Mona enacts six-month moratorium on major subdivisions while water, sewer feasibility studied

Mona City planners opened a public hearing and approved an ordinance on Jan. 8 placing a six-month temporary moratorium on major subdivision development and related building activity within the city limits.

The moratorium, described by city staff as a “feasibility step for culinary and irrigation water,” is intended to pause major subdivision approvals while the city and consultants evaluate water and utility capacity for future growth, planning staff said during the meeting.

City staff said they are seeking engineering firms to study whether the city has or can secure sufficient culinary and secondary (irrigation) water and to identify necessary utility upgrades. "We're looking for engineering companies to come in and help us with this," a staff member said during the hearing. The ordinance was offered at the meeting through a motion, seconded and accepted by the commission.

The public portion included detailed questions from residents identified at the meeting as the Wilkerson family, who described plans to subdivide remaining estate land into roughly 10 to 13 lots. The Wilkersons asked how utilities and roads would be extended and whether irrigation or treated sewer effluent could supply irrigation needs. "We donated the roads through that area...we think we've got about anywhere from 10 to 13 lots that could be serviced off that road," a Wilkerson family member said.

City staff and residents reviewed key constraints the engineers will need to address: water availability, where sewer lines can gravity-flow, looping and pressure for culinary and secondary water lines, natural gas looping requirements, required paving and stormwater management for any new roads, and the cost implications for a developer.

Staff summarized the specific water expectations cited in the discussion: the city requires a quarter share of Mona City irrigation water per lot and about a half acre-foot of culinary water per lot. Using the example raised by participants, a 13‑lot subdivision would require roughly 4.25 quarter‑shares of irrigation water and about 6.5 acre‑feet of culinary water, figures cited by staff at the meeting. City staff advised potential applicants to verify water availability before spending on design work: "First thing I would do if I were you is I would find the water first and see if it's available because that's where you're gonna run into problems," a staff member said.

Residents and staff also discussed options for providing utilities, including extending water and sewer lines, creating loops to avoid dead ends in gas and water distribution, and where manholes or trunk mains currently run. A staff member told the Wilkersons that engineers would need to survey the site, prepare design plans showing road layout, hydrants, storm drainage and other infrastructure, and return to the city for technical review and required changes before final approval.

Commissioners and staff did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript excerpt but conducted the public hearing, closed it, and then moved to accept the ordinance. The moratorium was described repeatedly as a six‑month temporary pause intended to allow the city to complete the feasibility study and prepare any regulation or infrastructure planning necessary.

What happens next: staff said they will solicit or work with engineering consultants to complete the feasibility work on culinary and irrigation water and related utility issues. Residents seeking to subdivide were advised to prioritize securing water rights and shares and to consult the city’s water and gas operator for the locations of existing mains before commissioning full engineering plans.