To: PLANNING COMMISSION From: Stephen M. Haase

Subject: SEE BELOW Date: August 6, 2003

COUNCIL DISTRICT: 6

SUBJECT: ST03-007. STREET RENAMING OF SEGMENT OF SAN FERNANDO STREET LOCATED BETWEEN BUSH STREET AND LAUREL GROVE LANE TO LAUREL GROVE LANE.

BACKGROUND

The applicant, The Castle Group, requests a street name change for a segment of San Fernando Street between Bush Street and the new public street Laurel Grove Lane. This segment of San Fernando Street was isolated from the rest of San Fernando Street when the segment of San Fernando Street between Bush Street and Wilson Street was vacated in 2002. Both the Building Division and the Fire Department expressed concern that the discontinuous street may cause confusion for emergency vehicles and others.

Only two parcels are located adjacent to the affected section of San Fernando Street, and the applicant owns both of them. The applicant has dedicated and will construct a new public street, Laurel Grove Lane, that is continuous with the affected segment of San Fernando Street (see attached map). The renaming will provide a continuous street named Laurel Grove Lane, which will reduce confusion for emergency vehicles and others.

ANALYSIS

The naming of this street has been reviewed for consistency with the attached City of San Jose Council Policy 6-5; Street Naming and Street Name Change. The criteria applicable to the naming of this public street are as follows:

B. The names must meet with the approval of the County Communications Department and the US Post Office.

Both of these organizations have reviewed and approved the proposed renaming. The newly named street will be continuous with the existing Laurel Grove Lane and the name will not duplicated elsewhere in the City of San Jose, and its use here will not impair mail delivery or emergency service response.

C. A public street continuing for some length in one general alignment shall have only one name.

As stated above, the affected segment of San Fernando Street was severed from the rest of the public street and therefore the proposal is to rename the severed segment of the street to be consistent with the existing contiguous street. The newly named segment of the public street will be continuous with the public street with the same name, but will not have the same alignment in that the street makes a 90 degree turn. Staff believes that, due to its very limited length, continuation of Laurel Grove Lane is preferable to a unique name for this street segment. County Communications, the Post Office, the Building Division, and the Fire Department have reviewed the proposed street renaming and have no objections to the proposal. Staff concludes that the proposed street renaming is consistent with the intent of the Council Policy.

H. Individual property owners, when affected by a name change, are to be informed and be given an opportunity to be heard by the Planning Commission and the City Council.

As stated above, the applicant owns both properties that are affected by the proposed name change. Notices were sent to owners of property within 500 feet and staff has been available for questions regarding the proposal since the notices were mailed.

Based on the above analysis, staff concludes that the proposed street name conforms to the intent of City Council Policy 6-5.

RECOMMENDATION

Planning staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council approve the proposed Street Name Change.

Stephen M. Haase, AICP, Director

Planning, Building and Code Enforcement