residents in the surrounding Area, held an open house at the Old North State Boy Scout Council Office and received 41 responses.
5. City Council Work Session - Staff presented the findings from the on-line survey and the open house, and options for the street name change for direction.
6. Draft Proposal - Staff prepared the street name change proposal based on all of the input and information gathered from the previous steps.
7. Planning Board - Conducted a public hearing to consider this change on March 21, 2018 with a recommendation to be forwarded to City Council.
On April 18, 2018, the Planning Board reviewed and approved the minutes for their March meeting. In relation to the street name change, the Board revised the minutes to reflect that several of the Board members would have been in favor of the street name change if it had included the portion of Westover Terrace located to the north of West Wendover Avenue.
8. City Council - Will conduct a public hearing to consider the change at its April 17, 2018 meeting.
9. Delayed Effective Date - The proposed delayed effective date of January 2, 2019, will give all involved time to make the necessary changes, including street name signs.
This proposal was prepared in keeping with the required street name change findings of the “Street Naming and Addressing” Manual as follows:
Finding #1: That the street name change is in accordance with the City’s Street Name and Address Assignment Standards and policies.
The request meets this finding since the street will be changing names along its continuous alignment at thoroughfares (West Florida Street and West Wendover Avenue), will have the designation as “North” and “South” as it crosses West Market Street, and will have the “Street” suffix as it runs in a predominately north/south direction.
Finding #2: That the street name change will serve the public interest by enhancing or maintaining public safety.
The request meets this finding since renaming the entire segment as proposed would decrease the number of times along the continuous street alignment between Coliseum Boulevard and Battleground Avenue the street name would change.
Finding #3: That the street name change will not adversely affect property values or cause excessive impact to property owners or to the City.
The request meets this finding since renaming the entire segment as proposed would allow the numeric address for each property located along the corridor to remain the same; the delayed effective date would give them additional time to make the change; and the Planning Department will notify utility companies and various other service agencies of this change to minimize any inconvenience to property owners and residents.
Finding #4: That the street name change is appropriate as a way of recognizing a noteworthy person, group, place, historical event, entity or other subject of demonstrated community significance.
The request meets this finding since the historical event took place along this corridor.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The Department of Transportation estimates that the cost to prepare and install new street signs will be approximately $15,000 (plus or minus 10%).
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
The Planning Board recommended this street name change at its March meeting on a vote of 6-3. Accordingly, it is recommended that on April 17, 2018, the City Council hold a public hearing to receive public comment and to consider adoption of an ordinance changing the street name.