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Hurricane council approves resolution to apply for federal LWCF grant to buy 83-acre 'H' property
Summary
The Hurricane City Council voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to acquire an 83‑acre parcel that includes 'the H' (Hurricane Hill); council members discussed price, matching funds and NEPA/appraisal requirements.
The Hurricane City Council on the evening of the meeting adopted a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant to acquire an 83‑acre parcel that includes the community landmark known as "the H," officials said.
Arthur Lebaron, introduced by the mayor to speak on the item, described the property and the proposed use, saying, "So there's 83 acres that include the h, and it's a piece of private property." He told the council the city has prepared a resolution supporting the application and that the site is suitable for LWCF acquisition.
Why it matters: Council members said their priority is to preserve the viewscape and keep development minimal while opening modest access for recreation. Lebaron told the council the city's aim is to "maintain the h and light the h" and to keep most improvements "minimalist" — picnic tables, trails, parking, and possibly a restroom or pavilion — so the hill remains largely undeveloped.
On costs and grant structure, Lebaron told the council the listing price is $800,000 and that the city is requesting an additional $30,000 to cover environmental reviews, closing costs and the required appraisal, bringing the total project value to about $830,000. "This is a $50.50 grant," he said, and later clarified the award portion would be about $415,000 with the city expected to provide the matching amount.
The council discussed valuation and competitiveness. A member asked whether the $800,000 asking price had been verified; Lebaron said they had checked county assessor records and expected the required "yellow book" appraisal to confirm value before closing. He also noted that the project must comply with NEPA because the funds are federal.
A motion to approve the resolution (recorded in the meeting as "resolution 20 26 0 1") was made and seconded; the council voiced assent and the motion carried. The transcript records members saying "Aye" as the motion passed, but a named roll-call tally was not given on the record.
Next steps: Staff said the LWCF application is due Jan. 15, and if awarded the grant and all federal reviews proceed, the city would complete the purchase and related federal environmental reviews within the year, pending appraisal results and final funding allocations.
Officials emphasized the city has not adopted a final development plan for the parcel; Lebaron summarized that the city hopes to keep improvements minimal to preserve views from downtown toward Hurricane Hill.
