CHESTERVILLE — The Planning Board on Tuesday night denied a request to change the name of Turner Intervale Road to Heikkinen Lane.

Scott and Megan Heikkinen, who own property on both sides of the road, requested the name change. The road is not listed on the deed.

At a public hearing held on the issue last month, Fire Chief John Archer said his department reviewed road names as part of the state’s Enhanced 911 emergency communications system. The system requires that each landline phone number be linked to a unique, physical address that clearly identifies where an emergency caller is located.

The road name didn’t get put on paper at the time because the name didn’t change, Archer said.

Code Enforcement Officer Brenda Medcoff said the landowners were not notified when E-911 went into effect. The proper process wasn’t followed, she said.

Planning Board member Bruce Verrill asked if the board was under any obligation to change the road name.

While not obligated, the applicants can take it to the Appeals Board, Medcoff said.

Planning Board member Robert Leso said first responders know it as Turner Intervale Road.

“While I respect the property owners’ perspective, we can’t be changing road names every time someone buys a property,” Leso said.

“In a critical emergency, most first responders know it as Turner Intervale Road. There’s a strong argument to keep that name,” Verrill said.

Member Danny Elder said there is no evidence that the existing name was objectionable.

Board member Gregory Soule said the Historical Society attempted to determine the historical names of existing roads and keep those familiar names.

The motion to deny passed by a vote of 4-0, with Daniel Simonds abstaining. Acting Chairman Gregory Soule did not vote, and Linton Robinson recused himself because he’s related to the Turners. 

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