© 2024 KPCW

KPCW
Spencer F. Eccles Broadcast Center
PO Box 1372 | 460 Swede Alley
Park City | UT | 84060
Office: (435) 649-9004 | Studio: (435) 655-8255

Music & Artist Inquiries: music@kpcw.org
News Tips & Press Releases: news@kpcw.org
Volunteer Opportunities
General Inquiries: info@kpcw.org
Listen Like a Local Park City & Heber City Summit & Wasatch counties, Utah
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Park City
Everything to do inside of Park City proper.

Snow Ranch Pastures Easement Will Require Help From Many

Courtesy of Utah Open Lands

Utah Open Lands aims to raise $6 million by this December to preserve the 19-acre Snow Ranch Pastures in the Thaynes area of Park City.

Open Lands director Wendy Fisher told KPCW that if it happens, it will be thanks to local citizens, the area’s business community, and the long-time ranching family that owns the property. 

The pastures property, which is within city limits, has one-third-acre zoning, which could potentially mean up to 57 units. The value of the land is set at $17 million.

Fisher has worked out a deal with two branches of the Armstrong family, to buy a conservation easement for $6 million. She said that’s because Kerry Armstrong, her late husband Mel, and Herb Armstrong, owner of the other half of the land, have always had a conservation ethic.

"We’re all getting older, myself included, so they’re looking at future choices. They couldn’t donate the entire thing, but we’re talking about two-thirds of the value of the conservation easement being donated because these families are as committed to preserving it as Utah Open Lands is.”

Fisher said she thinks they have the support of the community to save the Pastures.

"There was a Deseret News article just the other day when we sent out the press release. I was really surprised looking at the comments, how many people were talking about how important it is to protect some of these remaining open spaces." Fisher said "I think that this is one of the larger open spaces within the city limits. We think that there is wide-spread support for this."

If the easement can be purchased, there would be absolutely no development on the acreage.

"No structures at all would ever impede that view-shed, which I think is huge. There’s also the wildlife habitat that is there. But they will be able to continue to graze cattle on it, (which has happened) since it was a dairy-farm back in the twenties. That will continue." Fisher continued "We’ve even talked about the fact that there is city owned property up above the pasture piece. They’ve even said, yeah we’d be willing to talk about potentially providing trail access to that property if that makes sense”

You might think that taking land off the building market might be bad news for realtors. Fisher said in Park City, she’s always been supported by the business community.

"When Utah Open Lands started in Summit County, all of our board members were all residents in Summit County area. 85% of them were real estate agents or developers. They didn’t want to kill the goose that laid the golden egg." Fisher said "That’s what I’ve seen over and over again. The real estate community making grants to non-profits, the real estate community making grants to some of these open space projects. Because they recognize that what maintains the market value is the protection of that quality of life that emanates from the open spaces."

Wendy Fisher from Utah Open Lands. She said they’re hopeful of getting some matching grants for the Pastures. In the meantime, donations for the campaign can be given at utahopenlands.org. She said if the campaign is unsuccessful, they will refund the contributions.

Known for getting all the facts right, as well as his distinctive sign-off, Rick covered Summit County meetings and issues for 35 years on KPCW. He now heads the Friday Film Review team.
Related Content