Sweeneys soften stand against Treasure buyout

(Park Record) Mike Sweeney, one of the three Sweeney brothers leading the family's efforts to build Treasure, told Mayor Dana Williams and the Park City Council Thursday night the Sweeneys are willing to enter into negotiations with City Hall that could result in a conservation deal for the Treasure land.

He briefly addressed the elected officials and did not provide details about the prospects of negotiations. Sweeney, though, said the family is open to talks about City Hall buying the Treasure land outright or paying the family in exchange for the Sweeneys reducing the size of the development.

The elected officials did not respond to the comments. Sweeney's statements were the second time in recent weeks a member of the family held open the possibility of some sort of negotiations about a conservation deal between their side and City Hall. Pat Sweeney, the most visible of the three brothers during the long-running Treasure discussions, said in a March interview the family could entertain discussions with Park City officials.

Doing so would shake up the talks about Treasure, which have stretched since the middle of the last decade. Throughout the talks, the Sweeneys have indicated that they were not interested in negotiating a conservation deal, saying that most of the Treasure land would remain undeveloped anyway and the project would boost business on Main Street if it is built.

Original Article