Moab City Planning Commission Meeting Report 2021-05-13

The Planning Commission agenda included two public hearings with subsequent recommendations to the City Council and two discussion items involving future decisions. The meeting lasted about 2.5 hours and the meeting packet contained 274 pages.  The agenda with links to packet materials can be viewed here: https://moabcity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05132021-1041 You can view the meeting on the City’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl00z0Zgdmz4y1FoI0l7CJA

Public Hearings

1. Public hearing concerning proposed Ordinance 2021-06, an amendment to change the zoning map for property located at approximately 398 Kane Creek Blvd. The parcel is currently zoned RA-1 Residential-Agricultural Zone. The proposed new zone designation would be R-3 Multi-Household Residential Zone.  Written comments were received by the Planning Department and one citizen spoke via ZOOM. The meeting packet includes some extensive comments on the proposed change. Comments opposed the re-zone. Most of the comments concerned issues such as access to water and sewer or increased traffic in the area. Connecting the parcel to the sewer system should be possible to a nearby current sewer line according to the city engineer. The RA-1 zone would allow 8 or 9 individual lots on the 9.98 acre parcel. The R-3 zone will allow a maximum of about 217 units.

The Planning Commission passed the resolution approving the rezone with four yes votes and one no vote.

2. Public hearing for Resolution No. 13-2021 conditionally approving the Final Master Planned Development (MPD) for the Lionsback Resort and Final Plat for Phase 1. A description of the entire development is contained in the information packet for the May 13 meeting. There will be a total of five phases for the development. Phase 1 included a 50 unit condominium hotel and 34 Casita units. The current plan is to construct only the 34 Casitas in this first phase. This is permissible under current planning regulations. These units are in the southwest corner of the development in the angle created by the Sand Flats Road and the Hell’s Revenge Trail. The southern boundary of the SITLA parcel is just north of the junction of the Sand Flats Road and the Potato Salad Hill Road. The Hell’s Revenge Trail will be maintained under an easement granted by SITLA. There is a drinking water source protection plan in place. There were two written comments, one supporting the development and one technical comment from the County concerning the Sand Flats Road.

The Planning Commission voted with four yes votes and one abstention to send the Phase 1 Final Plat to the City Council with favorable recommendation.

Future agenda items

1. A draft ordinance was reviewed for a permanent Code Amendment to address outdoor dining and parklets (small outdoor dining areas located on City owned rights of way or roads adjacent to dining establishments). This would make the temporary permit enacted last year a permanent part of city code.

2. Moab Municipal Code currently does not address brewpubs, breweries and distilleries. The city is proposing to permit breweries and distilleries in the C-4 Zone and brewpubs in C-3 and C-4 zones. Suggested language was reviewed and discussed by the commission.