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Northfield board affirms several road names, asks staff to research Davis Avenue right-of-way
Summary
The Northfield Select Board approved a package of address and road-name fixes — including affirming Finn Lane and Fairway Drive and naming the Northfield Falls trailer-park entrance — and asked staff to research an unmapped segment of Davis Avenue that may affect town mileage and trail connectivity.
The Northfield Select Board on Aug. 26 approved a set of road-name and addressing changes and asked staff to research a mismatch between state maps and on-the-ground conditions for Davis Avenue.
Mitch Zeske, the town’s E9‑1‑1 coordinator, told the board he found a portion of Davis Avenue that ends at the driveway of 540 Davis Avenue while state records show a right-of-way continuing to Doyon Road. Zeske said the discrepancy could affect the town’s reported road mileage and suggested staff investigate whether the segment is a utility easement, legal trail or town-owned right-of-way.
Zeske also reviewed a set of proposed name corrections and affirmations. The board voted to: affirm the name for the road serving the Northfield Falls Trailer Park (motion included naming it Falls Park Road), approve the town’s listing of Finn Lane for a private driveway with multiple addresses, and affirm Fairway Drive for the road off Vermont Pond. Members discussed software limitations at the state 9‑1‑1 center that strip punctuation — for example, a hyphen in 'KT Lane' — and agreed the town should affirm the locally preferred forms.
The board and Zeske discussed Jarvis Lane, where current numbering and an intersection have caused confusion for emergency responders. Zeske said E9‑1‑1 recommends distinct north/south labels for the two approaches and suggested a public hearing before any renumbering. The select board asked staff to schedule a hearing and to provide interim signage recommended by 9‑1‑1.
Why it matters: Correcting official road names and address records can speed emergency response, avoid delivery errors and ensure the town’s road-mileage reporting is accurate. The board’s request that staff research the Davis Avenue discrepancy will determine whether a formal legal change or map adjustment is required.
What’s next: Staff will report back with research on the Davis Avenue right-of-way and will schedule a public hearing for Jarvis Lane renaming if required. The board’s motion authorizing the package of road-name affirmations passed without objection.
