December 9, 1999

To: Works Committee

From: Barry H. Gutteridge, Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

Subject: Proposed Street Naming Policy

(All Wards)

Purpose:

This report recommends a policy for selecting and changing the names of streets and lanes.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the Street Naming Policy, outlined in Attachment No. 1, be circulated to the Community Councils for comment; and

(2) the Community Councils be requested to forward their comments to the Works Committee by January 30, 2000, for processing through to City Council.

Background:

There is currently no formal City-wide policy for the naming and renaming of streets in the City of Toronto. A new policy is required to consolidate the various naming policies, procedures and administrative processes.

Comments:

New streets names are usually submitted by property owners, developers and/or their agents in connection with development proposals. Requests to rename a street or to name a lane typically originate from residents of the street or the local ratepayers' association. The proposed names are presently reviewed by staff to ensure there is no conflict with existing names, and that the names are not proposed for use in another development. The proposed names are circulated to affected Ward Councillors, Fire Services, Heritage Toronto, local heritage groups, ratepayer or residential associations for comments on the suitability of the proposed names.

The proposed policy (Attachment No. 1) consists of the former City of Toronto's policy and portions of the policies and procedures from the former municipalities.

We are proposing that the naming of streets should generally be used to honour and commemorate noteworthy places, events or persons who have made significant contributions to the City of Toronto; and to preserve the local heritage and identity of a neighbourhood. The criteria also includes the naming of streets after native wildlife, flora, fauna, natural features or things related to the City of Toronto.

Under Section 111 of the Provincial Municipal Act, a municipality is empowered to pass by-laws to name and rename public streets. The City of Toronto Act for the former City was amended in 1991, granting the City authority to name private streets. An amendment to the City of Toronto Act 1997, may be required to ensure the proposed street naming policy would apply to private roadways as well.

Conclusions:

The proposed policy outlines guidelines and criteria for street name selection in the City of Toronto. The policy should be forwarded to the Community Councils for review and comment.

The City Solicitor should also be requested to obtain the legal authority for the City to ensure the proposed street naming policy will apply to private streets and lanes as well.

Contact:

Wally Kowalenko, City Surveyor

Tel.: (416) 392-7664; Fax: (416) 392-0081

E-mail: wkowalen@toronto.ca

List of Attachments:

Attachment No. 1 - Proposed "City of Toronto Street Naming Policy"

"Attachment No. 1"

City of Toronto Street Naming Policy

Guidelines

Applications

(1) Applications for naming or renaming public and private streets shall be made in writing to the City Surveyor. The application should include the proposed name, the specific street location and brief but complete background information on the proposed name. Proposed names can also be selected from a list of names maintained by the City Surveyor.

(2) In the case of a name change, the application should also include a petition with name, address and signatures of the persons who reside on or own property that fronts on or is adjacent to the subject street.

(3) The City Surveyor shall circulate proposed names to the affected Councillors and appropriate agencies, heritage groups, local architectural conservation and advisory committee or local associations for comment. Once the comments have been obtained, the suitability of the proposed names will reported on to the affected Community Council for approval.

(4) Should proposed names of new streets be acceptable to all agencies, interested parties and Councillors in whose ward the street or lane is located, the City Surveyor may authorize incorporation of the names on the draft plan of subdivision.

(5) The City Surveyor shall report to the Community Council if the proposed street names on a draft plan of subdivision application do not have approval from all parties concerned or if requested to do so by the Councillors in whose ward the street is located.

Naming and Renaming of Streets and Lanes

(1) The general policy is that the names of streets and lanes should not be changed.

(2) The renaming of a specific street or lane should only be considered when duplication of the name occurs within the City of Toronto or the surrounding municipalities and when renaming would generally improve the City's administration of essential services and would be in the public's best interest. Duplication of the name occurs when there are two or more unconnected portions of a street with the same name.

(3) Applicants may be required to pay the costs incurred as a result of their request to name a street or lane, including notification in a newspaper of general circulation.

Criteria For Name Selection

(1) Streets should generally be named after people, places, events and things related to the City and citizens of Toronto. Proposed names should meet one of the following criteria:

(a) to honour and commemorate noteworthy persons associated with the City of Toronto;

(b) to commemorate local history, places, events or culture;

(c) to strengthen neighbourhood identity; or

(d) to recognize native wildlife, flora, fauna or natural features related to the community and the City of Toronto.

(2) Consideration should be given to names of local area or historic significance.

(3) Names of living persons should be used only in exceptional circumstances.

(4) Only a person's last name should be used as a street name unless additional identification is necessary to prevent a duplication with an existing street name in Toronto and surrounding municipalities.

(5) Keeping in mind the problems associated with the fabrication and maintenance of street signs, names longer than 20 letters should be avoided.

Names to be Avoided

(1) Street names being an duplicate of an existing street in the City of Toronto or in the municipalities surrounding Toronto shall be avoided.

(2) Similar sounding names such as Beach Avenue and Peach Avenue, or Apple Hill Road and Apple Road should be avoided.

(3) Cumbersome, unpronounceable names, corrupted or modified names, discriminatory or derogatory names, from the point of view of race, sex, colour, creed political affiliation or other social factors shall be avoided.

(4) Names for public streets that could be construed as advertising a particular business shall be avoided.

(5) The re-use of former street names should be discouraged because of the confusion this causes in property records management.

Street Type Designations

(1) Street type designations, depending on roadway function, length and configuration exist to define the character of a street. The following designations should be consulted:

(a) Street, Avenue, Road, Boulevard - for major thoroughfares or streets of several blocks in length.

(b) Drive, Trail, Way - for streets which are winding or curved.

(c) Terrace, Gardens, Grove, Pathway, Heights - for minor or short streets.

(d) Lane, Mews, Close - for narrow streets generally used for service.

(e) Crescent - for streets which form a crescent.

(f) Court, Place - for cul-de-sacs.

(g) Circle - for streets that are circular.

(h) Gate - for a short street that provides an entrance to a subdivision.

(i) Square - for streets that form part of a square.

(2) Qualifying words may be used when a newly created street is in actuality an extension of an existing street which cannot be renumbered or for which no municipal numbers are available. North, South, East, West and Upper or Lower are appropriate qualifying words.

Private Streets and Lanes

The Guidelines and Criteria for Name Selection, as set out in this policy, shall apply to private streets and lanes.