DEPARTMENT: Development Services Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Roderick J. Sanchez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 6
SUBJECT:
STREET NAME CHANGE CASE S16-003 (District 6): A street name change request to change the name of Enrique M Barrera Pkwy/Historic Old Hwy 90 (Memorial Designation) to “Old Hwy 90” between U.S. Hwy 90 and Commerce Street. Staff Recommends denial.
SUMMARY:
Michael Cooremans, a property owner on Enrique M Barrera Pkwy and the owner of the 4M Auto Supply Company. He and several other property owners are requesting to change the name of Enrique M Barrera Pkwy to Old Hwy 90. City Council on September 3, 2015 changed the street name to Enrique M Barrera Pkwy. COSA street signs have been installed, TxDot has installed 2 of the 17 signs and property owners have started to update their addresses to Enrique M Barrera Pkwy. To change the name of the street back to Old Hwy 90 would cause confusion and in some cases a financial hardship for the citizens who have recently changed their addresses. Further, the proposed street name change is similar to U.S. Hwy 90 and confusion of the similar names may increase emergency response time. Staff recommends denial.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Applicants include: Michael Cooremans, owner 4M Auto Supply; Victor M. Aguilera, owner Aguilera Auto Parts; Hasmukh Patel, owner Sumitra, LLC.; Homero Guerrero, owner Warrior Tire: Electric Shop; Gurishkumar Patel, owner Bhagvan Inc. DBA: Rodeway Inn Lackland; Travel Inn; Javier Gutierrez, owner Del Bravo Record Shop; Frank and Cynthia De La Garza owner De La Garza Fence; Aurelio A. Franco, owner Old Danny’s Cocina; Ricardo J. Araua, owner US 90 Auto Center; Theresa & Johnny Hernandez, owners La Gloria Molino; Diana Morina, Owner, Ruben’s Garage, Inc; and Jahid Aragwala-AG, owner Save and Smile.
Owner of Street: City of San Antonio
Current Street Name: Enrique M Barrera Pkwy/Historic Old Hwy 90 (Memorial Designation)
Requested Street Name: Old Hwy 90
Applicants’ reasons for request:
• To enhance a neighborhood through the association of a street name with its location, area characteristics, and history in accordance with Chapter 6 Section 672(d)(8) of the City Code.
• Many businesses are having to spend an excess amount of time explaining to customers that the address change is not because the business has moved locations.
• GPS systems and maps (including iPhone Maps) do not reflect the name change causing misdirections, frustration and confusion. Searches have sent customers to Enrique St. nearby, creating more misunderstandings.
• Business owners were initially ignored as more than 100 business owners opposed the original name change to Enrique M Barrera Pkwy.
• Of 226 notices that were mailed out to adjacent property owners (impacted community), a total of Zero (0) in favor of the name change were returned.
• The name change process has been puzzling as it was first presented as a way to ‘recognize Enrique M. Barrera for his service’ but has also been construed as a ‘safety precaution’ then yet again as a reason to revitalize the community and eliminate the word ‘old’. However, none of these reasons were requests made by community members/businesses owners of which the name change impacts most along Old Hwy 90 W.
Planning Commission Hearing Date:
August 10, 2016 - The Applicant requested a continuance until the August 24, 2016 Planning Commission meeting.
August 24, 2016 - The Planning Commission recommended approval to change the name back to Old Hwy 90.
Street Segment Size: Approximately 22,158 Linear Feet (4.20 miles)
Analysis:
Application: Received July 19, 2016
Property Address Location: Generally located between U.S. Hwy 90 and Commerce Street.
Street Segment Size: Approximately 22,158 Linear Feet
Notification:
-Notices mailed October 6, 2016 to two hundred thirty-two (232) property owners abutting the segment of the street proposed for a name change.
-Development Services Department Website posting August 30, 2016
-To the present, staff has received seventy-three (73) written responses from the adjacent property owners in support of the change and zero (0) in opposition.
Inter-jurisdictional Review:
In accordance with Section 6-675 of the City Code, the following agencies reviewed the proposed street name change request:
• Alamo Regional Mobility Authority;
• Bexar County;
• Bexar Metro 9-1-1
• City Public Service (“CPS”) Energy;
• Edgewood ISD
• San Antonio Water System (“SAWS”)
• TXDOT;
• United States Postal Service (“USPS”); and
• VIA Metropolitan Transit.
The City of San Antonio did not receive any objection or concerns to the proposed street name change from these agencies. The USPS approved the proposed street name on November 10, 2015, in accordance with Section 6-675 of the City Code and 35-506(h)(1) of the Unified Development Code (“UDC”). (ATTACHMENT 3)
Interdepartmental Review:
All City Departments reviewed the proposed request in accordance with Section 6-675 of the City Code. There were no objections or concerns to the proposed change or new street name from other City Departments.
ISSUE:
The street name of Old Hwy 90 was changed by Ordinance No. 2015-09-03-0747 on September 3, 2015 to Enrique M Barrera Pkwy with the memorial designation of “Historic Old Hwy 90” through a City Council Request. All of the signs on the COSA surface streets have been change to Enrique M Barrera Pkwy and the citizens have begun changing their addresses. TXDOT has manufactured and installed 2 of the 17 signs along U.S. Hwy 90 and State Hwy 151.
Additional fees may be required depending on the outcome and consideration by City Council. The street signs to change the name to Enrique M Barrera Pkwy with the Historic Old Hwy 90 Memorial Designation are in the process of being installed. Since the September 2015 City Council decision, TxDot has executed a contract with a third party contractor to change the existing Old Hwy 90 signs. The contract identifies that any changes to the sign project after the contract Change Order date of January 1, 2017 may incur additional fees. If City Council considers this item after January 1, 2017 and City Council supports the applicants’ request, the additional fees according to TxDot may amount up to $100,000.00. The applicant will be required to pay the additional contract sign fees.
At this time, the TxDot Sign Replacement fee in the amount of $10,000.00 only covers the cost of two (2) signs on Hwy 90. If City Council action is taken prior to January 1, 2017 regardless of the outcome, there would be no additional fees owed.
ALTERNATIVES:
Approve the applicants’ request.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the City. The fees associated with the request total $32,044.00 and have been paid by the applicant. The fees include a $1,000.00 application fee, $1,044.00 notification fee, and $30,000.00 to manufacture and install signs. Of this amount, $20,000 is for the City to manufacture and install twenty-four (24) Overhead Street Name Signs and one hundred twenty-four (124) ground mounted Street Name signs and $10,000 is for the replacement fee for two (2) overhead signs on U.S. Hwy 90.
RECOMMENDATION:
Given that City Council on September 3, 2015 changed the street name to Enrique M Barrera Pkwy, COSA street signs have only recently been installed. TxDot is in the process of installing new signs and property owners have started to update their addresses. To change the name of the street back to Old Hwy 90 at this time would cause confusion and in some cases a financial hardship for the citizens who have recently changed their addresses. Further, the proposed street name change is very similar to U.S. Hwy 90 and is not consistent with Chapter 6 Section 672(d) of City Code due to the conflicts with multiple street names, which may increase emergency response time. Staff recommends denial.