MEMORANDUM

TO: Chair and Members of Development Services Committee

FROM: Jim Baird, Commissioner, Development Services

Robert Tadmore, Senior Project Coordinator

DATE: May 25, 2010

RE: Request by Ms. Wendy Stimson for a change of address from 4 Dancer’s Drive to 2 Dancer’s Drive

RECOMMENDATION:

That the request for an address change by Ms. Wendy Stimson from 4 Dancer’s Drive to 2 Dancer’s Drive be denied.

BACKGROUND:

Staff received a request from Ms. Stimson to change the address of her property from 4 Dancer’s Drive to 2 Dancer’s Drive citing her number 4 address as a deterrent for selling her property. Ms. Stimson’s property is the next lot in from the corner lot situated south-west of the intersection of Dancer’s Drive and The Fairways (see Appendix’A’). That corner lot is addressed as 107 The Fairways. In accordance with addressing policy the address 2 Dancer’s Drive is reserved as an alternate address for the corner lot in case the owner wishes to re-address the property.

After reviewing the requested address change, Staff identified conflicts with the Town’s “addressing criteria” and denied the request. Ms. Stimson contacted her Ward Councillor asking for assistance with her address change request. The Ward 6 Councillor was advised by Staff about the reasons for the denial. Ms. Stimson has decided to make a deputation on this matter to Council.

Staff denied the requested address change based on the Council adopted “addressing criteria” that Staff is required to administer when assigning addresses (see Appendix ‘B’). These criteria were developed to ensure a coherent and consistent addressing system within the Town. One of these criteria (# 11) requires the assignment of two addresses to corner lots, one to be used and one to remain reserved in case it is required in the future. When Staff assigns an address to a corner lot at the Plan of Subdivision stage a building permit has not yet been issued and staff are not aware of the orientation of the home with respect to its front façade. Staff typically assigns an address along the front lot line (shorter lot frontage), as was the case for 107

2

The Fairways. If, after construction Staff find that the front entrance of the house is actually located on the longer frontage, as is the case for 107 The Fairways, and the owner requests an address change, Staff will re-address the house on to the frontage where the main entrance is located. This is typically requested by owners because they experience situations where people have trouble locating the home, as the front entrance does not correspond to the street address. The address change may also facilitate emergency response. Staff also reserves the alternate number for corner lots in case the orientation of the front building facade should change in the future through either renovation or new construction.

Given that the front facade and main entrance to the home at 107 The Fairways faces Dancer’s Drive, are actually oriented to Dancer’s Drive, the alternate address for this lot of 2 Dancer’s Drive should be retained for the use of this property. On this basis Staff denied Ms. Stimson’s request to use the address 2 Dancer’s Drive. The current or future owner(s) of 107 The Fairways should have the option of changing their address onto Dancer’s Drive if they feel it would improve identification of their property and facilitate emergency response.

Q:\Development\Planning\Teams\Geomatic\admin\memos\Address Change 4 Dancer’s Drive .doc