Council approves easement at Ridley Park to formalize access; city attorney says contract obligates approval

The City of Columbia City Council approved an access easement on land known as Ridley Park Road to provide vehicle and pedestrian access from Trotwood Avenue to property partly owned by Meritage Homes of Tennessee Inc., formalizing access rights referenced in a 2008 purchase contract.

Council considered ordinance 45-48, which authorizes an access easement across city-owned tax-map parcels 112-009.01 and 112-002.08 to provide legal access for adjacent property owners. In discussion, a council member said the city has received correspondence and constituents’ concerns and that staff had contacted Meritage Homes about outstanding punch-list items.

The city attorney summarized the legal history: when the city purchased the Ridley Park property in 2008 the contract included terms to provide property owners access to the road. "Part of the agreement ... is to provide the property owners unlimited access to that road at such time as they requested or desire it," the city attorney said, and the easement formalizes that obligation while adding language requiring property owners to repair damage they cause.

Council members asked whether the easement would be the only access for the developer and whether construction traffic could damage the road; staff and the attorney said the property has other planned access and that the easement contains repair and indemnity provisions. The council approved the easement by roll call.

Council members also said they will continue pressing Meritage Homes to complete outstanding work on the development’s punch list.