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Oak Ridge council votes 3–2 to close 8‑foot Ashford trail easement after contested public hearing
Summary
Following competing public testimony, the Town of Oak Ridge council voted 3–2 to close an 8‑foot public trail easement along Lots 8–10 of Ashford subdivision (867.28 feet). Supporters said the easement conflicted with neighborhood design and safety; opponents warned closing a public trail easement would set a harmful precedent for town trail planning.
After almost three hours of public comment during the Town of Oak Ridge meeting on Feb. 5, the council voted 3–2 to close, vacate and remove from dedication an 8‑foot‑wide public trail easement running along the western boundary of Lots 8–10 of the Ashford subdivision (867.28 feet as filed in Plat Book 213, page 42).
Residents from Ashford and neighboring Bear Creek told the council the easement would thread behind private yards, dead‑end in the subdivision and present safety, privacy and liability problems for families who bought large lots expecting privacy. Chris Charette said the alignment "runs through privately owned residential lots" and described the planned trail as effectively turning the neighborhood into a destination rather than…
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