Planning commission gives conditional approval to phased Jasper at Mill Creek apartments

Moab City Planning Commission on April 24 conditionally approved a major change amendment to the Jasper at Mill Creek Apartments level 2 site plan, allowing the 160-unit development at 1537 Millcreek Drive to be built in two phases. The motion passed, 3-0.

The approval applies to a request from applicant Jake Cantor to split the previously approved eight-building layout into a two-phase build, with four buildings on the west side in phase 1 and the remaining four in phase 2. The commission’s conditional approval requires the applicant to resolve outstanding engineering and property issues before building permits will be issued.

The vote follows staff recommendation for conditional approval. City staff said the amendment is categorized as a major change because the revised plan introduces phasing, which triggers review by the original land-use authority — the planning commission. Staff listed three conditions that must be satisfied before building permits are issued: verification of a supportive-fill agreement with a neighboring property owner, resolution of outstanding development review team (DRT) comments including geotechnical items, and confirmation that a prior boundary discrepancy in the northeast corner has been cured.

The applicant told the commission the boundary overlap was identified later in the financing process and the project team resolved it by deeding the overlapping portion to the neighbor at no cost. "The lender actually brought it to our attention. We got in contact with the neighbor ... we decided to deed that overlapping portion just to the neighbor, free of cost to kind of resolve this issue," Jake Cantor said. Cantor said the area affected by the new boundary now sits near the planned street and will be addressed during phase 2; phase 1 work is on the west side and will not encroach on that corner.

Cantor told commissioners he expects phase 1 construction to take about 13 months, with phase 2 beginning afterward and likely adding a similar timeframe. City staff noted building permits and subsequent construction will remain contingent on satisfying the listed conditions, particularly the geotechnical report responses and an agreement that verifies supportive grading or fill on adjacent property where needed.

Commissioner Jill Tatten moved to approve planning resolution 07-2025 conditionally; Commissioner Carolyn Conant seconded. The motion passed 3-0. Commissioners present for the vote included Jill Tatten and Carolyn Conant; the roll call published the tally as 3-0 in favor.

Background: the site plan for Jasper at Mill Creek received approval in 2023. The applicant submitted amendment materials on March 25, 2025; project materials later addressed DRT comments submitted on April 15 and 16. Staff said tier construction will be involved with grading if the commission confirms approval and conditions are cleared.

The commission’s action imposes no immediate change to the approved unit mix; staff and the applicant characterized the amendment as a change in phasing and sequencing rather than in unit types or counts. Building permit issuance was explicitly tied to resolving the enumerated conditions.