ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: May 1, 2001
Author/Local: Larry Cantrell/7407

RTS File No. 2710

CC File No. 5527

Council: May 14, 2002

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Street Naming Committee
SUBJECT:	New Public Street Name - New Brighton Road

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT a public street, running generally eastwards from Yale Street to a point near Rupert Street and partially serving as the southern boundary to New Brighton Park, be named New Brighton Road.

B. THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to bring forward the appropriate amendments to the Street Name By-Law.

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The City Manager RECOMMENDS approval of A and B.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council uses the Street Name By-Law, No. 4954, to name and regulate public roads in the City of Vancouver. The Street Naming Committee, a staff team, is chaired by the City Clerk, and comprised of the City Surveyor, representatives of the Planning, Legal Services, Permits & Licenses, and Fire & Rescue Services Departments. The Committee is responsible for the management of a consistent, integrated and duplication-free street name system.

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council approval for naming a new public street, extending between Yale Street and a point near Rupert Street and which will serve as a southern boundary for New Brighton Park for a portion of its length, as New Brighton Road. (See attached plan.)

DISCUSSION

In 1880, George Black, Vancouver pioneer, slaughterhouse operator and hotelier, built the New Brighton House near Burrard Inlet as a summer retreat and spa. By 1886, according to Major Matthews, Vancouver's first Archivist, the New Brighton House was regarded as the most fashionable watering place in all of British Columbia. The fashionable old hotel has long since disappeared, but its name lives on in New Brighton Park, which marks its former location.

For part of its length, the public street under consideration marks the southern boundary of New Brighton Park. It was first brought to the attention of the Street Naming Committee in early 1998, when the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation requested the Committee to consider the name, Brighton Road for the then-proposed street. At that time, the SNC noted that there was already a Broughton Street in Vancouver and that streets bearing the names Brighton, Breton and Britton were to be found elsewhere in Greater Vancouver. It was the opinion of the SNC then, as it is now, that the addition of another Brighton had a potential for creating confusion during emergency situations.

Out of consideration for the history of the area and to minimize any confusion of names, the Street Naming Committee recommends that Council approve the name, New Brighton Road.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver