Sale of trail-adjacent orphan parcels
Summary
Three city slivers sold to adjoining homeowners, with the council wrestling with trail buffers, no-build setbacks and whether proceeds should benefit the neighborhoods the parcels came from.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 2
Rising — discussed at 3 meetings since Oct 6, 2026, up from 0 in the two months before.
Impact analysis
About $16,900 in total sale revenue to the general fund.
The adjoining homeowners gain usable yard space and flood protection.
Neighbors who preferred the open-space buffer, particularly near the Bull River trail corridor.
Mentions & discussions (6)
City Council — November 10, 2026
Selling orphan parcels in open space neighborhoods is getting harder. Staff warned that selling the Manning parcel would drop Windsor Meadows below its required open space and invite more requests — three or four applications are already pending. The council wants a bigger policy conversation.
City Council. — October 20, 2026
Two homeowners are buying small strips of city land along trail corridors, and council members split over whether that erodes Highland's open-space character or simply shifts maintenance to residents who will care for it. Expect more similar requests as word spreads.
City Council. — October 6, 2026
The city is selling small encroached-on parcels to neighbors Barry and Burgon, and after pushback from Campbell and Rice, adopted a new standard: buyers who pay for title insurance get a warranty deed instead of a quitclaim.
Summit County adds 16 acres at Highland Flat, eyes Silver Creek-Kimball Junction link
Summit County adds 16 acres at Highland Flat, eyes Silver Creek-Kimball Junction link TownLift, Park City News
City Council — July 7, 2026
Three city slivers sold to adjoining homeowners, with the council wrestling with trail buffers, no-build setbacks and whether proceeds should benefit the neighborhoods the parcels came from.
Summit County buys contested Highland Flat parcel for $3.2M at I-80 / US 40 gateway
Summit County buys contested Highland Flat parcel for $3.2M at I-80 / US 40 gateway TownLift Park City
Related development
Orphan parcel sale — Viewpoint
Carmen gets yard space and street trees; the city keeps a five-foot trail buffer and intersection sight lines.
Orphan parcel sale — Rick Louder
The Louders can protect their yard from flood damage; the creek bed itself stays open.
Orphan parcel sale — Craig Johanson
Johanson may build a pool; neighbors in this historically contentious buffer area will get a chance to comment when the sale sign goes up.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
The weekly brief for Highland
What the council decided, in plain English — one email a week.
Free. Unsubscribe with one click any time. We never sell your email.