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Kanab Council opens review of Kane County's proposed Old Fort Ranch development in city expansion area
Summary
Kanab City Council reviewed a proposed Kane County development agreement for the "Old Fort Ranch"—a resort and residential project in the city's municipal expansion area—and discussed potential long-term impacts on utilities, transportation, and annexation procedures. The council agreed to form a staff-and-commission review group to prepare the city's response.
Kanab City Council on May 12 began a multi-faceted review of a proposed development agreement filed with Kane County for a parcel in the city's municipal expansion area known as the Old Fort area.
City Manager Kyler Ludwig said the notice from Kane County, received May 4, describes a project that would include a hotel and resort, short-term rental residences, employee housing and related amenities. The proposed development would initially be administered by Kane County but sits inside the area Kanab has identified for potential future annexation, he said, so the long-term impacts could affect the city if annexation occurs.
Why it matters: Council members flagged several planning and service issues the draft agreement does not currently resolve. Ludwig told the council that transportation connectivity, roadway standards, emergency service access, water resources, wastewater infrastructure, stormwater management and compatibility with surrounding open space and neighborhoods are among the items the city should evaluate before consenting to any long-term framework.
The developer representatives, Gregory Wyatt and Jennie Peterson of Whales Tail Villas LLC, attended and answered council questions about project concepts and infrastructure discussions, the minutes show. Staff noted many commitments remain conceptual rather than formal obligations in the county agreement and said the developer had discussed private wells as a potential water source. City staff indicated concern about additional groundwater wells in the area and said the city would likely protest new wells if they move forward without adequate regional analysis.
Mayor Johnson proposed creating a committee of city staff, council members and Planning Commission representatives to coordinate the city's response to Kane County within the statutory review window. Councilmembers debated expectations and standards the city should request, such as utility assurances, emergency access and transportation connections, but did not take formal action to approve or block the county-level agreement.
Next steps: The council directed staff to organize a coordinated review and prepare recommendations for formal comment within the city's statutory response period (90 days from the county notice). No binding municipal decision or annexation occurred at the meeting.
