§ 258-6. Street numbering principles., Chapter 258. Street Naming and Building Numbering, 2: Select Board Regulations, Code of Ordinances, Groton

Application of numbering principles: It is unrealistic to think that a numbering method can be described for every possible combination of building type, building design, road type, building orientation relative to the street, placement of external entrances, etc. Accordingly, the Town Manager or his/her designee will generally apply these numbering principles, using his/her reasonable discretion and judgment, when assigning numbers. It is important that numbers be assigned consistently to like or very similar situations. In this regard, when truly new numbering situations present themselves, the Town Manager will collaborate with the Fire Chief, the Building Commissioner, the E-9-1-1 Database Liaison, and the Information Technology Manager and agree on a solution. The agreed-on solution for the particular situation will be documented and used each time a like or very similar situation presents itself in the future. These documented situation-specific numbering solutions may be consolidated and included in future revisions to these regulations.

Campuses: In recognition of their nonstandard roads, driveways, and building layouts, campuses and campuslike properties shall adopt a numbering scheme that is mutually agreeable to the campus owner and to the Groton Fire Chief. In reaching this mutual agreement, both parties will give the highest priority to facilitating the fastest and most accurate response by both Town and mutual-aid emergency service responders.

Road ownership category. These street numbering principles apply regardless of the legal ownership category of the roadway upon which vehicles traverse.

Number interval method:

(1)

This method shall be used to assign numbers for residential and nonresidential buildings.

(2)

Numbers will be based on twenty-foot intervals along the center line of the street.

Single street number with unit designation:

(1)

As a general rule, buildings with multiple external entrances will have each external entrance assigned a unit letter. When frontage on the street makes this impossible or impractical, the building will be assigned a street number using the twenty-foot-interval method.

(2)

All units with external entrances will be assigned an alphabetic unit designation starting, when facing the building from the vehicular access, beginning with the lefthand corner and progressing from left to right (in a counter-clockwise direction) as shown on the following diagram:

(3)

All units with internal entrances will be assigned an alphabetic unit designation from left to right alternating along the inside of the hallway as shown on the following diagram:

(4)

All units with internal entrances in buildings with multiple floors will be assigned a floor number followed by an alphabetic unit designation from left to right alternating along the inside of the hallway. Units accessed by a separate external entrance shall be assigned a floor number followed by an alphabetic unit designation as shown on the following diagram:

Numbers assigned to driveway or front entrance: Numbers shall be assigned based on the location of the vehicular access to the building. Consideration may be given by the Building Commissioner, for new buildings, and by the Fire Chief, for existing buildings, to the assignment of numbers based on where the building faces the road when there is a demonstrated need for assigning the number in such a manner.

Numbers assigned to through streets: Through street numbering will begin at the end of the street with the shortest straight-line distance to the corner of Main Street and Station Avenue.

Even/Odd numbers: Starting at the end of the street with the shortest straight-line distance to the corner of Main Street and Station Avenue, the lefthand side of the street will be assigned odd numbers and the righthand side of the street will be assigned even numbers.

Hammerhead lots and other lots with obstructed visibility from the roadway: Within areas where development is situated on hammerhead lots or lots with obstructed visibility from the vehicular access to the building, the location of the residential building must be considered. When a building is located a considerable distance from the roadway or visibility to the building is obstructed from the roadway, the building number shall be determined using the vehicular access to the roadway.

Private rights-of-way (Residential):

(1)

In situations where three or fewer buildings are located on a private unnamed right-of-way (sometimes referred to as a "shared driveway"), each residential building will be assigned a building number off the connecting public right-of-way or street. (See Chapter 381, Part 4, Shared Driveways, of the Code of the Town of Groton.)

(2)

In situations where more than three residential structures are located on a private unnamed right-of-way (sometimes referred to as a "shared driveway"), the private drive shall be named. The Town Manager shall solicit and consider, but need not use, name suggestions from property owners on the road. Once a name has been approved, a Town standard street name sign shall be installed. (See Attachment 1 to Chapter 381, Code of the Town of Groton.)

(3)

The buildings shall be numbered according to these principles using the number interval method. The property numbers shall be posted in accordance with the Town's street name sign standards.

Fractional numbers: Fractional numbers shall not be used. Alphabetical suffixes are acceptable when a secondary property designation must be assigned and no valid number is available. Alphanumeric suites and apartment numbers may also be used.

Use of "L" or "R" as a suffix: Use of the letter "L" to designate "left" or the letter "R" to designate "right" or the rear of a numbered building shall not be used.

Use of LL as a prefix or suffix: The letters "LL" shall be used only to designate lower level and may not be used for any other purpose.

Campuses: Campuses and campus-like complexes shall mark each and every building on the campus using a numbering system that is mutually agreeable to the Town of Groton and the property owner or owners. In reaching such mutual agreement, facilitation of rapid and correct response for public safety personnel shall be the highest priority consideration. Designation of campuses and campus-like complexes for numbering purposes shall be at the sole discretion of the Fire Chief.

Duplexes: Each unit in a duplex dwelling shall be assigned an alphanumeric designation in accordance with the provisions stated for multifamily houses.

Multifamily Houses: Each unit in a multifamily dwelling shall be assigned an alphanumeric designation as follows:

(1)

For single-story multifamily dwellings, the unit's designation shall be composed of one or more alphabetic characters.

(2)

For multistory multifamily dwellings, the unit's designation shall be composed of one or more numeric characters followed by one or more alphabetic characters. Spaces or hyphens between the numeric characters and alphabetic characters are not allowed. The numeric characters shall identify the floor upon which the unit is located, and the alphabetical characters shall uniquely identify the unit on that floor.

(3)

Each floor in a multifamily building shall be assigned a unique floor number from top to bottom, with the ground floor being the first floor and increasing sequentially for each floor above the first floor, except basement units which shall be assigned the prefix "LL" (lower level).

(4)

Each unit on a floor in a multifamily building shall be designated alphabetically with Unit A starting at the left corner of the building when facing the building from the vehicular access to the building. If there are more than 26 units on a floor, Unit 27 will be designated "AA," Unit 28 will be "BB" and so forth. Basement units shall be designated with the prefix LL (lower level) followed by an optional floor number and unit letter. Examples:

(a)

The eighth unit from the left front corner of the building of a single-story multifamily dwelling would have the designation "H."

(b)

The fifth unit from the left front corner of the building on the second floor of a multifloor multifamily dwelling would have the designation "2E."

(c)

The 29th unit from the left front corner of the building on the third floor of a multifloor multifamily dwelling would have the designation "3CC."

Numbering of accessory apartments: When an accessory apartment has been authorized on a particular piece of property, the primary residence shall use the assigned street number for the property . The accessory residence shall use the assigned street number for the property followed by an "A."

Apartments and residential condominiums: Each primary private access road to an apartment or residential condominium complex with three or more buildings shall be named, and a standard Groton street sign shall be installed. At the sole discretion of the Town Manager, in cases where the apartment units or residential condominiums are located near the vehicular access to the building or along shallow parking areas along the street, a separate street name may not be required.

Multiple-use properties: Each separate building should be assigned an individual number. For properties with narrow street frontage, the numbers may be borrowed from the next available number when necessary.

Commercial, office and industrial complexes: A choice must be made among several methods:

(1)

Assign the number to the main building where all of the mail is to be received. Auxiliary buildings may be assigned separate numbers.

(2)

Each principal building in the complex may require a separate number.

(3)

For strip mall type shopping center developments, one number shall be assigned to each freestanding building in the strip mall, and each individual business shall be assigned a unique alphabetic unit or suite designation. Basement units shall be designed with the prefix "LL" (lower level). For security and emergency response purposes, the business name and assigned address of each business shall be placed on all of its entrances and loading areas.

(4)

Interior mall shopping centers shall have one number assigned for the entire mall. Individual businesses shall be assigned a unique alphabetic unit or suite number. For security and emergency response purposes, units in such interior mall shopping centers with individual external entrances shall display the business name and assigned address at all external entrances and loading areas.