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Utah Open Lands seeks $2.4M to protect 80–90 acres near Emigration Canyon
Summary
Utah Open Lands presented a campaign to place roughly 80–90 acres near Emigration Canyon into a conservation easement called Skycrest Ranch Preserve, saying the project costs $2.4 million and that local residents have pledged about $600,000 so far; the council discussed possible local support and will revisit the project next month.
Brad Barber of Utah Open Lands told the Emigration Canyon council that the organization is seeking to protect a roughly 80–90 acre parcel under a conservation easement called the Skycrest Ranch Preserve. "The cost of doing this project is $2,400,000 is the is the deal to preserve this piece of land," Barber said, adding that the easement would allow development of one family home site but would otherwise prohibit subdivision.
Barber said fundraising has already begun: "In that month, since about the November, we have received $600,000 in pledges from residents of Immigration Oaks and Acorn Hills." He said the group has been working on the project for about two and a half years, and that an originally agreed deadline of Dec. 15 was extended verbally to March 31 to provide more time to raise the balance.
Council members and residents questioned whether the land is subdividable under current zoning. Barber described a mix of zoning on the parcels, with roughly 20–29 acres zoned FR‑1 (one home per acre) and the remainder zoned FR‑10 (one home per 10 acres), and noted slope constraints and riparian areas. When asked whether a developer already had plans, Barber said the owners had a buyer prepared to purchase at least one parcel if conservation was not secured.
Council members agreed to put the matter on the next meeting agenda for an update from Barber and for possible discussion of whether municipal financial support or a county match should be considered. Barber reminded listeners that Utah Open Lands is a 501(c)(3) and that pledges—also accepted online at utahopenlands.org—are tax‑deductible.
