Developer and staff disagree over Windsong trail surface and reduced length
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Summary
Gallatin City planners and Windsong developer debated a proposed realignment that reduces the approved walking-trail length and whether the path should remain a natural surface or be upgraded to a more durable material; the developer said the asphalt requirement was never part of the original approval and cited site topography and costs.
Brad Hickman, the city’s staff planner, told the Gallatin City Planning Commission the Windsong Residential Phases 2A–2F amendment seeks to realign a previously approved walking trail across roughly 95.18 acres because steep slopes make the original alignment difficult to construct and maintain. Hickman said a quick measurement showed the revised route would be shorter — “about a 732 linear feet reduction” by staff estimate — and staff recommended a more durable material such as asphalt or chip to prevent washout.
Developer Michael Natali of Natali Communities said the earlier approved plan envisioned a natural-surface trail and that his team walked the site with staff on Sept. 17 and found steep slopes where the original alignment was infeasible. Natali told commissioners the alignment they submitted was based on on-site conditions and initially measured “2,520 feet,” then added roughly an 850-foot segment near the playground and an extra 250 feet around the playground area to approach the previously approved length. He said, “it feels like a little bit of a, you know, respectfully, a punitive and, you know, unfair situation that we're being requested to pave an asphalt trail that we never accounted for and was never required.”
Natali also described investments his company has made for stormwater mitigation on the site, saying they had contributed nearly $200,000 for additional stormwater basins and related engineering after historic flooding issues, and noted prior documentation that silt-laden water had flowed from an adjacent commercial shopping center.
Planning staff reiterated the durability concern: reduced linear footage plus a natural surface “could wash or blow away,” and staff asked the commission to consider whether a more durable surface or a different material should be required so the amenity remains usable for residents over time. Commissioners pressed the developer on what “natural” would mean in practice (short-mown grass, dirt, wood chips or mulch) and asked who would maintain the path; Natali said the HOA would be responsible for maintenance.
Several commissioners said they understood the slope constraints and were open to the developer finding additional flat alignment to restore length or to providing offsetting amenities such as benches around the playground. One commissioner said the change looked like a modification to an amenity and did not rise to the level of a major amendment, and also stated they would recuse themselves at the time of any vote because of prior involvement with the developer.
The commission asked for more detail about the proposed path materials and maintenance plans when the item returns. The applicant indicated willingness to look for additional segments to increase the path length and to provide more amenity features around the playground area as compensation for any reduction in trail length.
The commission did not record a formal vote in the transcript; staff and the developer agreed to return in a few weeks with more information.
