[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Alfred 3-9-1996 by Art. 29. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to enhance the easy and rapid location
of properties for the delivery of public safety and emergency services, postal
delivery and business delivery.
This chapter is adopted pursuant to and consistent with the municipal
home rule powers as provided for in Article VIII, Part 2, Section 1 of the
Constitution of the State of Maine and 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3001.
[Amended 10-9-2007 STM by Art. 3]
This chapter shall be administered by the Board of Selectmen or its
designee who shall assign street names and numbers to all properties, both
on existing and proposed streets. The Board of Selectmen may authorize changes
to the name of a street only after a Selectmen's public hearing is held. The
Board of Selectmen or its designee shall be responsible for maintaining the
following official records of this chapter:
A.
An Alfred map for official use showing street names and
numbers.
B.
An alphabetical list of all property owners as identified
by current assessment records, by last name, showing the assigned numbers.
C.
An alphabetical list of all streets with property owners
listed in order of their assigned numbers.
If any portion of this chapter shall be declared invalid, it shall not
affect any other portion of this chapter.
This chapter may be amended at any Annual or Special Town Meeting.
A.
Any proposal to amend, repeal or replace must be made
in writing to the Board of Selectmen.
B.
A public hearing must be held at least 14 days before
Town Meeting.
C.
Notice of the public hearing must be published in a newspaper
in general circulation at least seven days before the hearing.
D.
Notice of the public hearing must be posted in the Town
Hall seven days before the public hearing.
For the purposes of this chapter the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
Any property on which a more or less permanent structure has been
erected or placed.
Any highway, road, street, avenue, lane, private way, or similar
paved, gravel or dirt way within the Town.
All streets in Alfred that serve two or more addresses shall be named
regardless of whether the ownership is public or private. A street name assigned
by the Town shall not constitute or imply acceptance of the street as a public
way. The following criteria shall govern the naming system:
Numbers shall be assigned every 50 feet along both sides of the street,
with even numbers appearing on the left side and odd numbers appearing on
the right side of the street, determined by the number origin. The following
criteria shall govern the numbering system:
A.
All number origins shall begin from the designated center
of Alfred or that end of the street closest to the designated center. For
dead-end streets, numbering shall originate at the intersection of the adjacent
street and terminate at the dead end.
B.
The number assigned to each improved property shall be
that numbered interval falling closest to the front door or driveway of the
residence or business located on the improved property.
C.
Every improved property with more than one principal
structure shall have a separate number for each structure. Duplexes and apartments
will have one street number with an apartment number, such as (235 Maple Street
Apt. 2).
A.
All owners of improved property shall, on or before the
effective date of this chapter, display and maintain in a conspicuous place
on said property, the assigned numbers in the following manner:
(1)
Number on the structure or residence. Where the residence or
structure is within 50 feet of the edge of the street right-of-way, the assigned
number shall be displayed on the front of the residence or structure in the
vicinity of the front door or entry.
(2)
Number at the street line. Where the residence or structure is
over 50 feet from the edge of the street right-of-way, the assigned number
shall be displayed on a post, fence, wall, mailbox or on some structure at
the property line adjacent to the walk or access drive to the residence or
structure.
(3)
Size and color of numbers. Numbers shall be displayed in a color
which contrasts with the background on which they are placed and shall be
at least four inches high. The numbers shall be located so as to be clearly
visible from the road at all seasons of the year.
(4)
Different numbers to be removed. Every person whose duty it is
to display the assigned number shall remove any different number which might
be mistaken for, or confused with, the number assigned in conformance with
this chapter.
B.
Interior location. All residents and other occupants
are requested to post the assigned number and street name adjacent to their
telephone for emergency reference.
All new developments and subdivisions shall be named and numbered in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter and as follows:
A.
New developments. 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 Board of Selectmen. This shall be done at the
time of the issuance of the building permit.
B.
New subdivisions. Any prospective subdivider shall show
a proposed street name and lot numbering system on the preapplication submission
to the Planning Board. Approval by the Planning Board shall constitute the
assignment of street names and numbers to the lots in the subdivision. On
the final plan showing proposed streets, the applicant shall mark on the plan,
lines or dots, in the center of the streets every 50 feet so as to aid in
assignment of numbers to structures subsequently constructed.
This chapter shall be enforced by the Code Enforcement Officer of the
Town of Alfred.
A.
Property numbers. No person may alter, deface or remove
any number placed on a property in accordance with this chapter, except for
repair or replacement of such number.
B.
Street signs. No person may alter, deface, or remove
any street name sign erected in accordance with this chapter except for repair
or replacement of such sign.
Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to
a civil penalty, payable to the Town, of not less than $100 and not more than
$500 for each violation, together with payment of all attorney's fees
as provided by law. Each day a violation is permitted to continue is a separate
offense.
