Staff briefs commission on Buyers minor subdivision and administrative subdivision rule changes

City planning staff briefed the Moab City Planning Commission on Dec. 12 regarding the Buyers minor subdivision for property at 151 South 200 East and on recent changes to the city’s subdivision process intended to expedite administrative approvals.

Staff said City Council previously adopted Ordinance 2024-5 to align the subdivision ordinance with state changes and to allow administrative approvals where the code is met. Corey Shirtleff, city staff, described the procedural change: the planning coordinator is now the land-use authority for many minor subdivisions, with the development review team (DRT) serving as the advisory reviewing body. Minor subdivisions of four lots or fewer generally do not require a public hearing; larger subdivisions or those with unusual conditions can still receive public hearings.

Shirtleff described the Buyers minor subdivision as an administratively unusual but approvable case. The property currently contains two dwelling units under single ownership and a set of accessory structures; the owners are seeking to split the parcel so one sibling would take the back house and the other the front house. Staff said the platting approach avoids creating a flag lot that would place a narrow access pole next to an existing home and that the applicant has agreed to remove certain accessory sheds and adjust or remove a carport to meet setbacks. A 20-foot emergency vehicle access and utility easement was added at the front of the site after consultation with the fire inspector and building officials; staff said this area must remain clear of parked vehicles and that a 12-foot access width is the minimum required for additional site access.

Shirtleff said staff and the DRT have worked with the owners for nearly a year and that the plat satisfied development-review comments except for outstanding conditions of approval. He said staff will withhold the plat for signatures and county recording until inspections verify required removals and adjustments and until required use-and-maintenance agreements and public-utility-easement acknowledgements are recorded. Staff indicated the administrative land-use authority (planning coordinator) intends to approve the minor subdivision and that the commission was being briefed as an example of the administrative procedure.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about why a flag lot was not used, how the emergency-access easement would be enforced (no parking allowed), and whether public improvements such as sidewalk removal would be required immediately. Staff said sidewalk installation is not imminent along that block and owners would be required to remove encroaching walls or fences when the city proceeds with any future sidewalk work; in the meantime, owners will sign agreements to pay for and remove features when improvements occur.

There was no action requested of the Planning Commission; staff said they would proceed with administrative approval after the remaining conditions are satisfied and inspections completed.