[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Bethel 7-22-1996. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to enhance the easy and rapid location
of properties by law enforcement, fire, rescue and emergency medical services
personnel in the Town of Bethel.
This chapter is adopted pursuant to and consistent with the municipal
home rule powers as provided for in Article VIII, Part Second, § 1
of the Constitution of the State of Maine and 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3001.
This chapter shall be administered by the Code Enforcement Officer, who is authorized to and shall assign road names and numbers to all properties, both on existing and proposed roads, in accordance with the criteria in §§ 146-5 and 146-6. The Code Enforcement Officer shall also be responsible for maintaining the following official records of this chapter:
A.
A map of the Town of Bethel for official use showing
road 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 roads with property owners
listed in order of their assigned numbers.
[Amended 6-14-2006]
A.
All roads that serve two or more properties shall be
named regardless of whether the ownership is public or private. "Road" refers
to any highway, road, street, avenue, lane, private way, or similar paved,
gravel, or dirt thoroughfare. "Property" refers to any property on which a
more or less permanent structure has been erected or could be placed. A road
name assigned by the Town of Bethel shall not constitute or imply acceptance
of the road as a public way.
B.
The following criteria shall govern the naming system:
A.
Numbers shall be assigned every 50 feet along both sides
of the road, with even numbers appearing on the left side of the road and
odd numbers appearing on the right side of the road, determined by the number
origin. (The frontage interval may vary in more densely or lightly populated
areas, and it should be so indicated where that particular interval applies.)
B.
The following criteria shall govern the numbering system:
(1)
All number origins shall begin from the designated center
of Bethel or that end of the road closest to the designated center. For dead-end
roads, numbering shall originate at the intersection of the adjacent road
and terminate at the dead end.
(2)
The number assigned to each structure shall be that of
the numbered interval falling closest to the front door. If the front door
cannot be seen from the main road, the number shall be that of the interval
falling closest to the driveway of said structure.
(3)
Every structure with more than one principal use or occupancy
shall have a separate number for each use or occupancy (i.e., duplexes will
have two separate numbers; an apartment will have one road number with an
apartment number).
All owners of structures shall, by the date stipulated in § 146-9, display and maintain in a conspicuous place on said structure the 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 the road right-of-way, the assigned
number shall be displayed on the front of the residence or structure near
the front door or entry.
B.
Number at the street line. Where the residence or structure
is over 50 feet from the edge of the road right-of-way, the assigned number
shall be displayed on a post, fence, wall, the mailbox, or on some structure
at the property line next to the walk or access drive to the residence or
structure.
C.
Size and color of number. Numbers shall be displayed
in a color and size so as to be clearly visible from the road.
D.
Every person whose duty is to display the assigned number
shall remove any different number that might be mistaken for, or confused
with, the number assigned in conformance with this chapter.
E.
Interior location. All residents and other occupants
are requested to post the assigned number and road name next to their telephone
for emergency reference.
All new construction and subdivisions shall be named and numbered in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter and as follows:
A.
New construction. Whenever any residence or other structure
is constructed or developed, it shall be the duty of the new owner to obtain
an assigned number from the Code Enforcement Officer or United States Post
Office. This may be done at the time of the issuance of the building permit.
B.
New subdivisions. Any prospective subdivider shall show
a proposed road name and lot numbering system at the time of application to
the Planning Board. Approval by the Planning Board, after consultation with
the Code Enforcement Officer, shall constitute the assignment of road names
and numbers to the lots in the subdivision. On the final plan showing proposed
roads, the applicant shall mark on the plan lines or dots in the center of
the street every 50 feet to aid in assignment of numbers to structures subsequently
constructed.
[Amended 6-11-2003]
This chapter shall become effective as of July 22, 1996. It shall be
the duty of the Code Enforcement Officer to notify by mail each property owner
and the post office of a new address at least 30 days before the effective
date of its use. It shall be the duty of each property owner to comply with
this chapter, including the posting of new property numbers, within 30 days
following notification. On new structures, numbering will be installed before
final inspection or when the structure is first used or occupied, whichever
comes first.
If the decision of the Code Enforcement Officer regarding naming of roads or numbering of property is objectionable to a property owner, or when it is claimed that the provisions of this chapter do not apply, or that the true intent of this chapter has been misconstrued or wrongfully applied, the aggrieved party may appeal the decision of the Code Enforcement Officer to the Board of Appeals following the procedures set forth in § 140-10 of Chapter 140, Site Plan Review.
