City of Missoula to accept fully donated North Hills conservation easement

MISSOULA — Missoula's network of conservation easements and open space could grow by 23 acres if the city accepts a fully donated parcel near the North Hills.

SEV Enterprises, owned by Peter and Kristen von Doersten, is donating the proposed Gleneagle Conservation Easement to the city.

The project carries no up-front costs, though future trail and maintenance work would carry some expenses.

Zack Covington, the city's planning and land acquisition manager, said the proposed easement would abut the popular Bluebird easement and nearby Allied Waste open space project.

“It's all becoming pretty popular,” said Covington. “There's a lot of demand for trails up there right now.”

The Gleneagle site holds a number of values, providing winter range for elk, protecting scenic views and the globa