Developer to Remove Section of Trail in Exchange for Crosswalk and Park Upgrade; Board to Consider Road Dedication

Developer representatives asked the Grand Island Town Board on Wednesday to alter the approved site plan for the subdivisioncalled Ransom Village, eliminating parts of a proposed walking trail that several residents opposed and substituting sidewalks, a crosswalk and a targeted donation to improve a nearby pocket park.

The developer—s representative told the board the trails "are shown on that plan" but that a signed petition from nearby homeowners and maintenance concerns prompted the request to remove trail segments. Town engineer Bob Westfall and the highway superintendent described wetland and stormwater limits on the site that rule out converting some low areas into lawn and said some areas could be brush-hogged but not graded into full turf.

Why it matters: The change would alter an element the town previously accepted when it approved the project—s detailed plan. Removing sidewalks that front no homeowners would shift responsibility for pedestrian connections and could alter maintenance and future access for adjacent properties. Board members said they wanted to preserve the overall public benefit while responding to homeowners— privacy and upkeep concerns.

Key points: - Trade proposal: The developer proposed to install sidewalks on Park Lane, extend the west-side walks to a crosswalk at the playground entrance and provide a designated cash donation to the town—s parks department earmarked for upgrading the pocket park (referred to in the discussion as Ransom Village Park). - Wetlands and access: Staff clarified that the dotted wetland limits on the plan prevent full lawn conversion in several green areas; brush-hogging is possible but full grading and turf establishment in those zones would violate permit limits. - Fountain and utilities: The developer said the decorative pond fountain and its electric service are costly to install and maintain; he recommended allowing the future homeowner association (HOA) to decide whether to activate a fountain because the HOA will control ongoing operating costs. - Costing and measurement: Board and staff estimated the sidewalk run the developer seeks to omit is roughly 200—200—90 feet; staff used a working figure of about $50 per linear foot for concrete sidewalk and committed to a formal measurement and contractor estimate. The developer agreed to provide firm numbers to Town Engineer Bob Westfall by Friday. - Next steps and dedication: Staff and legal counsel indicated the board can add a dedication item to the formal town-board agenda if outstanding punch-list items and legal language are cleared. The developer asked that the final phase dedication proceed on the next formal agenda contingent on engineering and legal sign-offs.

Quotes from the meeting include the developer—s description of resident feedback: "We've been going back and forth, and we wanted to sit down," and the engineer's clarification that "because of that dotted line, that's the wetland squeezing through there."

The board did not take a formal vote on plan modifications at the workshop. Instead, members agreed on the following action items: the developer will provide measured quantities and cost estimates to staff by Friday; staff will review those numbers with the highway superintendent and town engineer; and, if the estimates are acceptable, staff will prepare the legal instruments needed to place a dedication item on the next regular meeting agenda subject to attorney and engineering sign-off.

Ending: If the town accepts the trade, the sidewalk omission would be offset by a crosswalk and a parks donation designated for Ransom Village Park. Board members emphasized they did not want to lose leverage by prematurely creating finished green space that could later be converted to lots; any conversion of common area into lots would require a separate board approvals process.