Last night's County Legislature vote on the Ellison Park Area Master Plan went down about as you'd expect: Republicans voted for it and Democrats, except Jose Cruz, voted against it. The final tally was 16 to 13.

The plan, which sets out a list of recommendations for the county parks along or near Irondequoit Bay, drew some 70-plus speakers to the chambers. There was a good mix of people who support the plan and those who are troubled by it, though off-road cycling proponents turned out in larger numbers.

The plan passed by and large unchanged. The lone successful amendment lowered the priority of a pedestrian crossing on Empire Boulevard leading into Irondequoit Bay Park West, and also recommended that the crossing be made contingent on DOT approval of a traffic control device. The crossing would be at the bottom of a very steep hill, which in turn raised safety concerns among legislators. The amendment was offered by Republican Ciaran Hanna and passed 24 to 5, with Republicans offering the only "no" votes.

Here are other highlights from the plan and the meeting:

• A recommendation to build sustainable shared-use trails in Tryon Park and Irondequoit Bay Park West, then offer an 18-month trial period of off-road cycling on designated trails remained unaltered. Democrats offered several amendments to this recommendation, including one that would have formed a committee to look for appropriate trail locations in all county parks while allowing the Tryon trial to move forward, but they were unsuccessful.

One of the amendments would have created designated bike trails to address the safety concerns expressed by some parks users.

"It guts the community aspect of this plan," said Republican Majority Leader Dan Quatro, before casting his vote against the amendment.

• County Parks Director Larry Staub said that an environmental review process (SEQR) must be completed before new trails are built. The trial period, he said, won't start until sustainable trails are completed in both Tryon and Bay Park West. The 18-month period will cover two full springs, he said.
• A recommendation to open the Ellison Park road to vehicular traffic will remain in the Master Plan, though Democrat Travis Heider offered an unsuccessful amendment to delete that recommendation. In the near term, it's like that the road will be extended down by Fort Schuyler and will then end in a turning loop, Staub said. As for extending it to Pavilion Lodge, money's a factor.

"I can't imagine that being done in my tenure at the County Parks Department," Staub said.