Planning commission opposes Moab City utility overlay for Spanish Valley water tank after neighborhood objections

Grand County Planning Commission voted Thursday to send an unfavorable recommendation to the County Commission on Moab City’s request to apply a Major Utility Overlay to roughly 3 acres at 2651 South Spanish Valley Drive to permit construction of a water storage tank.

The commission’s decision came after more than two hours of staff presentations, applicant remarks and public testimony from neighbors and water providers. Staff recommended approval; the commission voted to forward an unfavorable recommendation by voice vote with six in favor of the unfavorable recommendation and one abstention.

The issue matters because the county commission will now consider the overlay despite staff support, and the parcel sits adjacent to residential lots and a 20-acre cemetery parcel that several speakers said is deed‑restricted for cemetery use.

Staff and applicant presentations Chrissy Hawthorne, planning and zoning staff, told the commission the Major Utility Overlay amendment would be applied to a 2–3 acre triangle of city‑owned property so Moab can site a water tank and later address site‑plan details at the site‑plan stage. “This is just to apply the overlay to allow the water tank,” Hawthorne said. She told the commission that public noticing had been completed and that staff received limited written comment but recommended approval.

Corey Schurthl, identified in the record…