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Board approves Mount Pleasant Way Bridal Range segment after public comment and recusal; one board member recused
Summary
The GAB approved $1,073,100 in urban Greenbelt funds to buy recreation easements for a Mount Pleasant Way trail segment from Ben Sawyer Boulevard to Venning Road (Bridal Range). The vote included at least one recusal and recorded public opposition during the meeting.
The Greenbelt Advisory Board approved Greenbelt funding for a segment of Mount Pleasant Way along Bridal Range, connecting Ben Sawyer Boulevard to Venning Road.
Staff said the Town of Mount Pleasant requested $485,000 for acquisition of recreation easements and $587,500 for administrative and closing costs, for a total subcommittee recommendation of $1,073,100 from urban funds. Staff noted the project will require use of FY '26 allocation funds to cover a temporary negative balance in the urban allocation until July when the next allocation is available.
Sophie Holmes, representing the Town of Mount Pleasant, described the project goal as connecting neighborhoods and green spaces and linking planned Mount Pleasant Way segments. Holmes said staff will narrow trail alignments or use boardwalks and other design features to protect significant trees; "we will narrow the trail as needed to avoid, historic trees, and and trees will be assessed by an arborist to determine the health of the trees," she said.
Public commenter George Freeman urged the board to avoid removing mature trees and said building a 10- to 12-foot-wide paved trail would disrupt neighborhood character and green space. The Hamlin Beach Community Association president, Myra Snipe Richardson, later spoke in support of another project (Coakley Chapel) and warned of annexation pressures in the same general area.
A board member announced a recusal for the Mount Pleasant item; the transcript records verbal votes and at least two recorded opposed votes and one recusal. After votes were tallied, the motion carried.
