Moab Planning Commission approves parking exception for The Press at 35 East Center Street

The Moab City Planning Commission on March 27 approved Planning Resolution 06-2025, granting a parking special exception for nine parking spaces — including payment in lieu for two — to permit a change of use at 35 East Center Street.

The vote clears the way for applicant Rebecca McAllister to convert the former Times Independent building into a mixed-use facility that will keep Desert Thread, add a second location for Moss Cafe and house retail space formerly occupied by Artesian. The plan includes a commercial kitchen intended for shared use by small food businesses and community events.

The proposal required 24 parking spaces for the new use. Staff reported that 13 spaces were credited from the previous use, leaving 11 still required. Of those, five spaces physically exist behind the building but are not recognized “by title” because of unresolved easement/title issues; the commission accepted those five as special-exception spaces. Staff recommended that two of the remaining spaces be satisfied by payment in lieu (the city’s standard maximum fee-in-lieu rate was cited) and that the balance be approved as special exceptions, for a total of nine special exemptions/fee-in-lieu actions on the application.

Rebecca McAllister, the applicant, described the project’s downtown focus and community orientation: "The intent is to really make this a space for the community foremost," she said, explaining plans for a kitchen that could be used by caterers, pop-up restaurants and supper clubs when not needed by the primary tenant. Planning staff Johanna Blanco summarized the parking calculation and the staff recommendation.

Planning Commissioner Miles Lofton moved to approve Planning Resolution 06-2025 as drafted; Planning Commissioner Jill Tatton seconded. The commission took a voice vote; all three commissioners present voted to approve the motion.

Commissioners expressed support for the project’s community uses and for shifting some daytime traffic off Main Street to strengthen the Center Street corridor. One commissioner said the project would be a “great use of the old times building” and noted the need for more commercial kitchen space in Moab.

With the resolution approved, the applicant may proceed with the change of use and related permits subject to the conditions of approval attached to the resolution.