§ 74.057. Initiation of change by city.

(a)

A change in the name of a public street may be initiated by the city under any of the following circumstances:

(1)

Upon the annexation by the city of a street having a name that is spelled or sounds similar to an existing street name within the city or the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction;

(2)

In the interest of public safety or to eliminate multiple names along the continuity of a single street, at the request of the city manager;

(3)

In recognition of historical or geographical significance of a street or area or in recognition of a significant personal achievement; or

(4)

For any other reason deemed appropriate by the city council, planning and zoning commission or planning and development services department.

(b)

A city-initiated street name change under subsection (a)(1) or (2) of this section shall initially be considered by the planning and zoning commission, which shall conduct a public hearing on the proposed change. Notice of this hearing shall be given by publication one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the city and by first class mail to all owners of businesses addressed along the street and all owners of property addressed along the street, insofar as they can reasonably be determined, at least ten days in advance of the hearing.

(c)

A city-initiated street name change under subsection (a)(3) or (4) of this section shall initially be considered by the planning and zoning commission only if the city has obtained the consent to the change of more than 50 percent of the owners of businesses addressed along the street and more than 50 percent of the owners of property addressed along the street, insofar as they can reasonably be determined. The planning and zoning commission shall conduct a public hearing on the proposed change. Notice of this public hearing shall be given by publication one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the city and by first class mail to all owners of businesses addressed along the street and owners of property addressed along the street, insofar as they can reasonably be determined, at least ten days in advance of the hearing.

(d)

The planning and zoning commission shall apply the following criteria in determining whether to recommend the proposed change to the city council:

(1)

Multiple names along the continuity of a single street or along two streets that are in substantial alignment shall be avoided;

(2)

Consideration shall be given to historical and geographical significance of a street or area or to the recognition of a significant personal achievement;

(3)

A new street name shall not duplicate or sound phonetically similar to the name of a street already in use in the city or the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction or designated as a future extension in the current thoroughfare plan;

(4)

A new street shall not differ from an existing street name only by the addition of a different auxiliary designation including "avenue," "way," "boulevard," etc.; and

(5)

The planning and zoning commission shall also review any other pertinent criteria in its consideration of a street name change.

(e)

After the planning and zoning commission has considered the proposed change, its recommendation shall be forwarded to the city council.

(f)

The city council shall hold a public hearing, and shall apply the criteria described in subsection (d) of this section in determining whether to approve the change. Changes approved by the city council shall be adopted by separate ordinance and shall be implemented by the planning and development services department.

(g)

The planning and development services department shall notify the appropriate emergency service agencies; gas, telephone and public utility companies; all appropriate city and county offices; the U.S. post office; and the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District of a street name change.

(Code 1970, § 25-9)