Scappoose planners recommend renaming short section of Volandam Street to Roken Way

The Scappoose Planning Commission voted to recommend that the city council rename a short, dog-leg section of Southwest Volandam Street in the Dutch Canyon Estates 4 subdivision to Southwest Roken Way after the Scappoose Fire District raised concerns about addressing confusion.

Lori (planning staff) told the commission the fire district signs off on street names and addressing and had requested a single name for the short segment because only two homes would be addressed from that leg. "The fire district felt that since there's only two houses that would be addressed off of that section...it would be way too confusing for emergency responders or delivery companies," Lori said. Staff described a misunderstanding about where the name previously carried through and said the developer (Lenar) responded that the timing worked with their schedule.

Staff cited Scappoose municipal code chapter 12.24 as the legal basis for the renaming process and noted that staff received no written public comments as of the meeting. The planning commission moved and seconded a recommendation to city council and carried the recommendation by voice vote. City council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Aug. 4, with readings on Aug. 4 and Aug. 18; ordinances become effective 30 days after adoption.

A commissioner asked whether the name would be changed back if the street later extended; staff replied the fire district preferred a single consistent name given the small number of addresses on that leg, even if the street were eventually connected.