The City of St. Paul has been ordered to appear in court for allegedly violating a Minnesota Data Practices Act in its Summit Avenue Regional Trail Plan, according to Ramsey County court documents dated April 12.

The order follows a lawsuit filed by an attorney representing both the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association and Save Our Streets, which allege that the city has taken over eight months to respond to internal city information regarding the Summit Avenue regional trail and possible alternatives, according to an SOS press release.

“Judge Diamond’s decision sends a critical message to all citizens that the city is not above the law, and cannot force a terrible idea down the throats of its residents simply by hiding the facts from them,” plaintiff Robert Cattanach, who is representing SARPA and SOS, wrote in an SOS press release.

The City of St. Paul is scheduled to appear in a court hearing April 27, according to an order by District Court Judge Patrick C. Diamond. The city did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

TommieMedia previously reported on a drafted plan of the trail, which outlines the city’s proposed plan to create a regional trail within the curb of the street, which would replace the bike lanes that currently run on Summit Avenue.

Community opposition over the plan has continued to grow over concerns of safety, parking, and possible tree loss.

“We think it’s a bad idea,” SOS committee chair Gary Todd said.

The regional trail plan is currently in its final draft. The St. Paul City Council is set to review the plan on May 26.

Anya Capistrant-Kinney can be reached at capi2087@stthomas.edu.