Residents press Byram to hold developer accountable for private streets; city staff plan affidavits and possible enforcement

Multiple residents urged the board to address crumbling private roads inside Ashley Park and asked whether the city has authority to require developers to fix roads when the developer has not properly maintained them. "We need our road fixed," one resident said, describing repeated calls and inconsistent answers from city staff and the developer.

City legal staff and counsel explained the next steps: records list Chapman Development LLC as the owner although the LLC appears dissolved, and the city intends to obtain affidavits from HOA representatives and affected residents to provide the standing needed for code-enforcement personnel to inspect and cite violations on private roads. "Eric London, he's the city code enforcement official," legal counsel told the board when outlining the enforcement path; counsel said an affidavit executed by HOA leaders would strengthen the city's footing if the matter goes to court.

Staff cautioned that city funds generally cannot be used to repair private property, but aldermen urged a review of the city's private-street and gated-community ordinances to require longer maintenance obligations and clearer dedication pathways so developers cannot "build and walk away." Board members signaled support for expediting the affidavit route and for re-examining ordinances to improve accountability for private-street construction and maintenance.