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City approves $750,000 commitment to expand Heart of Midway conservation easement
Summary
Midway City Council voted to commit an additional $750,000 from its second open‑space bond to help Utah Open Lands secure about 17.5 acres in the Heart of Midway conservation project; the approval includes conditions on water shares, trail easements, and a mechanism to release the commitment if outside funding does not materialize.
Midway City Council on July 7 approved a $750,000 commitment from the city’s second open‑space bond to support the Heart of Midway conservation easement, a project that would combine four neighboring properties into roughly 17.5 acres of contiguous preserved land.
Wendy Fisher, executive director of Utah Open Lands, told the Council the project preserves iconic views, working agricultural land and a historic red barn and that participating landowners are donating nearly $2 million in value, including one owner providing a full easement donation. She said anticipated federal matching funds are currently frozen, increasing the need for local support.
The Council’s approval is conditioned on clarifications of how irrigation water shares will be handled (the shares will remain with property owners and be co‑held through the conservation easement), securing public‑trail easements, and resolving a reserved future homesite so it does not undermine conservation values. The Council also required a procedure or time limit to release the city’s $750,000 commitment if additional grants or agreements are not finalized.
Council Member JC Simonsen and other members emphasized preserving the area’s agricultural character and scenic views while ensuring legal protections in the conservation easement for future owners. Staff corrected earlier wording to clarify that water shares would not be dedicated outright to the City but would be legally encumbered to remain appurtenant to the land.
The funding commitment was approved unanimously. Final use of the bond funds will depend on subsequent legal review and confirmation of matching funding as called out in the Council’s conditions.
