Elbert County delays decision on vacating Palomino and Pinto Trails after residents raise equestrian, traffic and emergency-access concerns

Elbert County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 19, 2025 postponed action on resolutions to vacate portions of Palomino and Pinto trails after residents, public-safety officials and a developer representative raised unresolved questions about equestrian easements, traffic and emergency access.

Monty Hankins, the county’s public works director, told the board the staff recommendation would vacate 75 feet at the far east end of Pinto Trail and 190 feet at the far east end of Palomino Trail to limit through-traffic from the proposed Gold Creek Commons subdivision. Hankins said planning estimates for a 120‑unit development translate to roughly 1,200 vehicle trips per day and that state guidance suggests considering pavement upgrades for dirt roads with more than about 200 trips per day. “Therefore, that is why we are presenting to you the recommendation or the consideration… of vacating 75 feet of the far end of Pinto Trail and 190 feet of the far east end of Palomino Trail with a private road access easement,” Hankins said.

Cimarron neighborhood residents said the proposals would remove or impair long‑standing bridle and utility paths used daily for riding, training and park access. “That bridle path has been there since before I moved in… We use it almost every day and they’re planning to close our bridle path,” resident Cindy Adams said, urging preservation of equestrian access and warning that an emergency access that is open in practice would become a regular cut‑through.

The owner’s representative, David Born, said the Gold Creek Commons application to the town of Elizabeth proposes emergency‑vehicle access only and that the project’s approved planned unit development (PUD) assigns access points; Born argued county vacations could conflict with the PUD and that the county’s vacation application lacked outreach and a staff analysis showing how statutory vacation criteria would be met.

Elizabeth town planner Alex Kramer told the board his department’s referral did not foresee traffic routing through Cimarron and said the applicant proposes emergency‑vehicle access on Palomino and Pinto. Elbert County Fire Marshal division chief Kara Grzinski warned that vacating rights‑of‑way can fragment routes and that, under the county’s adopted fire code, any road over 150 feet requires a turnaround; she said gated or signed emergency access may be feasible with specialized locks but would require appropriate turnarounds.

Commissioners and staff raised newly surfaced questions at the hearing: whether historical bridle‑path easements overlap the county right‑of‑way, whether required cul‑de‑sac turnarounds could be constructed in the available space, and whether legal notice to abutting owners and other procedural requirements had been satisfied. Public works staff noted that older subdivisions often have landscaping and private encroachments within recorded right‑of‑ways that would need remediation to upgrade or pave a road.

Given the mix of technical, legal and emergency‑access issues, the board voted to continue both vacation items to the Dec. 17, 2025 meeting at 9:00 a.m. and directed staff to investigate deeded bridle/utility easements, fire‑code turnaround feasibility, and other technical and notice issues before the board reconvenes the item.

The continuation preserves time for additional review and interjurisdictional coordination with the town of Elizabeth and the fire district; the county did not take final action on the vacates on Nov. 19.