Ortonville- A small but vocal group of residents stated their opposition to a proposed trail on village property during the May 14 council meeting.
The residents, most from the Crescent Hills subdivision that is adjacent to the property where the nearly 1-mile trail is proposed, said they have been advised by an attorney that the village cannot legally build a trail, or anything else, for that matter, on the 40-acre parcel of property, without the consent of the adjacent property owners. They added that the village does not have that consent now and will never have it.
The land was donated to the village several years ago by the developer of the subdivision, with the intent it be used as park land, says Village Manager Ed Coy, who is seeking a legal opinion from the village’s attorney, Gary Rentrop, on the matter.
Lois Robbins and Rick McAvinchey, both members of the North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy, proposed the trail to the village council last November. Members of the council voiced interest and support for further research into financing such a trail, which could include grants and volunteer labor.
The proposed trail on 40 acres of village property, says McAvinchey, would begin at Mill Street, go through the upland cedar forest part of the property, just west of the Crescent Hills subdivision, south through upland cedar forest, cross an area of cedar-tamarack swamp, continue to upland oak forest and connect to the old railroad bed, follow north to the H.T. Burt Elementary School property, and continue north to Church Street near the post office. The total length of this trail would be about six-tenths of a mile, but the group would like to add on once it is finished and extend the trail to the cul-de-sac at Candace Court.
This would make the total length of the trail, which might also be used for bicycling, .88 miles.