Helena Citizens Council asks city to vacate La Grama Canyon Trail right of way; city says control depends on Westside Woods plat

Diana Hammer, district 1 representative for the Helena Citizens Council, told the City Commission the council unanimously recommended the city vacate its right of way along the La Grama Canyon Trail and permanently protect the land.

Hammer said the recommendation was developed with the Helena Trails Alliance and that the Prickly Pear Land Trust conducted a trail survey last fall with more than 900 respondents; she told the commission the recommendation indicates a percentage of respondents favored vacating the city's right of way, but Hammer did not specify the exact percentage in the meeting packet or oral report.

City Manager Burton responded that in 2020 the county owned the right of way and the city could not have committed then to vacating property it did not control. Burton said control will change when the Westside Woods subdivision files a final plat: at that point the city expects to have greater control over sections of the road and will come to the commission with an update and a comprehensive Mount Helena City Park resolution that could set aside Grand Canyon Boulevard as a walking path where appropriate.

"There's more to this than some conversation that took place in 2020," Burton said, and he noted parts of the road would not be vacated where they serve adjacent private property. Burton said he and city staff have met with the Prickly Pear Land Trust board and intend to include public engagement when Westside Woods files its final plat.

Speakers in chambers and online voiced support for permanent protection of the trail. Joel Gerhardt, a member of the Helena Trails Alliance steering committee, thanked the commission for reiterating the city's commitment to follow through at the right time. Nate Kopp, who spoke online, said the Prickly Pear Land Trust protected the land in partnership with the community in 2020 and urged the city to protect it permanently once authority allows.

Hammer also said the HCC is working on budget recommendations and that the HCC and city staff have planned an open house on March 25 at the library to discuss transportation issues.

The commission did not take action at the meeting; Burton said staff will engage the commission and the public when Westside Woods submits its final plat and when staff prepare an update to the Mount Helena City Park resolution.