Wetland Mitigation Property Conservation Easement

At a glance

• What: City proposal to sell approximately 900-acre surplus wetland mitigation property to Utah Department of Natural Resources under conservation easement to Utah Open Lands.
• Where it stands: Public Benefits Analysis and Disposition of Significant Parcel hearings set for October 6, 2026; action expected October 20.
• Status: Property acquired in 1990s as mitigation for airport runway expansion.

The property

• Acres: Approximately 900
• Purpose: Wetland mitigation for west runway expansion at Salt Lake City International Airport (1990s)
• Status: Maintained by Airport since acquisition
• Current owner: Salt Lake City

Proposal

The City would:

1. Grant conservation easement to Utah Open Lands (with no purchase price/fee)
2. Sell property to Utah Department of Natural Resources

Conservation easement would restrict future use of property.

Processes required

The proposal requires two separate processes:

Public Benefits Analysis

• Consideration of waiving purchase price for conservation easement to Utah Open Lands
• Analysis of public benefits related to wetland preservation, habitat protection, and limiting future development

Disposition of Significant Parcel

• Public hearing to allow citizens to provide feedback on recommendation to sell property to DNR
• Required under Salt Lake City Code Section 2.58.040

Public benefits

• Wetland preservation
• Habitat protection
• Limitations on future development

Proceeds from sale

Airport would retain proceeds from property sale for future Airport improvement projects, including potential center runway extension.

Timeline

• Briefing: Tuesday, September 8, 2026
• Set hearing dates: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 (formal meeting)
• Public hearings: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 7 p.m.
• Action: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Staff and partners

• Bill Wyatt, Executive Director of Airports
• Brady Fredrickson, Director of Airport Planning & Capital Programming
• Shane Andreasen, Director of Real Estate & Commercial Development
• Utah Open Lands (easement holder)
• Utah Department of Natural Resources (proposed purchaser)

Sources

• 2026-10-06 - City Council Formal Meeting
• City Council Work Session minutes, September 8, 2026: https://slc.primegov.com/public/portal

Log

2026-09-08 - City Council Work Session

Extensive briefing on wetland mitigation property disposition and conservation easement; Council discussed allocation of sale proceeds to Airport for future improvement projects.

2026-10-06 - City Council Formal Meeting

Public hearings on the property disposition and the conservation easement fee waiver; 18 registered to speak. Hearings closed, no action on the property, fee waiver deferred.