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Commission conditionally approves 144-unit affordable housing site plan at 1581 Mill Creek Drive
Summary
The Moab City Planning Commission granted conditional approval to a Level 2 site plan for a 144-unit, low‑income housing tax credit project at 1581 Mill Creek Drive developed by 22 Communities with Red Rock Partners; the approval requires a finalized boundary adjustment and a recorded grading easement. Vote was 5-0.
The Moab City Planning Commission on Sept. 25 conditionally approved a Level 2 site plan for a 144‑unit residential project at 1581 Mill Creek Drive that will use Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and remain under deed restriction for 55 years. The motion passed unanimously, 5‑0, with two conditions tied to property boundaries and grading easements.
The applicant, Jake Williams of 22 Communities, said the development is a mission‑driven affordable housing project being developed in partnership with landowner Red Rock Partners and Garn Development. Williams described the design approach as sensitive to site topography and character: “our goal is to not have it feel or look like what you might imagine when you hear affordable housing,” he said. Staff told the commission the project has 144 units and 216 parking stalls in the submitted plan, and that the project has already completed three rounds of development review team comments.
Staff explained the approval is conditioned on two administrative items: (1) finalizing a boundary adjustment to isolate Phase 1 as a single parcel and (2) recording a grading easement agreement with the newly created neighboring parcel so construction grading and drainage can be implemented across the adjusted site. Planning staff said those items were prerequisites because the original proposal had been modeled as a multi‑phase campus and the LIHTC funding timeline led the developer to pursue Phase 1 as a standalone project for financing reasons.
Williams said the development has obtained LIHTC awards and that the state will record a land‑use restriction on the deed for 55 years to maintain affordability levels tied to area‑median‑income thresholds. He and staff said grading and drainage calculations were prepared assuming full buildout of the site, and that the Phase 1 grading plan ties into downstream drainage and neighbor designs to avoid rework.
Commissioners praised the team’s effort to work with natural grade, the proposed amenities (playground and pickleball court), and neighbor outreach. Commissioner Miles Lockton moved to conditionally approve planning resolution 2025‑14 with the two staff conditions; Commissioner Jill Tatton seconded. The motion passed 5‑0.
Staff and the applicant indicated they expect to proceed with construction once boundary and easement documents are recorded and financing milestones are met.
