Residents oppose removing proposed walking trail from Copper Ridge final plat; staff supports removal

City of Spring Hill Municipal Planning Commission members discussed a developer request to remove a five-foot walking trail from the final plat for a subdivision originally approved in 2012, saying staff supports the change but several nearby residents oppose it.

The planning commission considered a final plat modification for the subdivision (FPM1884-2025 and related filings) that would eliminate a proposed trail running through open space. Senior Planner Mr. Morin told the commission the subdivision was approved for 474 total units and that surrounding local and collector roadways already have sidewalks providing pedestrian access to services such as Longview Recreation Center. He said the trail is not included in the city’s bicycle and greenway plan and that building it would “unnecessarily impact the site by removing mature vegetation that creates privacy between homes.” He added, “There were no comments and staff supports the removal of the trails.”

Todd Olsen, representing Anderson Delkips and the applicant, thanked staff and offered to answer commissioners’ questions. Resident Joanne Martin, of 2109 Morton, told commissioners she collected neighborhood signatures opposing the path: “I have walked a petition through this whole neighborhood. There's, I believe, over 200 houses, and I have been at every single one of those houses. And with those, I have gotten over a 140 about signatures… We do not want the path.” Martin said she and others have contacted the homeowners association and that the HOA and developer were working to remove the path from the plat. Another representative in the room said the removal request began with a citizen complaint and was now the developer’s formal application.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about who initiated the request and whether an HOA was involved. Mr. Olsen said the developer is the official applicant and indicated he is responding to an HOA request; staff clarified they were not previously aware of an HOA in that context. No formal vote was taken at the Aug. 25 work session; the meeting was a nonvoting review and discussion.

The discussion highlighted trade-offs cited by staff — pedestrian connectivity versus preserving mature vegetation and privacy — and showed clear neighborhood opposition as expressed through petition signatures. The item will be revisited at a subsequent meeting for a formal decision as required by city process.