Highland council removes 11200 North connector from transportation plan, directs trail and right-of-way vacation

At a Highland City Council meeting, members voted 3-2 to remove the 11200 North connector from the city's transportation master plan, start the legal process to vacate the right of way and direct staff to design a trail and landscaping for the corridor.

The action followed a staff presentation from Rob Patterson, the city attorney and planning and zoning administrator, and engineering input from Chris Trustee, the city engineer. Patterson told the council staff had developed four options: a 10-foot trail, a limited emergency egress with sidewalk, a narrow 20-foot public street, or doing nothing. "We have come up with 4 options," Patterson said as he introduced cost and funding constraints.

The council's decision came after nearly two hours of public comment. Dozens of residents said they opposed a through road for safety and neighborhood character reasons. "No one in the neighborhood wants a road there," said…