HomeMy WebLinkAboutNaming Policy of Open Space Preserves, Lands & ImprovementsNaming of Open Space Preserves, Lands and hnprovements; Policy concerning
Adopted by Southold Town Board November 22, 2011; Resolution 2011-794
Naming of Open Space Preserves~ Lands and Improvements; Polic~ concerning
A policy or guide for discretiouary actiou of the Towu of Southold
Purpose:
To assure durable, communicative and appropriate names for open space preserves, lands and
improvements thereon.
Applicability:
Applicable to the naming of all preserves, open space lands and durable improvements thereon
where the Town of Southold holds full or partial interest -- any open space parcel, grouping of
such parcels or improvements thereon such as memorial plaques, trails, benches and the like -
regardless of the funding source. This policy includes guidelines for honoring individuals,
corporations, groups, and organizations.
Naming Actions:
1. Naming actions may be initiated by anyone, but naming power is vested in the Town
Board.
2. When initiated by the Land Preservation DepartmenffCommittee, the Department will
prepare a recommendation pursuant to this policy and forward it to the Town Board for
action.
3. When initiated by the Town Board, the Board will prepare a proposal and invite written
review by the Land Preservation Department/Committee.
4. When initiated by any other entity, the recommendation shall be directed to the Land
Preservation Department and will be considered an action of the Land Preservation
DepartmenffCommittee.
5. Recommendations responsive to the Criteria should be delivered to the Town Board
within 30-90 days of receipt of the proposal. The recommendation shall be in writing and
include a brief listing of reasons upon which the recommendation is based.
Criteria for Naming:
1. The name recommended should be appropriate to the use of the asset and aid in
communicating the use intended. This can be done by reference to a natural feature,
specification of the use, or by identification with the qualities of its namesake, or a
combination of these means.
2. If the name is based upon a natural feature, that feature should be on or near the asset.
3. If the asset is to be named to honor an individual, the community standing, reputation,
character and accomplishments of the person or entity for whom the preserve or preserve
component is to be named shall be exemplary.
4. If the asset is to be named in honor of a deceased individual, the individual should have
been deceased for at least 9 months prior to the naming of the asset and the individual
should have provided outstanding service specifically to protecting natural resources in
the Town of Southold over a period of years. When a naming proposal involves the use
of the name of a deceased person, approval is contingent on the agreement of that
person's next of kin or estate.
5. If the asset is to be named in honor of a living individual, that individual should have
provided outstanding service specifically to protecting natural resources in the Town of
Southold over a period of many years. Assets shall not be named for individuals
currently employed by the Town of Southold.
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Naming of Open Space Preserves, Lands and hnprovements; Policy concerning
Adopted by Southold Town Board November 22, 2011; Resolution 2011-794
6. Consistent with the management plan, if the asset is to be named in honor of an
individual who has not provided outstanding service specifically to protecting natural
resources in the Town of Southold, or in honor of any corporation/group/organization,
then the entity should have contributed at least 85% of the acquisition cost of the property
or 100% of the costs in the case of a park improvement (e.g., park bench, trail creation).
The individual or entity should also agree to pay the cost of purchasing and installing, the
plaque or other form of dedication.
7. With the express consent of the donor, if an open space parcel is donated to the Town's
Open Space Program, the preserve may be named in honor of the donor and such an act
considered in light of its natural resource value to the community.
8. If an individual or organization, after which property has been named, comes into
disrepute within the Town of Southold, the Land Preservation Committee may
recommend to the Town Board that the use of the name be discontinued.
Technical Criteria:
1. The same, or very similar, name should not be applied to any other open space
preserve or component thereof.
2. Preserves named for individuals under this policy should not be considered for
renaming for at least 15 years.
3. Where a person, organization or corporation's name is used to identify a preserve,
the words "Town of Southold" and its logo shall also appear.
4. If the asset is jointly owned and the contract stipulates naming requirements and/or
signage requirements, these issues shall be negotiated by the Land Preservation
DepartmenffCommittee and the resolution specified in the recommendation.
5. A managemenffstewardship plan containing preserve name, feature names and
signage is to be construed as a naming recommendation.
Memorial Plaques and Signs: 1. As a general policy, there shall only be signs to identify the preserve.
2. Proposed memorial text must be submitted for approval with the naming proposal as all
text must be reviewed and approved by the Land Preservation Department/Committee.
Consistent with this naming procedure, the Department will prepare a recommendation
and forward it to the Town Board for action.
3. All proposed memorials must be compatible with the property's stewardship
management plan.
4. The content of the memorial text must be associated with the asset.
5. Memorial plaques shall be no larger than 11" x 17"
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