Comments sought on changing street name

The idea to consolidate and rename a series of connected streets that starts as East College Parkway in north Carson City and ends as Fairview Drive drew only a few comments from the public Tuesday.

Residents were concerned about the cost to change addresses and building signs if the seven-mile stretch of streets that includes seven names currently was changed to one name.

Planning commissioners also didn't voice major objections or positive comments about the idea. Instead, public comments will be taken by city mapping staff, and the idea will continue only if enough interest is gathered.

"Any action would be done by the Board of Supervisors," said Scott Royal, manager of the city Geographic Information Systems department. "There's no definite time line."

Royal said the idea will be to gather ideas for names and time lines and not push the project.

Consolidating the streets that carry traffic around the east side of the city would be easier for businesses to advertise or give directions to customers, Royal said. With the city continuing to grow, city staff was looking for a way to address traffic issues.

"We looked at Carson City overall, and it just kind of popped out there," Royal said. "There's a natural road there to go to."

No official name for the future boulevard has been selected. The name would have to be decided upon by a vote of city supervisors. The Carson Area Chamber of Commerce submitted a letter to the city Tuesday asking for a definite time line to be set if the road was consolidated into a boulevard, said Community Planning Director Walt Sullivan.

City staff suggested if a decision were made, businesses and residents would get six months to change the name on business cards and materials, and the U.S. Postal Service would continue to deliver mail to old street addresses.

Residents who spoke at the meeting Tuesday said they were concerned the change would confuse drivers who are used to the old names. But one man said he thinks using one name would make it easier for people traveling into the city from other areas to find where they were going.

- Anyone interested in suggesting names for the street or has concerns or comments about the idea can call Royal at 887-2298, ext. 1501.