Council accepts paved portions of Ambler and Grassy Roads after Hoppers Preserve objections

The City Council voted to accept the paved portion of Ambler Road and Grassy Road, formalizing city maintenance and classifying the paved sections as city streets, and separately approved discontinuing a 660-foot unpaved section of Ambler Road.

Supporters of leaving the roads unaccepted spoke during public comment. Eric Matson, a resident representing Hoppers Preserve advocates, told the council that accepting the streets would “add services and value to these properties” and urged the council to “not vote to approve accepted street status,” arguing that leaving the parcels legally unbuildable would better protect the preserve. Michelle Rudy, another resident, said a published surveyor’s stamp labeled the roads as not city-accepted and alleged heavy clearing at the private 6-acre site, asking the council to “please vote no on accepting Grassy And Antler Roads tonight.”

Council members and staff argued the acceptance work reflected long-running Public Works efforts to clarify which unaccepted streets function as public ways. Public Works Director Ray (identified in the meeting) said the department reviewed unaccepted streets and recommended formalizing acceptance for roads that clearly serve multiple properties and public access, noting his office made the recommendation as far back as 2024. Corporation Counsel Dale Clift described acceptance-by-implication legal standards — the municipality’s conduct (maintenance, plowing, trash pickup) and long public use — and said formal acceptance would “erase all doubt” about the streets’ status.

Several council members said neighbors currently receive services and favored action that would secure those services. The council moved, discussed the matter at length with staff and legal counsel, and passed the motions by voice vote. The council did not record a roll-call tally in the public minutes for item 13A and 13B beyond the voice votes reported as carried.

The most recent procedural step: the council approved both the formal city acceptance of the paved portions of Ambler and Grassy Roads and the discontinuance of the specified unpaved section of Ambler Road. Staff said they would arrange construction-inspector visits to monitor active work on the site and that the city’s open-space acquisition process remains available should parcels be offered for sale in the future.

Timing and next steps: The council noted some disputed factual claims raised in public comment would be addressed in the record under agenda items 13A and 13B. No new permits or land-use determinations were made as part of these votes; the measures were limited to street classification and maintenance responsibility.