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Commission trims paved transition and requires signage for Windsong trail plan
Summary
The commission approved a minor amendment to the Windsong Phases 2A/2F master plan, reducing the required paved transition from 20 feet to 5 feet and directing signage/wayfinding for natural-surface trail sections after the developer raised ADA concerns for sloped segments.
The Gallatin City Commission approved a minor amendment to the Windsong Phases 2A and 2F development plans after extended discussion about trail design and accessibility.
Brad Hickman of the planning department presented the proposal for 95.2 acres north of Highway 109 and staff recommended a minor amendment. Developer Michael Natale of Natale Communities told commissioners several trail segments run through sloped terrain and would not meet ADA standards if constructed as continuous paved paths. Natale suggested using signage and HOA maintenance to mitigate potential issues and avoid inadvertently directing users with mobility challenges onto non‑accessible natural-surface segments.
Commissioners and staff reviewed trail-surface options: mowed grass corridors, mulch or gravel natural-surface trails, and short paved aprons where trails connect to sidewalks. The city’s pattern book previously called for an 8-foot natural-surface trail in the PMDP; staff’s earlier suggestion to pave longer transitions prompted debate over safety and usability. Commissioner discussion settled on reducing the originally proposed 20-foot paved transition to a 5-foot apron to limit paving while keeping mulch off city sidewalks. The motion that passed removed the first sentence of condition 1, changed the minimum paved distance to 5 feet, and added a requirement for trailway signage and wayfinding.
Michael Natale said the HOA will arrange for regular mowing of the trail route and help maintain the alignment. Planning staff and commissioners characterized the amendment as producing a more usable trail alignment while preserving natural-surface character where appropriate. The commission approved the item as a minor amendment and asked staff to update plan documents and issue a clearance letter reflecting the revised conditions.
Next steps: staff will update the PMDP and attach the revised conditions to the clearance letter; implementation details (exact trail surfacing locations and signage language) will be finalized in subsequent plan documents and construction submissions.
