City looking at C Hill open space

Carson City's next piece of open space could come as a portion of C Hill.

Around 470 acres are privately owned on the prominent landmark and available for development.

City Open Space Manager Juan Guzman will ask the city's open space committee Monday to start the process to possibly purchase the property, owned by Dwight Millard and his partners in Stanton Park Development.

"If the price is right, they can have it," Millard said. "It's a good piece of property for the city. That's a high profile landmark and there is a very desirable potential on the backside of C Hill for the development of recreation."

Private property runs roughly from a canyon just off Rhodes Street to the top and just south of the American flag and the "C" on the hill, as well as along the west side of the hill.

"The character of the land is extraordinary," Guzman said. "It has incredible recreation potential by linking trails from the Borda property owned by the Forest Service. It has commanding views of Carson City, and one of the main landmarks is C Hill. It's recognizable from anywhere in the city. Those characteristics make it a desirable historic resource."

The city's hillside development ordinance doesn't limit development on hills surrounding the city, and Millard said he has considered development on the property several times.

"We've talked about subdivisions up there for eight or 10 years," he said. "It's going to be a lot of work and we have had easier projects. My idea was always to build a restaurant on the bluff where you could see all of Eagle Valley and Carson Valley. With a 360-degree view, it would be a phenomenal restaurant."

Millard said cost as well as the potential backlash from building on the popular landmark have also kept development off the mountain.

Neither Guzman nor Millard could estimate the property's value. If committee members decide to pursue the property, Guzman will hire an appraiser to determine a value for the C Hill property and potentially 40 acres of land in a meadow behind C Hill.

The second property, owned by Mike Gilbert, is the only private parcel in a meadow at the end of Kings Canyon Road, Guzman said. However, there have been development plans for the parcel. The committee will discuss this parcel as well.

IF YOU GO

What: Carson City Open Space Advisory Committee meeting

When: 6 p.m. Monday

Where: City Hall's Capital Conference Room, 201 N. Carson St.