Residents urge Milton council to pause multi‑use trail planning, demand clearer MTAC role

Two Milton residents used the City Council public‑comment period on May 18 to press elected officials to halt planning for multi‑use trails in central Milton until the city clarifies the Milton Trails Advisory Committee’s (MTAC) role and completes site‑specific review.

Resident Kristy Hayes (13585 Hopewell Road) told the council she supported removing trails from the current Safe Streets plan but said MTAC needs a clearly defined mission. “The very first place the city needs to start clearly defining their mission is with the Trails Committee themselves,” Hayes said, urging the council to require site visits, property‑owner outreach and explicit scope guidance tied to the 2040 comprehensive plan.

Ben Kopaka (14115 Bella Road) focused on a planned Red Road corridor, saying portions of the proposed multi‑use trail network — which he described as “approximately 2.5 miles” of segments — had been shown to the public but were not reflected on the officially adopted Milton Trails blueprint map. Kopaka said city staff had told MTAC at a prior meeting that some trail projects were “spoken for,” and he argued that staff should not unilaterally advance designs in the Central Milton character area without formal council direction and broader public input.

Both speakers asked the council to remove planning for new trails in the central Milton character area until a comprehensive plan that reflects public input and the adopted Milton Trails blueprint map is in place. Kopaka specifically requested a temporary moratorium on planning in the central character area “until an effective plan can be assembled that takes into account the guidance within the 2040 comprehensive plan.”

The council did not respond directly during public comment and proceeded with the agenda. The speakers’ remarks were delivered during the general public comment portion of the May 18 meeting.