An 834-acre farm in the Kamas Valley will be acquired to help protect the region’s wetlands, and Summit County officials want the community’s help in determining what else the property could be used for.
So far, they’re considering an education center and gathering places, recreational amenities and continued agricultural preservation, as well as community housing and small-business opportunities at the Ure Ranch — though nothing has been decided, according to Summit County Lands and Natural Resource Director Jess Kirby.
The Summit County Council in March approved an option agreement with the family to purchase the East Side property for $25 million. But with $5 million from the open space bond passed by voters in November 2021 used toward the final price, Kirby said officials wanted to let the community weigh in on how the land might be used in the future at an open house on Monday.
“First and foremost, we need to raise the rest of the funding for the property. We put down a $5 million down payment, but we have a $20 million bill. We need to settle up here and we’ve got four years to do it,” she said.
Kirby stressed the property will not be solely purchased using money from the $50 million bond because there will likely be development on the land. Instead, she’s pursuing grant money to leverage the bond dollars. This includes conservation and preservation grants as well as separate funding opportunities tied to recreation and housing.
A stakeholders group made up of leaders from Kamas, Oakley and Francis as well as Planning Department staff was convened soon after Summit County entered into the option agreement to develop a long-term vision for the valley. Staffers are working closely with landowners in the area, too.
A portion of the property near S.R. 248 called the North Meadows would be put under a conservation easement, in partnership with the Summit Land Conservancy, but there’s more flexibility on the rest of the acreage.
“How do we land-plan this property in a way that can recoup some of the funding used to pay for it, but also keep that rural feeling and keep the agriculture in the meadow, protect the watershed, and bring in some recreation and community housing?” Kirby asked. “This is different from a piece of open space because we’re looking at it a little bit beyond the preservation piece.”
Kirby wants to conduct a historical analysis to understand what should be saved or restored and how it could be used in the future. The property has been in family hands since 1892 and many structures remain on the land, unlike the vast 910 Cattle Ranch. Officials could preserve a snapshot of how dairy farms used to operate and allow 4-H clubs and other agricultural groups to tour the grounds.
There’s also a great need for housing in Summit County, and some portions of the land could be reserved for affordable and workforce units. Kirby said it would be nearly impossible to preserve the entire property because the county needs a funding source to help pay for the cost.
“We have to figure out what the community is comfortable with. The Ure Ranch is quite different from the 910 Cattle Ranch where it’s not just being looked at as complete open space. We’ve been very transparent from the beginning that development could be a part of this,” she said.
Staffers will provide historical information about the ranch and ideas brainstormed by the county and nearby cities at the open house. Attendees will be invited to provide input on the ideas and mark maps with their own opinions. There’s also an online survey for people unable to attend in person.
There will be an internal review of the results a few weeks after the event followed by a meeting with stakeholders. Kirby said they might refine the ideas and present them to the public later this year. There will be more opportunities for public engagement in the future.
The open house is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the Kamas Services Building, 110 N. Main Street. Child care and a light dinner will be provided.