Saratoga County committee authorizes license for trail connection, hears Zim Smith usage and volunteer updates

The Saratoga County Trails and Open Space Committee voted to authorize a license agreement allowing a contractor to construct a roughly 200–300-foot connection from the Forest Grove development into county forest land known as the Ed Bullard parcel and heard staff updates on trail use, volunteer support and environmental review work.

The vote to authorize the license agreement — which staff said would permit Belmonte Builders to enter county forest land to construct a natural-surface connection that will tie the development’s internal trails to the county’s existing multiuse path — was taken by voice vote and carried without recorded opposition. The committee earlier also approved the meeting minutes by voice vote.

Jason, Office of Planning and Economic Development staff, told the committee the connector will be a natural surface path — likely dirt, wood chips or stone dust — and that the development’s internal trails will also access the county forest land. He said the contractor will need a license to enter the county property and make the connection. "We'll need a license agreement for that…