Yamhill County removes Westsider trail from transport plan after heated debate over farm impacts and grant obligations

The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 29 to remove the Yamhill Westsider (also referenced in the record as "Yamhelas/ Yam Hellas") Trail from the county Transportation System Plan (YCTSP), concluding a multi-hour public and commissioner debate about farm impacts, grant obligations and legal risk.

Chair introduced docket G01-25, a legislative amendment to delete the project from the county’s transportation list. In floor debate commissioners recounted a long history of appeals and remands in state land-use bodies and courts, disputed the county’s capacity to meet grant conditions, and questioned whether the corridor — which crosses productive Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) land — is appropriate for a contiguous bicycle-and-pedestrian trail. The chair described a prior grant obligation and told the board the county faces an approximate $1,700,000 repayment obligation if the project cannot be completed as promised.

Commissioner statements reflected…