Designating a State Scenic Road

Anyone may submit a proposal to nominate a road for national designation.

The Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names (ASBGHN) takes the first step in the nomination process. The ASBGHN adheres to the Principles, Policies, and Procedures of the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The ASBGHN has approved additional policies and procedures to inform its unique considerations for the State of Arizona,

The second step is formal submittal of the nomination package to the ASBGHN. The naming process begins when an applicant submits a proposal for a new name, name change, or name designation. The Board follows the Principles, Policies, and Procedures of the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Once an application is received, the Board's Research Staff reviews the application to ensure it meets these standards. If the application does not meet these standards, Research Support staff will inform the applicant and cite the conflicting principle, policy, or procedure. Research Support staff will work with the applicant to revise the application so that it does meet the standards. The Board's Research Support staff will confirm with the applicant that their proposal has been received and follow up with any questions about the proposal before the nominations move to the next stage. 

Once Research Support staff has determined that the application meets the minimum standards of the Principles, Policies, and Procedures, a docket number will be assigned based on when the application was received.  All documentation is filed with a folder created for this docket. This includes the application, written correspondence, research, stakeholder responses, and any supporting documentation. Once a docket number is assigned, the Research Stage of the process formally begins.

Research Staff conducts comprehensive background research on each proposal, which includes:

• Downloading maps of the feature, to ensure accurate geographic location.
• Reviewing the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) national database, to check for other Arizona features with the same or similar name that may lead to conflict or confusion.
• Researching the history of the feature and the proposed name, to ensure a strong connection between the feature and the proposed name.

Once Research Support staff has completed basic research on a proposal, the proposal is added to the Docket Review List. The Docket Review List is a document that lists all the proposals that will be on the agenda for consideration by the Board at the next meeting. The Docket Review List also provides details about each proposal, including the category (e.g. new name, rename, road designation), feature location, and the proponent's justification for the name. The list is updated and posted monthly on the Board's website as new proposals are received and approved. Deferred proposals remain on the Docket Review List until the Board votes to approve or reject the proposal. Docket Review Lists are sent to specific community stakeholders for their response, commentary, and recommendation.

In accordance with A.R.S. §41-835.04(B)(2), the Board must "give appropriate notice to persons and groups that are affected by the proposal or might have an interest in it.”

At minimum, Research Support staff sends a Docket Review List to the following stakeholders:

• All 22 federally recognized Native American Tribes in Arizona
• The Intertribal Council of Arizona
• The Board of Supervisors of each county the feature is located in
• The Arizona State Land Department
• The Arizona Department of Transportation, for all name proposals involving roads, highways, freeways, expressways, etc. 
• The Mayor’s Office and City Council of each city the feature is located in
• The Mayor’s Office and Town Council of each town the feature is located in
• Owner(s) of the parcel of land the feature is located on
• Any businesses that may be affected by the approval of a name or designation 
• Private and public organizations that may be affected by the approval of a name or designation
• For commemorative name proposals, family members or the estate of the person commemorated 
• Any additional parties deemed appropriate to the proposal
• The general public is informed of the dockets through Docket Review Lists posted on the Board's website.

All Proposals have a 60 calendar day consultation period for all identified stakeholders, beginning on the day Research Support Staff notifies stakeholders and publicly posts the Docket Review List in which the proposal first appears. Proposals Involving Federal Land have a 120 calendar day Tribal consultation period, beginning on the day the Tribes are notified by the respective federal agency.

Anyone can submit feedback or comments to the Board about any proposal. The preferred method for submitting feedback is the Proposed Name Response Form. This form allows stakeholders to comment on a name proposal with options to support, oppose, or register no comment or concerns. Stakeholders can also upload any supporting documentation such as resolutions or petitions.

Feedback can also be sent via email to [email protected] or by mail to:

Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names
Research Support Staff
1901 W Madison
Phoenix, AZ 85009

Vegetation Protection

All vegetation within the designated zone of influence on parkways, historic roads and scenic roads should be protected against destruction or unauthorized removal.

Any planting by state forces or others within designated parkways, historic roads and scenic roads should be for revegetative purposes or to enhance unattractive roadside conditions. All plant material used for these purposes should be similar plant material indigenous to the area.

The ADOT District's landscape vegetation management should be alert for major plant pests that may substantially harm existing growth. They should initiate control of plant pests before excessive damage occurs to the existing vegetation.

Access Permits

All applications for access permits on designated parkways, historic roads and scenic roads shall be reviewed by ADOT's Roadside Development Section for possible negative environmental and visual impacts before the permit is issued. If said negative impacts are found to occur due to access point location(s), recommendations will be made by the Roadside Development Section on possible location(s), where their construction shall

• cause the least damage to existing vegetation.
• cause the least visual impact from the traveled roadway.
• require the least amount of earthwork and cause a minimal amount of erosion.
• provide adequate safety standards for traffic passing, entering and departing the access point.
• include revegetation of disturbed areas and appropriate mitigations.

The Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names (ASBGHN) shall be informed of the permit request and recommendations. The Board has authority to take action only on the designation and naming proposals for geographic features and places of historical significance. For more information, please visit Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names- Governing Documentation, Policies, and Procedures. All permit applicants will, if possible, conform to the Landscape and Irrigation Design Guidelines for ADOT's permit applications as developed by the ADOT Roadside Development Section and other applicable department standards.

Development

Development along all parkways, historic roads and scenic roads should be environmentally compatible. Local and county planning and zoning departments should implement protective zoning regulations or design review overlay zoning along designated scenic roadways. These types of zoning regulations are necessary to protect, maintain and enhance the scenic quality along the highways. These regulations should also be incorporated in urban areas along the designated routes to help unify development patterns and enhance the visual quality.

Utilities

Permits for utility crossings on designated parkways, historic roads and scenic roads shall be reviewed by the ADOT Roadside Development Section for possible negative environmental and visual impacts. Recommendations will be made by the Roadside Development Section to mitigate those impacts. Utility permit applicants should, if at all possible, conform to these recommendations:

• The utility should cross the parkway, historic road or scenic road in the shortest possible distance, i.e., at a right angle to the roadway.
• The utility shall place all pipe, lines, wire, etc., underground if possible. If above ground structures are necessary, they should be painted to blend into the environment to soften the visual impact.
• The utility shall conduct its construction activities so as to disturb a minimum amount of vegetation and soil.
• All disturbed areas should be reseeded after completion of construction activity with indigenous or adapted species specified by the ADOT Roadside Development Section.

The ADOT Roadside Development Section, in cooperation with the ADOT District, shall evaluate potential sites for historical markers, scenic pullouts and interpretive sites on all parkways, historic roads and scenic roads. All potential sites shall provide adequate safety standards for traffic entering, departing and passing the site.

Construction of any nature shall be done in a manner that will cause the least disturbance to the visual or historic resources of a parkway, historic road and scenic road. Construction and maintenance activities shall, if at all possible, conform to these recommendations:

• Construction equipment shall not be allowed to move at random on and off the roadway. The limits of construction shall be clearly marked, and a minimum amount of disturbance from the construction should be used to efficiently complete proposed work. Access roads should also be clearly marked.
• All construction scars shall be reseeded with appropriate species determined by the ADOT Roadside Development Section.
• The project should be designed to minimize long-term impacts detrimental to the unique visual or cultural resources of the road's environment. For example, slopes should be designed suitable for effective revegetation.
• Roadway appurtenances such as fences, bank protection, traffic barriers, retaining walls, etc., should be of a design, color and texture compatible with surrounding natural and cultural features.
• Maintenance activities should encourage and protect the existing values of the parkway, historic road and scenic road designation.
• Mowing operations should be timed so as to take advantage of the maturing seed crop of existing grasses and wildflowers, to foster their propagation.
• Maintenance foremen should consult the ADOT Roadside Development Section before beginning any work that in their opinion may jeopardize the visual quality of the parkway, historic road or scenic road.