HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 2023 (914)
Ordinance No. 914 (2023)
ORDINANCE CREATING CHAPTER 37 - UNIFORM ADDRESSING
AND ROAD NAMING SYSTEM
COVER MEMO
TO: County Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ken Witt, County Administrator
Heather Amos, Corporation Counsel
DATE: October 3, 2023
AGENDA ITEM: Ordinance Creating Chapter 37 - Uniform Addressing and Road Naming
System
______________________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
St. Croix County does not currently have a uniform addressing ordinance. In order for
emergency response services to effectively serve the community, a standardized system needs
to be implemented.
In 1983, issuance of addresses was assigned for the entire unincorporated or rural areas of St.
Croix County within the road naming and numbering system by the St. Croix County Planning
Department, now called Community Development Department.
Most towns, with some exceptions, adopted the address numbering grid system. The Town of
Hudson, Town of Troy, and Town of Kinnickinnic, use names, not numbers for road names. A
few towns, including the Town of St. Joseph, have some named roads that were retained in the
1983 implementation for historical reasons.
Wis. Stat. § 59.54(4), Rural Naming or Numbering System, states as follows:
(4) Rural naming or numbering system. The board may establish a rural naming or numbering
system in towns for the purpose of aiding in fire protection, emergency services, and civil
defense, and appropriate and expend money therefor under which:
(a) Each rural road, home, business, farm or other establishment, may be assigned a name or
number.
(b) The names or numbers may be displayed on uniform signs posted on rural roads and
intersections, and at each home, business, farm or other establishment.
Ordinance No. 914 (2023)
ORDINANCE CREATING CHAPTER 37 - UNIFORM ADDRESSING
AND ROAD NAMING SYSTEM
WHEREAS, the St. Croix County Board of Supervisor promotes activities and services 1
to create a safe community; and 2
3
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of the County of St. Croix understands the 4
importance of an uniform addressing system to ensure timely and adequate delivery of 5
emergency response services to the community; and 6
7
WHEREAS, Wis. Stat. § 59.54(4), Rural Naming or Numbering System, allows for the 8
Board of Supervisors of the County of St. Croix to establish a rural naming or numbering 9
system in towns for the purpose of aiding in fire protection, emergency services, and civil 10
defense; and 11
12
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of the County of St. Croix desires to enact an 13
ordinance to establish a county-wide uniform addressing system; and 14
15
WHEREAS, the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors has created Chapter 37 of the St. 16
Croix County Code of Ordinances - Uniform Addressing System; and 17
18
WHEREAS, the primary purpose of Chapter 37 is to provide the means and standards 19
for the most rapid location of property by emergency service providers including emergency 20
medical service, fire departments, law enforcement, and other first responders and service 21
agencies. 22
23
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the St. Croix County Board of 24
Supervisors that Chapter 37 - Uniform Addressing System of the St. Croix County Code of 25
Ordinances is hereby created and attached hereto. 26
27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this ordinance shall be effective upon passage and 28
publication. 29
Legal – Fiscal – Administrative Approvals:
Legal Note:
Fiscal Impact: No financial impact over current practice.
04/6/23 Enacted
04/06/23 Public Protection & Judiciary Committee POSTPONED Next:
06/01/23
RESULT: POSTPONED [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/1/2023 8:00 AM
MOVER: Tim Ramberg, Supervisor
SECONDER: Cathy Leaf, Supervisor
AYES: Cathy Leaf, Bob Feidler, Mark Carlson, Tim Ramberg
EXCUSED: Paul Adams
06/01/23 Public Protection & Judiciary Committee RECOMMENDED
RESULT: RECOMMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Tim Ramberg, Supervisor
SECONDER: Cathy Leaf, Supervisor
AYES: Leaf, Adams, Feidler, Carlson, Ramberg
08/01/23 Board of Supervisors TABLED Next: 10/03/23
RESULT: TABLED [UNANIMOUS] Next: 10/3/2023 5:00 PM
MOVER: Tim Ramberg, Supervisor
SECONDER: Mike Barcalow, Supervisor
AYES: Lind, Anderson, Long, Leaf, Adams, Berning, Ottino, Feidler, Ostness, Counter,
Hansen, Sherley, Tellijohn, Carlson, Barcalow, Swanepoel, VanSomeren, Ramberg
EXCUSED: Carah Koch
09/07/23 Public Protection & Judiciary Committee RECOMMENDED
RESULT: RECOMMENDED [UNANIMOUS] Next: 10/3/2023 5:00 PM
MOVER: Tim Ramberg, Supervisor
SECONDER: Cathy Leaf, Supervisor
AYES: Cathy Leaf, Bob Feidler, Mark Carlson, Tim Ramberg
EXCUSED: Paul Adams
Vote Confirmation.
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Action:
Roll Call - Vote Requirement – Majority of Supervisors Present
RESULT: ENACTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Paul Adams, Supervisor
SECONDER: Tim Ramberg, Supervisor
AYES: Lind, Anderson, Leaf, Koch, Adams, Berning, Ottino, Feidler, Ostness, Counter,
Hansen, Sherley, Tellijohn, Carlson, Barcalow, Swanepoel, VanSomeren, Ramberg
ABSENT: Bob Long
This Ordinance was ENACTED by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors on October 3, 2023
Christine Hines, County Clerk
1
CHAPTER 37
UNIFORM ADDRESSING AND ROAD NAMING SYSTEM
37.01 PURPOSE. The purpose of this Chapter is to promote and protect the health, safety, and
general welfare of the public of St. Croix County by providing the most practical, efficient,
and logical means of physically locating properties and structures located in the County.
The primary and vital purpose of an addressing system is to provide the means and
standards for the most rapid location of property by emergency service providers including
emergency medical service, fire departments, law enforcement, and other first responders
and service agencies. The system will also serve the U.S. Postal Service and the public at
large in the timely and efficient delivery of services.
It is the intent of this Chapter to establish the method by which address numbers and road
names are assigned by St. Croix County in cooperation with the towns. It is further intended
to provide for requirements for road naming and the review process and responsibilities
involved in assuring all public and private drives are named and signed in accordance with
accepted criteria.
37.02 DEFINITIONS. In this Chapter:
(A) “Address Sign” means an individual address plate placed on a named road or driveway
identifying a location address.
(B) “Application Form” means the form required for assignment of a new address.
(C) “County” means St. Croix County.
(D) “Road Sign” means a sign posted at a road intersection that identifies the road name(s).
(E) “Private Driveway” is a driveway that serves two or less private properties containing
principal structures.
(F) “Private Road” means any road on private property leading to three or more driveways
and/or principal structures.
37.03 AUTHORITY. This Chapter is enacted under the authority granted to the County,
pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 59.54(4).
37.04 APPLICATION. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to each road, home, business,
farm, structure, or other establishments in the unincorporated areas of the County.
Incorporated areas are exempt from this section unless otherwise indicated in any adopted
intergovernmental agreement. This Chapter does not apply to naming State and County
Highways.
2
37.05 ADMINISTRATION.
(A) The policy implementation of this Chapter shall be provided by the Public Protection
and Judiciary Committee.
(B) The administrative responsibility of this Chapter shall be administered by the
Community Development Department.
(C) The Community Development Department Director or designee shall have the
responsibilities of coordinating the ongoing maintenance of the Uniform Addressing
System. These duties will include: assignment of addresses, maintenance of an accurate
road name listing, update of maps, and administration of the provisions of this Chapter.
37.06 ADDRESSING REQUIREMENTS.
(A) County Addressing Grid System. St. Croix County has established a uniform addressing
grid system.
(B) Grid System. The official addressing system of St. Croix County is the grid system as
established, mapped, and implemented by the County on September 1, 1983. The official
addressing map is kept on file in the Community Development Department.
(C) Address Number Determination. The grid system so established allows for only 50 even
and 50 odd numbered addresses per mile of roadway, the equivalent of one address every
52.8 feet of road length on each side of a road. An address number designates the
intersection point of a driveway centerline with a public road. Address numbers are derived
from measurements taken from the north or east grid section with the result adjusted to
correspond to the side of the road, the subject driveway, and property the driveway is
located on.
(D) Even / Odd Address Number Determination. All driveways and properties on the east side
of north-south roads and all driveways and properties on the north side of east-west roads
will be assigned even numbers. All driveways and properties on the west side of north-
south roads and all driveways and properties on the south side of east-west roads will be
assigned odd address numbers. Roads that loop or circle may be addressed in a manner that
keeps the even numbers on one side and odd numbers on another side, avoiding potential
‘flip-flop’ in the even/odd designations.
(E) Uniform Address Application. When required, a property owner will complete an
application for issuing addresses maintained by the Community Development Department.
The application and any designated fee shall be submitted to the Community Development
Department.
(F) Address Assignment.
(1) Upon receipt of an application and fee, the Community Development Department
3
will determine and assign an address number in coordination with the applicable
town.
(2) Address numbers are assigned on the basis of the location of the centerline of the
driveway access point as it intersects with the public roadway or named private
road or private driveway.
(3) Principal structures with multiple driveway access points will be addressed based
on the location of the midpoint of the two outer driveway access points. If one
driveway access point is elongated and accesses at a significant distance from the
principal structure, the principal structure will be addressed based on the location
of the access point closest to the principal structure.
(4) If a new address conflicts with one or more existing address numbers, the existing
address numbers may be changed to resolve the conflict.
(5) If the location of the driveway access point changes or is proposed to be changed,
the Community Development Department and the applicable road maintenance
authority shall be notified. The existing address number may remain unless or until
such time the change disrupts the orderly and uniform addressing system as detailed
in this Chapter.
(6) Changing the location of the driveway to another roadway requires the principal
structure to be given a new address.
(7) Principal structures with the main front entrance facing one roadway and having a
driveway accessing upon another roadway will be addressed based on the location
of the driveway access point.
(8) Address numbers along the same public or private road will not be duplicated.
(9) Parcels or properties with two single family dwellings that are separated by more
than 250 feet will require separate addresses for each dwelling.
(10) Duplexes, Twin Homes, or side by side dwelling structures will each be assigned
an individual address number and/or a unit number.
(11) Apartment buildings and mobile home and RV parks will be assigned one single
address number. Individual units in such groupings will be referred to by apartment
number or unit number. Individual units may display the unit number in a consistent
and conspicuous manner. A map of the property showing the units or lots shall be
submitted to the Community Development Department.
(12) Upon an address change, the Community Development Department shall notify, in
writing, the property owner, applicable Town Clerk, postmaster, Sheriff’s Office,
Emergency Communications Manager, local power/utility company, and the
County Treasurer.
4
(13) Removal of an address number will be done only under circumstances deemed
appropriate as determined by the Community Development Department in
conjunction with the Emergency Communications Manager.
(14) In order to maintain the purpose and intent of this Chapter the Community
Development Department has the authority to require pre-existing address numbers
be changed if such address numbers do not conform to the uniform address system
detailed in this Chapter. An appeal of a decision of the Community Development
Department may be filed, pursuant to Section 37.09.
(15) The Community Development Department is responsible for maintaining the
Uniform Addressing database. Responsibilities includes adding improved parcel
additions and making road database information available as requested. The
Community Development Department is responsible for updates to the grid system
and is also responsible for providing updates to the St. Croix County Emergency
Communications Center for the E911 mapping system.
(G) Change of Existing Addresses. Existing addresses may be changed for just cause if one or
more of the following apply:
(1) Site address is out of sequence or there is an odd/even error on the road segment.
(2) Sites where addresses of one or both neighboring parcels were assigned in such a
way that there is no address available for a vacant lot(s).
(3) Change of access point for the structure or parcel.
(4) Road name change.
(5) Any other reason that is consistent with the intent of this Chapter.
37.07 ROAD NAMING REQUIREMENTS.
(A) Road Naming Selection.
(1) Each road will have one name consistent with the grid naming system which
requires numbered local road names in all unincorporated areas of the county
except the Towns of Hudson, Troy, St. Joseph, and Kinnickinnic may have words
as local road names. All new or changed local road names – numbers or words –
in all unincorporated areas of the county will be approved by the Community
Development Department prior to use. The Community Development Department
will coordinate with the respective town in the selection of the road name consistent
with the requirements of this Chapter.
(2) Road names will only change when there is a substantial intersection, or at
municipal boundaries, not including town boundaries.
5
(3) Road names will not duplicate any name which has already been used elsewhere in
St. Croix County, is similar to a name used elsewhere, is a name which may cause
confusion or which is difficult to spell or pronounce. This prohibition includes
roads with different ending or suffix nomenclature but the same first word or words
or prefix. For example, Smith Drive and Smith Circle will not both be allowed.
Only one of the following would be allowed: Wildwood Trail, Wildtree Trail or
Wylde Woode Road. The Community Development Department will coordinate
with the applicable town to ensure duplication does not occur.
(4) Roads with duplicate names existing at the time of adoption of this Chapter may
require the renaming of one road to eliminate the duplicate.
(5) Roads with same or similar sounding names existing at the time of the adoption of
this Chapter may be allowed to continue in use unless required to be changed for
emergency service reasons.
(6) Road naming suffix nomenclature will follow the standards, consistent with
Chapter 13 of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances, as follows:
(7) Where a road maintains the same general direction except for curvilinear changes
for short distances, the same name will be used for the entire length of the road.
(8) A road, which may connect to another road in the future, shall use the same name
for all existing and planned sections.
(9) Roads within a new land division will follow the standards set forth in Chapter 13
of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances.
(10) Roads with word names existing at the time of adoption of this Chapter, in towns
that use numbered road names, may be allowed to continue in use unless required
to be changed for emergency service reasons or for reasons consistent with this
Chapter.
(B) Road Name Signs.
TYPE OF ROAD STRAIGHT CURVILINEAR
North/South Roads Street Drive or Lane
East/West Roads Avenue Road or Trail
Permanent Turnabout
Roads, Loop Roads or
Cul-de-sacs
Circle or Court Circle or Court
6
(1) Road name signs will be placed at the intersections of all roads, showing the names
of the roads in accordance with the official road naming map. Road name signs are
the responsibility of the town in which the road is located. Road name signs within
private, commercial, business, industrial, apartment, and/or condominium
complexes will be the responsibility of the property owner(s).
(2) The type of lettering, composition, material, color, mounting posts, and accessories
will be in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
(MUTCD) by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
(C) Requiring Addresses. Address numbers will be assigned to the following:
(1) Each home, business, farm, principal structure or other establishment will have
a unique number.
(2) Parcels containing ongoing business operation or public facility.
(3) Any structure not associated with a principal structure, which contains a driveway
access point such as radio/television/cell/mobile towers, warehouses, storage
facilities, utility buildings, and/or other structures.
(4) Any other parcel as determined by the Community Development Department for
emergency response access.
(D) Address Signs. All towns shall have uniform address signs. The Community Development
Department will coordinate with town authorities to ensure the following:
(1) Signs installed after the adoption of this Chapter will be placed to the right of the
driveway, when facing the driveway from the road and at the highway right-of-way
line, whenever possible.
(2) The signs will be placed parallel to the road for visibility in both directions unless
the sign is two-sided then it will be placed perpendicular to the road.
(3) Address signs will not be placed to interfere with roadway maintenance including
grading of shoulders and snow plowing.
(4) Address sign ordering and installation are the responsibility of the town in which
the sign is located. Multi-unit address signs within private, commercial, business,
industrial, apartment, and/or condominium complexes will be the responsibility of
the property owner.
(5) Address sign placement diagram:
7
37.08 PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AND PRIVATE ROAD REQUIREMENTS. The
Community Development Department will work in cooperation with respective town
officials to ensure that private roads and private driveways meet the requirements of this
Chapter.
(A) Private Roads Accessing Three or More Principal Structures.
(1) All existing shared access driveways that have three or more addressed principal
structures, as of the date of adoption of this Chapter, will be defined as a private
road and will be named and signed according to regulations set forth in this Chapter.
(2) All affected property owners are equally responsible for all costs associated with
installing or replacing private road name signs and for all costs associated with re-
addressing unless all affected property owners agree otherwise in writing.
(B) Private Driveways Accessing Two Addresses.
(1) A shared access driveway with two existing addresses, as of the date of adoption of
this Chapter, that becomes the driveway access for a third address, will be defined
as a private road and will be named and signed according to regulations set forth in
this Chapter. All principal structures accessing the private road will be re-addressed
to coincide with the newly named private road.
(2) In all instances and situations listed above, the property owner that initiates or
causes the private road to be named and signed is responsible for all costs associated
with placing private road name signs and for all costs associated with re-addressing.
37.09 APPEALS. An affected property owner or an official of an affected town may file an
appeal of an address naming or numbering decision with the Community Development
8
Department within 30 days of the decision. The appeal will be held before the Public
Protection & Judiciary Committee.
37.10 ENFORCEMENT. All persons, firms, corporations, associations, partnerships, bodies
politic or other entities capable of being sued that own or have jurisdiction over highways,
streets, roads, or real property located within the unincorporated areas of the County shall
comply with this Chapter.
37.11 AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER. Any future amendments, revisions, or modifications
of Wis. Stat. § 59.54(4) incorporated herein are intended to be made part of this Chapter as
such amendments, revisions, or modifications are made to said Statutes.
Ordinance No. _____(23) - ___, 2023.