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Midway advisory committee reviews several conservation easements, open-space requests and hot-spring access ideas
Summary
Committee members discussed pending conservation easements including a near-term Lundeen 120-acre easement, a "Heart of Midway" proposal on Center Street that staff asked the council to fund with $1 million, and other open-space trail connections. The group also talked about geothermal potential at Ami Ali and the steps needed before any public pools or hot-spring amenities could be built.
Staff outlined multiple open-space efforts and easement transactions the committee is tracking.
On the Lundeen property, staff said the city has earmarked funds and language for a conservation easement on roughly 120 acres near Zermatt; the council was scheduled to consider the easement the following day and the county must approve its portion of funding. "Hopefully tomorrow everything goes well and it gets approved and we get conservation easement on a 120 acres," the planner said.
The advisory committee discussed the "Heart of Midway" initiative: staff said four contiguous properties near 250 North/Center Street could be protected with a conservation easement limiting development to a single house and preserving an iconic valley view. The Open Space Advisory Committee recommended contributing $1,000,000 toward the easement; staff said the city previously approved $250,000 and is asking for an additional $750,000 in the upcoming council process.
Members also reviewed Pear Tree Llama, the fish hatchery area and existing public trail stubs at 850 South as opportunities to improve connectivity. Staff described public trail segments that already exist and how easements might link those sections into longer loops.
Separately, committee members discussed a one-acre city easement at the Ami Ali mountain spa property and the idea of using geothermal water for community pools. Staff said the property owner (Chuck Heath) tested a proposed well and that engineering, hydrology study and funding would be required before public amenities could be pursued. Committee members recalled historical community use of hot springs and warned of water-quality and liability considerations.
Next steps: staff will take conservation-easement items to the city council where required, continue negotiations for trail easements and investigate technical and funding needs for any geothermal-based amenities before any formal proposal is advanced.
