Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names- Governing Documentation, Policies, and Procedures

REVISED POLICIES & PROCEDURES

of the

Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names

Article 1

SCOPE OF REVIEW

Section 1                    Federal Alignment of Standards

The Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names (ASBGHN) adheres to the Principles, Policies, and Procedures of the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) for all proposals, including geographic features, places of historic significance, parkways, historic roads, scenic roads, and other features or areas under its jurisdiction.

The ASBGHN has approved additional policies and procedures to inform its unique considerations for the State of Arizona, as described below.

Section 2                    Items Considered

The ASBGHN shall consider proposals for new names or the renaming of geographic features, places of historic significance, parkways, historic roads, or scenic roads.

Section 3                    Proposals

The ASBGHN accepts proposals from members of the public on a rolling basis. Proposals are considered in the order they are received, and are subject to a minimum 60-day review period prior to being eligible for addition to the agenda of the next Board meeting.

All name proposals must include a completed application, supporting documentation, and a map showing the location of the feature. Proponents must specify under which defined item within the ASBGHN’s scope their request falls (Article 2, Section 2); applicants are encouraged to contact the ASBGHN staff with any questions. Additional information and submission of proposals may be conducted through the ASBGHN website. Proponents of the proposal are requested to conduct primary outreach and solicitation to stakeholders and nearby or associated Native Nations to provide for a more complete application.

Proposals may be submitted by any members of the public or a government agency, but must be subject to public input prior to any formal consideration by the Board.

Proposals are subject to a two-level review process, beginning first with an evaluation based on the completeness and qualifying nature of the application, commensurate with the required components as described in the application packet. This evaluation shall be completed by the ASBGHN Research Staff and presented to the Board for its approval to advance for a full consideration. Upon passage of the preliminary application, the proposal shall be referred to the ASBGHN research staff for a consultation period of no less than 60-days review before its return presentation to the full Board at its next-scheduled meeting.

At its discretion, the Board may vote to return a proposal back either to the proponent or ASBGHN research staff to obtain additional information or clarification or to solicit additional feedback.

Section 4                    Commercial Associations & Endorsements

The Board discourages and will not approve a new name or a name change for a geographic feature where that name is identified with a commercial enterprise or which can be associated with a business that could be promoted as a result of having a geographic feature so named, unless an overriding need is demonstrated to the Board’s satisfaction.

Section 5                    Memorial Namings

The Board adheres to the standards as used by its governing statute and the United States Board on Geographic Names, as they describe the assignment of memorial namings to geographic features, places of historic significance, parkways, historic roads, or scenic roads.  As is permissible by Arizona law and statute, these definitions, qualifications, and restrictions shall apply forward to any future changes, reductions, or additions in scope to the Board’s naming and designation authority.

The ASBGHN will consider proposals to apply names or nicknames of deceased persons to geographic features, places of historic significance, parkways, historic roads, scenic roads, and other features or areas under its jurisdiction. The ASBGHN will only accept proposals for names that are intended to honor a person or persons deceased at least five years. The ASBGHN will disapprove names that could be construed to honor living persons.

Article 2 

DESIGNATION OF PARKWAYS, HISTORIC, AND SCENIC ROADS

Section 1                    Compliance with Naming Conventions

The ASBGHN adheres to the standards and definitions of terms as used by its governing statute and the United States Board on Geographic Names.

Section 2                    Definitions

• “Geographic features” means mountains, canyons, gulches, streams, streambeds or channels whether flowing or dry, natural bridges, natural lakes, natural monuments, mesas, deserts, forests, springs, water holes, cliffs, chasms, and other similar natural objects, places, or things.

• “Historic road” means a highway, street, road, or route that is of historical or cultural significance in the settlement and development of this state and that is established or designated as a historic road by the Board.

• “Intactness” means the integrity of the visual order in the natural and human-built landscape, and the extent to which the landscape is free from visual encroachment.

• “Parkway” means an area along either or both sides of a highway, street, road, or route that is acquired in fee or by easement by the governmental body having jurisdiction over the highway, street, road, or route for the protection of geographic, natural flora, or scenic values and that is established or designated as a parkway by the Board.
• “Places of historical significance” or “historic place” means objects, places, or things that are associated with or named after people, places, or events of historical significance, including historic roads, parkways, artificial bridges, dams, artificial lakes, parks, mining districts, artificial monuments, roads, trails, or other similar artificial objects, places, or things.

• “Scenic road” means a highway, street, road, or route through a scenic area that is established or designated as a scenic road by the Board.

• “Unity” means the degree to which the visual aspects of the landscape elements join together to form a harmonious composite of visual patterns.

• “Viewshed” means the three visual areas that can be seen in general continuation or from a specific stopping point on or near a roadway, and which may be considered in the evaluation of a proposal’s Intactness, Unity, and Vividness for a new or change request of a historic road, parkway, or scenic road. These areas are recognized as:
  • Foreground – the area up to one-third mile from the edge of the roadway, where individual parts or features are distinguishable.
  • Middleground – the area beginning one-third from the edge of the roadway and extending to three miles from the roadway, where individual parts or features are distinguishable.
  • Backway – the area more than three miles from the roadway, where individual parts or features are distinguishable.

• “Vividness” means the memorability of the visual impression received from the contrasting landscape elements, as they combine to form a striking and distinctive visual pattern.

Section 3                    Evaluation & Impact

• Historic evaluations are based on documented instances of historical value and relevance, as confirmed by multiple State and Federal agencies and departments, including the Arizona Historical Society, the Arizona State Library and Archives, and the US Board on Geographic Names.

• Scenic evaluations are based on the visual quality of an area, as defined by its vividness, intactness, and unity.

• Evaluation of Parkway proposals may consider the scenic and/or historic criteria, access, and corridor protective restrictions, interagency agreement, and certain economic factors. Its designation allows for the development of appropriate facilities such as visitor centers, rest areas, trails, etc., so that the resource may be safely and responsibly enjoyed at a more intimate and leisurely level. Parkway proposals must:
  • Demonstrate one-mile minimum distance between access roads.
  • Meet the established criteria for either a historic or scenic road.
  • Demonstrate appropriate space obtainable for interpretive area(s) with parking and visitor facilities.
  • Controlled access and development of adjacent property rights obtained by the Arizona State Transportation Board or other governments.

• Evaluation of Historic road proposals may consider the historical or cultural significance of the route, historical or cultural significance of the area, the route’s proximity to the historical area, and uniqueness.
  • Impact of the route considers both any assumed increase to deterioration, damage, or loss at the historic/cultural heritage route, as well as the value and significance of the historic/cultural heritage route within the national, state, regional, or local framework. That historical impact may be demonstrated in fields such as transportation, commerce, architecture, history, archaeology, mining, agriculture, and culture.
  • Impact of the area considers the significance of the historical place or road to the exploration, settlement, or development of Arizona.
  • Proximity considers the proximity of the proposed road to the historical place or road, in places that provide physical and/or visual access.
  • Uniqueness considers the relative scarcity or abundance of a given type of the identified historic or cultural heritage resource.

• Evaluation of Scenic Road proposals are based on the level of the overall visual quality of the designated area, and not just individual landscape components.

Article 3

MEETINGS

Section 1                    Meeting Dates

The preferred meeting date of the ASBGHN Board is the fourth Tuesday of the first month of each quarter. If practicable, in event of a reschedule, dates shall be reserved for the fourth Tuesday of the remaining two (2) months of the quarter. In the event of no pending matters on the docket, the Chair may reschedule to the next quarterly meeting.

Section 2                    Resubmission & Appeal

Applicants may resubmit a proposal up to three (3) times following a negative vote by the ASBGHN Board; proposals may be resubmitted for any future Board meeting, but may be subject to an additional review by research staff with each submission and must demonstrate good-faith efforts by the proponent(s) to satisfy any comments or items for address by the ASBGHN on the proposal at a preceding meeting.

The determinations of the ASBGHN are final.

Article 4

COMMUNICATIONS & DISCLOSURES

Section 1                    Public Disclosure

The agenda and minutes of the meetings of the ASBGHN are posted on the Arizona Public Meetings website.

Section 2                    Accessibility

The ASBGHN actively shares information about its activities and purview with Arizona residents using media sources and by sending information packets to governmental, public, and private officials and organizations.

The ASGBHN maintains a website through the Arizona State Library and Archives.

Article 5

COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP

Section 1                    Collaborations

The ASBGHN cooperates with the United States Board on Geographic Names, and recognizes the mutual benefit to align naming conventions at the State and Federal level.