Carson City Open Space Advisory Committee favors land purchase

The Open Space Advisory Committee on Monday recommended purchasing property on Carson City’s west side and approving a cooperative Wildfire Protection Plan.

The panel voted unanimously to urge the Board of Supervisors authorize purchase of 22 acres of open space already used for recreation, called Potter property. It is near the southwest corner of Ormsby Boulevard and Kings Canyon Road.

The purchase price of $225,000 would come from Question 18 Quality of Life money, part from this year’s budget and part from next fiscal year, said Juan Guzman, who heads the city’s open space program in the Parks and Recreation Department. Question 18 was approved by Carson City voters years ago and, in part, is used to purchase open space in rural areas.

Julian “Betsy” Potter, who spoke for the Potter Trust, thanked the committee for the recommendation and proceeding toward a purchase. Eileen Potter also spoke, raising concerns about making certain the land remains recreational open space in perpetuity.

Committee Chairman Bruce Scott assured her that Question 18 restrictions would apply, keeping the land away from developers and in the open space program.

The panel also voted unanimously to recommend the Board of Supervisors review and approve a Carson City/Nevada Division of Forestry Wildfire Protection Plan, which Assistant Fire Chief Tom Tartulli said would require $150,000 annually but would save multiple times more in the event of a major fire.

“We’re getting a lot more than the dollar amount on paper,” he said. He cited aircraft availability and other “major, major benefits” should what he termed “a participatory agreement” come into play as a result of a fire.