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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.d. Renaming County Road 38AGENDA ITEM: Renaming County Road 38 AGENDA SECTION: PREPARED BY: Jamie Verbrugge, City Administrator AGENDA NO. a b. ATTACHMENTS: 1 May 22 Meeting Handout 2 Stakeholder Survey Results 3. Correspondences from McMenomy family members APPROVED BY: RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion S ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL City Council Work Session: June 14, 2006 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ISSUE County Road 38 east of Highway 3 was turned back to the City as part of an agreement with Dakota County in 2005. The City of Rosemount subsequently received a request from members of the McMenomy family in 2005 to consider renaming old County Road 38 as McMenomy Road. BACKGROUND The City Council first discussed the possible renaming of old County Road 38 at Council work sessions in August 2005 and again the following month The stretch between Highway 3 and County Road 71 (Blame Avenue) is variously named 132n Street, Bonaire Path, and 135 Street due to a curve in the road. The request by representatives of the McMenomy family to rename the street as McMenomy Road was based on historical records showing that the road had previously borne that name. At that meeting, the City Council directed staff to seek feedback from property owners regarding the possible renaming of old County Road 38 either as McMenomy Road or as some other designation. Property owners along that stretch of road from Highway 3 to CR 71 were invited to attend a meeting on May 22, 2006, or to provide comments pnor to the meeting Six individuals sent e -mails Five opposed the name change. Three own property along the road. Fourteen people attended the meeting. Six of those attending were members of the McMenomy family. The unscientific survey showed that most felt the street should have one name rather than the three different current designations. That point seemed to be the only general consensus among the attendees. SUMMARY Staff requests that the Council discuss first whether to maintain the road under its current naming system or to rename the entire stretch of road under one designation. If the decision is to rename the stretch, Staff requests direction on what street name should be selected It is anticipated that a street name change would be made effective upon completion of the public improvements scheduled for this year. PUBLIC COMMENT POSSIBLE RENAMING OF OLD COUNTY ROAD 38 Background County Road 38 east of Highway 3 was turned back to local control in 2005. The old county road at various points is currently known by three different names 132" Street, Bonaire Path, and 135 Street The City of Rosemount is considering a name change for the entire stretch from Highway 3 to County Road 71 (Blaine Avenue) Our staff has spoken with the US Postal Service and understands that if the street name changes, each property owner receiving mail at that location would need to file an address change with the Post Office The Post Office would assign a dual address for a period of one year During this one year period, mail recipients would be expected to notify parties that send them mail (such as utilities, banks, family friends, etc) of the address change At the end of one year, only mail addressed to the new name would be delivered Last year, members of the McMenomy Family asked the City to consider renaming that stretch as McMenomy Road One of our local historians, Maureen Geraghty Bouchard, provided documentation from the 1920 US Census showing that the street was previously called McMenomy Road The McMenomy family was first established in Rosemount in 1857 The City also spoke with the County about the naming of streets. In the early 1970s, the City changed its street naming convention to conform to a revised (voluntary) standard that east -west streets be numbered (132" 145 etc) and that north -south streets be named alphabetically depending on the area of the city m which they are located Although the City is not required to follow the street naming system, there are only a few deviations from the numbering approach such as Connemara Trail. and McAndrews Road The City Council discussed this issue in September 2005. At that time, staff was asked to look at alternatives for a name change and to seek feedback from property owners in the area Please provide your thoughts to the questions on the following page and make any other comments that you would like the Council to consider. Please respond to the statements based on the following scale: 1 Strongly Disagree 2 3 4 5 Strongly Agree I think consolidating the entire stretch of Old County Road 38 into one street name is a good idea Renaming a portion or all of Old County Road 38 would create hardship for me. I think renaming all or a portion of the street as McMenomy Road is a good idea. Instead of renaming this street, I think it would be appropriate to name a street or park after the McMenomys within a future residential subdivision if the area currently owned by the McMenomy family develops at some time in the future. I think it would be appropriate to consider naming streets or parks after the property owner that sold the land for development in any future subdivision. I think the City should look at renaming other streets, parks or facilities within the community to recognize our community history. I think it is important to recognize our community history in the naming of streets, parks or facilities If the street name is changed to something other than McMenomy Road, I would suggest Please provide a little information about yourself (responding Y or I): I have a residence along Old County Road 38 I own property along Old County Road 38. The three different street names have created confusion for me or others in the past (for example, when giving directions) If yes, explain. (turn over) I think consolidating the entire stretch of Old County Road 38 into one street name is a good idea 1 1 Strongly Disagree 1 2 0 3 1 4 12 5 Strongly Agree Renaming a portion or all of Old County Road 38 would create hardship for me 10 1 Strongly Disagree 1 2 1 3 1 4 2 5 Strongly Agree I think renaming all or a portion of the street as McMenomy Road is a good idea 3 1 Strongly Disagree 1 2 2 3 0 4 9 5 Strongly Agree Instead of renaming this street, I think it would be appropriate to name a street or park after the McMenomys within a future residential subdivision if the area currently owned by the McMenomy family develops at some tine in the future 3 1 Strongly Disagree 1 2 4 3 1 4 6 5 Strongly Agree I think it would be appropriate to consider naming streets or parks after the property owner that sold the land for development in any future subdivision 2 1 Strongly Disagree 1 2 5 3 1 4 6 5 Strongly Agree I think the City should look at renaming other streets, parks or facilities within the community to recognize our community history 3 1 Strongly Disagree 2 2 5 3 1 4 4 5 Strongly Agree I think it is important to recognize our community history in the naming of streets, parks or facilities 1 1 Strongly Disagree 2 2 3 3 1 4 8 5 Strongly Agree If the street name is changed to something other than McMenomy Road, I would suggest McAndrews 135` St W for Entire Street Please provide a little information about yourself (responding Y or N) 91' 5N I have a residence along Old County Road 38 11Y, 3 N I own property along Old County Road 38 4Y, 6N The three different street names have created confusion for me or others in the past (for example, when giving directions) If yes, explain There is an east and west plus 2 names off Hwy 3. Really hard to tell people where to turn Usually a street that continues around a curve doesn't need a new name When giving directions As an appraiser realtor it has caused confusion Other Comments NONE 01 II TI IL UN` LRSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER LINM HOSPITALS May 31, 2006 Rosemount City Council 2875145'" Street West Rosemount, MN 55068 -4997 Dear City Councilmembers I am writing to express my support for the re- naming of Old County Road 38 to McMenomy Road Although I grew up in Saint Paul, I have always felt a strong attachment to Rosemount I have deep family roots there, and spent significant time dunng my childhood in it I have always felt a keen affection for its natural beauty and unique sense of community, history, and culture Over the years I have watched it grow and change, yet I admire how it continues to honor its heritage and roots, blending the past with the future so effectively. In my opinion it is this sense of community and tradition which sets Rosemount apart and gives it a local flavor and character distinguishable from other parts of the metro area or the state For these reasons I support the use of names reflecting local history and community in area roads, particularly when those names have been previously used for a road, whether officially or unofficially. While I understand the impracticality of changing back at once all the names of roads currently designated with genenc numbers to their original names, in the case of County Road 38 it will likely have to be changed to something else, given that it is now owned by the city Practically speaking, it makes more sense to give the road one name rather than the current three (132 Bonaire Path, and 135 I can speak from experience in saying that giving directions down this one road with three names can be confusing to say the least. And as at least one census document shows, this road has histoncally been known as McMenomy Road 1 think it prudent to restore this name to the road, as it passes by both the location of the homestead of one of the original founders of Rosemount of that name, whose house is now undergoing restoration for public exhibit at the Dakota County histoncal village in Farmington, as well the current McMenomy farmstead built by his son Any new roads developed could not dam this local histoncal significance The restoration of the County Road 38 name to McMenomy Road would be in keeping with the wonderful Rosemount tradition of hononng its unique local history and hentage. This is a trait I have always admired about the Rosemount community, and is one of the reasons I hope to move there after finishing my residency in intemal medicine here at the University of New Mexico and Albuquerque Veteran's Affairs hospitals I would greatly appreciate your support in helping Rosemount to continue to honor its past while moving into a bold new future Sincerely, Ted McMenomy, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine PGY1- University of New Mexico Hospital 2211 Lomas Blvd. N.E Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106 (505) 272.2111 June 2, 2006 City of Rosemount Mayor and Council members 2875 145 Street West Rosemount, MN 55068 Re: McMenomy Road Dear Honorable Mayor and Council members: Edward McMenomy was born in Donegal, Ireland in 1819. As an adult, he came to America and lived briefly in New York where he met his wife. Family legend has it that while in New York he worked to eam enough money to pay for his seven sisters to Jom him from Ireland. On May 25, 1857, Edward McMenomy purchased land along what is now called 135 Street and moved to Rosemount with his wife and seven sisters Records prove he was both an active member of the community and entrepreneur during Rosemount's earliest years. He financed and operated one of the first stores in Rosemount, a general store that opened in the fall of 1869 called O'Bnen and Bnce (O'Brien was the marred name of one of his sisters). Edward ran the store until his death in 1873.11e also served on the Rosemount Township Board in 1864, and served as County Commissioner on the Dakota County Board from 1871 until his death m 1873. Perhaps more lasting than the public offices he held and the business he established, are the descendants of Edward McMenomy that still remain m Rosemount today. Names of many people easily found by flipping through Rosemount's phone book or walkmg through St. Patrick's or St. Joseph's Cemeteries, are related through Edward or his sisters These names include not only McMenomy, but also Brice, Chapdelame, Corrigan, Cunningham, Dooley, Dowd, Dowds, Doyle, Erler, Ervasti, Fischer, Geraghty, Hynes, Kelly, McDonald, McGinley, McGinnis, McLafferty, O'Brien, Oster, Ryan, Ward and Whalen Numerous members of all these families can trace a portion of their roots back to Rosemount's founding through the original McMenomy homestead along 135 Street (which used to be called McMenomy Road until the mid 1900's). The original home built by Edward himself was moved last year to the Dakota County Fairgrounds for preservation by the Dakota County Historical Society. The story of Edward McMenomy is remarkable not only because it represents a link to Rosemount's very founding, but also because, 149 years later, so many of Rosemount's citizens are here in part because of him Meanwhile, five generations of McMenomys have lived along 135 Street and the family tradition of farming which he began in 1857 continues to this day. It is for all these reasons that I respectfully ask the Council to consider returnmg 135'" Street to its original name, McMenomy Road, when it upgrades the road to accommodate planned future development. By domg so, a lasting tribute to Rosemount's collective history would be readily achieved while preparing for the arrival of the new families who will soon call Rosemount home. On the eve of its 150` anniversary, what better way to symbolize Rosemount's past mbracing its future Brendan McMenomy, M D. 2346 McKinley St NE Minneapolis, MN 55418 I would like to acknowledge and thank John McMenomy for his extensive research into the history of Rosemount and Edward McMenomy.