Park City Council unanimously votes to protect Treasure Hill with conservation easement after six years of effort

A view of Park City's Old and Treasure Hill with Deer Valley Ski Resort in the background. Photo: Park City

“It was a win for the land, not for us, but we are the ones who have to defend it.” Cheryl Fox, Summit Land Conservancy

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City Council has officially approved the Treasure Hill Conservation Easement in a unanimous 5-0 vote, marking a major step in safeguarding one of the city’s most iconic open spaces. The decision, made during the council’s March 27 meeting, ensures the land will be protected in perpetuity while allowing for continued ski operations.

Ryan Blair, the city’s Environmental Services Manager, emphasized the long journey to the moment, tracing it back to 2019 when efforts first began to solidify protections for Treasure Hill.

“This easement continues the city’s commitment to preserving the land in perpetuity,” Blair said. “We’ve worked closely with Summit Land Conservancy to create a plan that balances conservation with the existing rights of ski operations.”

A key component of the decision, discussed at length in the meeting, was incorporating recommended language from the Summit Land Conservancy ahead of the vote. As part of the decision, any future alterations to a chairlift—including changes to its trajectory and orientation—must receive formal approval. This requirement solidifies the commitment to conservation and prevents unregulated modifications. Any new landowner seeking to realign the lift would need to go through an approval process, reinforcing the City’s and Summit Land Conservancy’s intent to protect the integrity of Treasure Hill’s landscape.

“The conservation easement is our best effort to protect what the community paid $64 million for,” Cheryl Fox, executive director of Summit Land Conservancy said. “We know going forward that there will be challenges, and we know those challenges will likely be well-represented and well-funded.”

While the easement provides strong protections, Fox warned that legal challenges remain possible, especially as local zoning and land use policies continue to face scrutiny.

“We try our best not to get into situations where we have to litigate,” she said. “That’s why we work to make conservation easements as clearly written as possible.”

Fox said Summit Land Conservancy remains committed to defending the easement and ensuring that Treasure Hill remains protected for future generations. However, she stressed that continued public engagement and legal diligence will be crucial in upholding the conservation values the community fought to secure.

“It was a win for the land, not for us,” Fox said. “But we are the ones who have to defend it.”

Treasure Hill has long been part of Park City’s character, offering not only open space but also access to ski terrain and mountain bike trails. The City purchased the 104-acre Treasure Hill property from the Sweeney family in 2019 for $64M to permanently conserve the land and prevent large-scale development. A conservation easement was established to ensure any future use aligns with conservation values.

Blair highlighted that the conservation easement does not eliminate ski operations but rather clearly defines their scope. The agreement allows for continued use of ski lifts, snowmaking, and ski runs while restricting any future commercial or residential development. “You can’t even ski down to the main street of Breckenridge, but you can ski down to Main Street in Park City,” Blair noted, emphasizing how integral the area is to the city’s ski culture.

In response to council feedback from a December 2024 work session, updates to the easement include clarifications on encroachments, ski resort operations, and notification requirements for any future modifications. In an early February meeting, Fox requested more time to review documents from the Town Lift agreement. This discussion was echoed in the March 27 meeting, where council members deliberated extensively on the impact of existing agreements, including the Town Lift Agreement, which dates back to 2008 and remains in effect until 2078.

Council members sought to future-proof operations by ensuring that even if existing agreements expire, the right to maintain and upgrade an in-place lift along its current alignment remains intact. “We don’t want to be the council responsible for losing the Town Lift because an agreement lapses,” one member remarked.

The easement City Council approved ties language to the Town Lift Agreement and requires the City to renegotiate the contract in 2078, supported by council member Bill Ciraco.

As part of the Main Street revitalization plan, city officials have explored the possibility of converting the Town Lift into a gondola. Meanwhile, the Sweeneys, who own the Town Lift Plaza in Old Town, said they were planning to sell the property last year.

The conservation easement builds upon past efforts to safeguard Treasure Hill, including city-imposed deed restrictions that prohibit future development. Blair reiterated that the easement formally reinforces these protections.

“The goal has always been to maintain this land as open space while allowing responsible ski operations to continue,” Blair said.

With the approval now in place, the conservation easement will be officially recorded, ensuring Treasure Hill remains a protected part of Park City’s landscape for generations to come.