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City of Durango protects viewshed with purchase

Councilors approve $24,950 contract for half-acre

The Durango City Council signed off on purchasing about a half-acre of hillside at the east end of Seventh Street on Tuesday.

The 0.55 acre, also called the Walker parcel in city documents, does not border any city property, but the purchase would help protect the view of the hill for residents, said Kevin Hall, assistant director of community development.

“By acquiring that small piece of land, we can be assured there will never be a proposal to put a view-obstructing home on that site,” Hall said.

There is also potential to build another trail along a creek that runs through the land. The creek runs from Fort Lewis College, east of East Eighth Avenue, to the Horse Gulch Trailhead, along East Eighth Avenue and continues toward Santa Rita Park.

But trail construction would require the city to purchase more land along the hillside.

“If the opportunity presents itself in the future to preserve enough of the hillside to create a full trail corridor, then the community can have a discussion at that time whether a trail is appropriate for that location,” Hall said.

This is not the first time the city has purchased property isolated from other parcels set aside for open space, said Cathy Metz, parks and recreation director.

The city tends to take advantage of opportunities to buy property as they present themselves, she said.

The councilors approved a contract to buy the property for $24,950 with money from the Parks, Open Space and Trails Fund. Originally, the asking price for the parcel was $49,950 in 2011, according to a city staff report.

The Natural Lands Preservation Advisory Board did not support the original price of the land. But the price was reduced after negotiations, Hall said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com

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