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Council votes 7-0 to begin conservation-easement process for Slate Canyon; open house set for June 13
Summary
The council approved initiating a conservation easement on roughly 115 acres in Slate Canyon, partnering with Utah Open Lands and Conserve Utah Valley, which offered to cover initial stewardship costs (~$10,000). The motion passed 7-0; staff will prepare an MOU, a public-benefit study, a drafted easement, and a public hearing before a resolution for final authorization.
The Provo City Council voted unanimously to move forward with placing approximately 115 city-owned acres in Slate Canyon into a conservation easement held by Utah Open Lands. Staff said the proposed pathway follows the same code section used for the earlier Bonnell's Fork easement and would require an MOU with Utah Open Lands, a public-benefit valuation study, coordination across city departments (legal, public works, parks and rec, development services, fire), drafting the easement, and a public hearing prior to a council resolution authorizing the final conveyance.
Malia, city staff leading the project, said Conserve Utah Valley has offered to cover initial stewardship costs of about $10,000 and to help with fundraising for ongoing expenses. Council members asked whether placing the land in an easement would preclude future uses; staff and Utah Open Lands clarified that easements create a durable set of "guardrails" that define permitted and prohibited uses, allow for adaptive management aligned with parks master plans, and include explicit procedures for amendment or condemnation — actions that are legally possible but rare and typically costly.
Councilors discussed recreational amenities, buildability of small slivers of land, stormwater and infrastructure needs, and how a management plan could incorporate allowable events (for example, temporary vendors for a frisbee-golf tournament or other festivals). Several councilors emphasized the long-term public-benefit case: protecting watershed, wildlife and recreation values and signaling a city commitment to preserving open space for future generations.
After the discussion, a councilor moved and a second was recorded; the council voted 7-0 in favor of moving the easement process forward. Staff announced a public open house at Slate Canyon Park for June 13 to provide education on conservation easements and gather community input. The item will return for the public-benefit study, draft easement language, and a public hearing before final council action.
