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Resident says city failed to enforce zoning, leaving HOA with maintenance burden for public path
Summary
A High Point resident told council the city created a public path and easement 24 years ago but failed to require developer funding or enforce an integrated trail system; the resident says his HOA has paid for maintenance since 2016 and that public-records requests over an independent review remain unanswered.
A local homeowner told the City Council the city has not enforced its own zoning requirements for a path and easement created roughly 24 years ago, leaving nearby homeowners to shoulder maintenance costs and raising demands for accountability.
Ken Orms, who identified himself as a High Point resident and representative of his homeowners association, told council the city approved an easement and a requirement for an integrated trail system when developers built four communities adjacent to a heavily wooded lot. Orms said developers did not complete the required trail funding mechanism and that the path now sits on private property but is used by the public and by residents from almost 700 homes to access the Bicentennial Greenway.
Orms said the HOA has spent thousands of dollars since 2016 to maintain the path and that he filed 10 public-records requests and reviewed hundreds of documents seeking an explanation. He alleged that the deputy city manager and the city attorney told him the city has no obligation—and in his words exhibited “arrogance”—in answering why the city did not enforce the ordinance or require developer contributions. He said he invited councilmembers to inspect the site and that one councilmember agreed but later canceled.
Council did not record an official staff response on the record during the public comment period. The remarks were presented as the speaker’s account of the city’s permitting and enforcement history and his requests for the council to take action.
