[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of West
Greenwich 9-21-1989 by Ord. No.
55. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Acting under the authority granted under R.I.G.L. § 45-6-1,
as amended, the Town Council of the Town of West Greenwich hereby
enacts this chapter establishing a uniform numbering system for the
numbering of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings and
lots in the Town of West Greenwich. All buildings in the Town of West
Greenwich shall display street numbers in accordance with the provisions
of this chapter.
The standards set forth in this chapter are made for the purpose
of promoting the public health and safety by providing a means of
locating residential and other structures by police, fire, and other
emergency services and for other purposes requiring the location of
residential and other structures as may be required.
This building and lot numbering system shall be administered
by the West Greenwich Town Council, which shall assign building numbers
to all residential, commercial, and industrial structures and lots
in conformity with the plan developed pursuant to this chapter. The
Town Council shall also be responsible for maintaining the following
official records of this numbering system:
A.
A Town map for official use showing said numbering system.
B.
A Town-wide alphabetical list of property owners by last name, showing
the assigned numbers.
C.
A Town-wide alphabetical list of street names that are selected by
the Town Council, with property owners listed in order of their assigned
numbers.
The following criteria shall govern the development of the numbering
system and the assignment of numbers:
A.
Number interval. Each 50 feet of every street shall be assigned one
odd number and one even number on each side of the street.
B.
Odd and even numbers. Odd numbers shall be on the right-hand side
of all streets facing from the point of number origin to the point
of number destination of each street.
C.
Number origins.
(1)
On
through streets which terminate at another street at both ends, numbers
shall start at a designated common point of origin or a designated
major road.
(2)
On
dead-end streets or culs-de-sac, numbers will start at the intersection
of origin of the street and run toward the dead-end or turnaround.
(3)
Exceptions
to either of the above shall be decided on a case-by-case basis.
D.
Common access. Where several residential or other structures are
served by a common driveway or private right-of-way which is not a
street recognized by the Town Council, the number at the entrance
shall apply to all structures served by the drive or way and each
separate structure shall be identified by a suffix letter (e.g., 115A)
in counterclockwise rotation, starting with the structure on the immediate
right of the drive or accessway.
E.
Number assignment. The number assigned to each residence or structure
shall be the number which falls closest to the main entry or driveway
providing access to the property as shown on the official map of street
numbers.
Names shall be chosen that relate to the location and historical
significance of an area.
A.
Unacceptable street names. Numerical (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.), alphabetical
letter (A, B, C, etc.), frivolous, complicated, undesirable, or unconventional
street names are not acceptable.
B.
Affixes. Unnecessary affixes are to be avoided. Terms that may be
utilized are as follows: "East," "West," "North," "South" indicating
direction; "Old," or "New" to indicate changes in differing or separate
roads.
C.
Name duplication. Similar-sounding names are considered to be duplication
regardless of spelling. No duplication of names is to be permitted
within the services of a United States Post Office or local public
agencies such as a police or fire department.
D.
Continuity. A continuous street, or one proposed as continuous, should
bear the same name throughout, even if it changes direction.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
All residents and other occupants are requested to display assigned
numbers in the following manner:
A.
Number on the structure or residence. Where the residence or structure
is within 50 feet of the edge of a street right-of-way, the unobstructed
assigned number shall be displayed on the front of the residence or
structure in the vicinity of the front door or entryway.
B.
Number at the street line. Where the residence or structure is over
50 feet from the edge of the street right-of-way, the unobstructed
assigned number shall be displayed on a mailbox, post, fence, wall
or at the property line adjacent to the walk or access drive to the
residence or structure.
C.
Size and color of the number. Numbers shall be displayed as follows:
The number is to consist of numerals of at least three inches in size
and be of a color that contrasts with the background on which it is
placed and shall be so located as to be easily visible from the street.
No owner, occupant, lessee, tenant, or subtenant of any building shall
display any street number other than the assigned proper street number
designated by the Town Council.
D.
Placing of numbers. Within 30 days after the passage of this chapter
to adopt the numbering system, the owner of the building shall place
the designated number or numbers on the respective building.
Whenever any residence or other structure is constructed or
developed, it shall be the duty of the new owner to procure an assigned
number from the Town Building Official. This shall be done at the
time of the issuance of the building permit.
Any prospective subdivider shall show a proposed lot numbering
system on the preapplication submission to the West Greenwich Planning
Board. After approval of a tentative tract map, the subdivider shall
submit a street naming and numbering proposal to the Planning Board.
The proposal shall consist of: 1) a map of the overall tract illustrating
the street layout, the name proposed for each street and the proposed
number for each lot; and 2) an alphabetical list of the proposed street
names, together with an alternate name for each street name proposed.
The Planning Board shall review the proposed street naming and numbering
program for duplication of names, appropriateness of names, and for
overall compliance with the street naming and numbering policy. The
Planning Board may modify or amend the proposed list as it deems necessary
in order to bring it into compliance with the street naming and numbering
policy. The approved street names and numbering shall be included
in the final map which is submitted for approval and for recordation.
This chapter shall take effect upon passage; and number and
street name assignment shall be initiated by the Town Council upon
completion of the official map of street names and numbers and the
availability of such official map in the office of the West Greenwich
Town Hall.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. I)]
Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be
punished by a fine of not less than $10 and not more than $500 for
each violation.
