Open-space sale that committee rejected goes to supervisors

The Carson City Board of Supervisors will decide Thursday whether to sell the city's 40-acre Gilbert Property off Kings Canyon Road to the U.S. Forest Service.

Open Space Manager Juan Guzman presented the plan to the Open Space Advisory Committee on Oct. 3, saying the federal agency had agreed to pay $1.12 million for it.

The committee rejected the idea, arguing the Forest Service has done a poor job of managing interface lands, and the city can do better. In addition, they said the open-space program should not become a brokerage program, buying and reselling lands. They argued the city should keep land after purchase and manage it as open space.

Guzman, however, said the money is needed to finance future open-space projects within the city.

The four 9.9-acre lots at the southeast corner of Borda Meadow were purchased by the city in April 2003 to protect them from development. The city paid $740,000, then applied for federal funding through the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act to have the Forest Service purchase the property.

Most of the property is on a hill, but Guzman said eight acres are within the riparian zone of Kings Canyon Creek. That area was burned in the Waterfall fire, but is recovering.

The land is surrounded by other USFS property on the south, west and east. Carson City Utilities owns the 40-acre parcel to the north.

Guzman said if the property is sold, the money could help make possible larger acquisitions, such as the Swafford, Hutchinson or Long properties in the Kings Canyon drainage. Purchase of those properties, he said, would give Carson City significantly more leverage with the Forest Service in managing the area. The properties total several hundred acres.

In addition, the board will consider final approval of a proposed subdivision along Carson City's southern border. If approved, the Schulz Ranch project will have 521 homes when completed, ranging from small homes aimed at young families buying their first house to larger homes on half-acre lots. It also includes a neighborhood park, a greenbelt area and two flood control basins designed for use as park space.

-- Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.

If you go

What: Carson City Supervisors meeting

When: 8:30 a.m. Thursday

Where: Sierra Room of the Community Center, 851 E. William St.

CALL: 887-2100