Forest Service proposes to sell its Olympus Cove property

OLYMPUS COVE — The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to sell a chunk of land along the boundary of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Service — open land that has been in the cross hairs of controversy because of competing interests.

Some residents near the 5.75 acres of triangular property at 4900 S. Milehigh Drive (3375 East) in Olympus Cove do not want more residential development to come in or to see full-fledged accommodations for access to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail — such as dozens of parking spots, public restrooms and the like.

Outdoor enthusiasts, in contrast, have insisted for years that the ability to access the popular trail should not be hindered by private development, a position bolstered by Salt Lake County's efforts to acquire the land.

Under the Forest Service proposal, the land will be put up for competitive sale at market value, with a nod to a memorandum of understanding reached with the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Coalition. That agreement supports access to the trail in concept, which has been part of the county's master planning efforts for the trail. The Forest Service, as part of the sale, goes a step further and will also require the purchaser to grant an easement for public access and limited trailhead parking along the existing road.

"I recognize that converting the use of the land from open space to potential residential development is of concern to a number of residents," wrote Brian Ferebee, forest supervisor of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Service, in the decision.

"The decision to provide for a short section of the (Bonneville Shoreline Trail) and trailhead has been one of the most difficult and controversial aspects of this project. We have heard very clearly from a number of community residents about their concerns of granting easements for the potential construction" of a portion of the trail and trailhead, he said.

At the same time, the Forest Service has received public support for the easements and has been urged to provide access to agency lands, Ferebee said, adding that much of that access has been eroded over the years by private residential development. The sale will provide a forest "boundary" that better delineates natural open space from the urban environment, the supervisor said.

Additionally, he said the sale of the land will help the federal agency pay for a facility that will add to storage capability of fire engines and related equipment, and also help reduce administrative costs over the long run.