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RESOLUTION R-1617-14: A RESOLUTION TO THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, CHANGING A STREET NAME FROM 28TH AVENUE S.W. TO ED NOBLE PARKWAY LOCATED SOUTH OF WEST LINDSEY STREET AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 35.
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BACKGROUND: With the current reconstruction of Interstate-35, State Highway 9 and West Lindsey Street, city staff has received numerous inquiries from Norman citizens to reduce driver confusion by renaming a short segment of an existing street named 28th Avenue S.W.
DISCUSSION: Originally this road was designated as a service road providing access to a State Highway maintenance yard. With the filing of the final plat for Turtle Creek Mobile Home Park in 1975, 28th Avenue S.W. was established as the street access to West Lindsey Street. In 2008, the Mark Heitz Chevrolet dealership (aka David Stanley Chevrolet) was constructed on the east side of 28th Avenue SW of Lindsey Street. On the final plat of Norman Automotive Business Park Addition, in August, 2008, 28th Avenue SW was designated as Ed Noble Parkway. It was anticipated that a street name change would be submitted to change 28th Avenue SW to Ed Noble Parkway. Also, a signalization project was completed at the intersection of West Lindsey Street and Ed Noble Parkway. Street name blades for the intersection designated Ed Noble Parkway in both north bound and south bound directions. However, the official street name change has not been considered by Council at that time.
28th Avenue SW has been a short, dead-end road located south of Lindsey Street for over 40 years. In recent years, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation completely redesigned the Interstate 35 and State Highway 9 Interchange to modern standards. At the request of the City of Norman, ODOT agreed to provide a new connection of SH-9 to 28th Avenue SW (Ed Noble Parkway) on a new bridge over I-35 to improve traffic access and safety. Construction of that new connection was completed and opened to traffic on April 4, 2016.
Since the opening of the new connection of SH-9 to 28th Avenue SW (Ed Noble Parkway), numerous citizens and business owners have complained of confusing signage for drivers. While temporary irectional signs are currently in place by ODOT, the project will provide permanent new signs upon completion of the interstate project. The street name confusion came about with ODOT utilizing 28th Avenue SW on the temporary signs. ODOT intends to use the street name of 28th Avenue SW for permanent signs as well. Therefore, it is very important to clarify the appropriate street name at this time. If approved by Council, city staff will work closely with ODOT officials to install appropriate new signs.
The City’s street renaming policies are sensitive to impacts on adjacent property owners and access by public safety services. Certainly, the City does not want to create a hardship regarding addressing of properties. Addresses are particularly important when emergency services are needed. In this case, three property owners gain access from 28th Avenue SW: Turtle Creek Mobile Home Park; David Stanley Chevrolet; and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. David Stanley Chevrolet has its address on 1221 Ed Noble Parkway. ODOT does not have a permanent operation at this location, instead operates a temporary material storage and construction management program. ODOT does not receive mail at this location. Finally, the Turtle Creek Mobile Home Park Manager’s office is currently addressed off of Ed Noble Parkway. Likewise, the mobile home tenants utilize the manager’s office addressing. Thus, changing the street name to Ed Noble Parkway will not impact any existing property addresses.
RECOMMENDATION: Based on the above information, Staff recommends approval of the name change. If approved, Resolution No. R-1617-14 will be filed of record with the Cleveland County Clerk. The filed documents will be distributed to various agencies within the City.