Albany council approves Mennonite Village expansion despite objections over proposed public trail

The Albany City Council on Nov. 17 approved a planned-development, replat and related land-use reviews that will allow Mennonite Village to expand its continuing-care community with 98 duplexes (196 new dwelling units) on a 76.33-acre site at 5353 Columbus Street SE.

The council’s approval, made on a 5–1 roll call vote, came after more than two hours of testimony and cross-examination focused on a decades-old requirement in the South Albany area plan and an annexation agreement that a 10-foot, paved public multiuse trail be routed along Oak Creek. Residents of Mennonite Village, the applicant and multiple witnesses argued the north-side alignment would harm residents’ safety and privacy, require removing mature trees and intrude into wetlands and floodplain. The applicant offered an alternative: dedication of an easement on the south side of Oak Creek.

“Opening internal paths to the public would fundamentally alter this environment and grow the sense of safety that is central to our mission,” Diane Hood, CEO of Mennonite Village, told the council, urging removal of the north-side requirement and…