Developer and council discuss zoning, unfinished common area at The Canyons RV Resort

Developer Joby, who represents property in The Canyons subdivision, discussed the history and regulatory complications of the 17‑acre development with the Hurricane City Council during a June work meeting. He asked the council whether the site should remain an RV resort as originally platted, or be finished out as a small‑lot, single‑family subdivision with two‑story homes and new common‑area amenities.

Joby told the council the subdivision was platted in 1987 as a planned development (PDO) and that the homeowners association now holds the recorded common area after the original developer went bankrupt. He said about 2.5 acres of the 17 acres are common area and that 2.05 acres are shown on the plat as the recreation area, which has not been constructed. Joby said he is pursuing rights to clear certain debts so he can complete that common area and install amenities such as pickleball courts, a playground and a dog‑park–style retention area, but he does not plan to install a pool or clubhouse because of cost and liability concerns.

The council and Joby also discussed the character of the existing lots and what type of housing would be appropriate. Joby said many existing dwellings have been occupied long‑term in ways that technically exceed RV‑park rules, and he described three different development types that can exist in an MHRV zone: RV parks, mobile/manufactured home parks (single owner), and manufactured‑home subdivisions. He argued The Canyons does not match any of those neatly and that treating it as a PDO requires attention to the common area and plat history.

Council members raised concerns about height, parking, street widths and long‑term maintenance. Several council members said they were open to two‑story stick‑built houses on small lots as an affordable option, but others said the change could create a “hodgepodge” appearance and worried about street congestion, garages being used for storage rather than parking, and whether two‑story buildings would appear out of place next to existing single‑story units. A planning staff member explained the draft ordinance discussed at prior meetings would allow stick‑built buildings to exceed the current 15‑foot limit for pre‑2019 RV parks; planning commissioners had recommended a 35‑foot allowance, and some council members suggested 22–25 feet would be a more realistic maximum for the proposed homes.

No formal vote took place. Council members asked Joby to refine plans and asked staff to help him and council members meet to address outstanding technical issues. Councilmember Kevin said he preferred not to see the property continue as a resort and thought small two‑story homes could provide affordable housing opportunities. Councilmember Drew and others requested additional design work and suggested a replat or pad‑based design rather than individual small lots.

Council direction and next steps included informal follow‑up: a staff member was asked to arrange further meetings between Joby and council members (including Drew) to review concerns about height, parking and layout before the item returns to a formal hearing.

Why it matters: The Canyons is a long‑standing, partially built subdivision with uncompleted common facilities. How the city treats the property affects current residents, infrastructure needs (water meters and roads), enforcement of RV‑park rules, and the supply of lower‑cost, entry‑level housing.

Details extracted from the meeting: Joby said the subdivision totals about 17 acres and that the common area is roughly 2.5 acres, with a 2.05‑acre recreation parcel shown on the plat. He also said the HOA controls the common area and that internal HOA voting rules require 113 votes to act; he controls 57 of those votes. Planning staff and Joby discussed a draft ordinance change to raise the allowable height for pre‑2019 RV parks from 15 feet to a higher limit (planning commission recommended 35 feet; council discussion gravitated toward 22–25 feet as realistic for two‑story stick‑built homes). Joby said he has been working to obtain debt clearance rights and to get water meters installed so original lots could support new construction.