Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Moratorium topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mona City adopts six-month moratorium on major subdivisions while city commissions water feasibility study
Summary
The Mona City Council approved Ordinance 2025-1, a temporary land-use moratorium on major development and subdivisions over three homes, and authorized an RFP for a water feasibility study to determine culinary and secondary water availability and options for reuse of effluent.
Mona City approved Ordinance 2025-1 on a motion from Council member Kevin Squire to impose a temporary moratorium on major subdivision and building activity while the city completes a water feasibility study.
Council members said the moratorium, described in the ordinance as a six-month extension, is intended to give staff time to inventory existing culinary and secondary water supplies, evaluate options for piping effluent for secondary uses, and create clearer subdivision rules before new large developments move forward. Council discussion repeatedly referenced concern about small, private ponds built by developers and long-term maintenance responsibilities for homeowners associations.
City staff said they will post and manage a request for proposals (RFP) asking engineering firms to assess how much water the city has, what can be developed, estimated costs, and potential infrastructure needs. Staff noted the RFP was approved by the state procurement office and is live on the city website and the state site. Council members said the study likely will not create new pipeline or construction within six months, but it will guide ordinance changes and capital planning.
The ordinance exempts minor subdivisions (three homes or fewer) from the moratorium and applies to larger ‘‘major’’ subdivisions. Council members said the moratorium will give the city time to require stronger engineering guarantees, address pond and HOA risks, and avoid approving subdivisions that rely on undeclared or unsupported private water features.
The council indicated the study may consider piping treated effluent back for secondary irrigation and whether city resources can be redeployed to support subdivisions without creating future maintenance burdens. Staff and council also discussed later budgeting and possible executive-session negotiations about funding the study and related contracts.
The moratorium motion carried; the council directed staff to finalize the RFP, solicit bids, and return with recommended contract awards and ordinance language revisions for council review.
