Commission forwards annexation of 486 River Sands Road to city council

The Moab City Planning Commission voted unanimously on Jan. 8 to forward a recommendation to Moab City Council on Ordinance 2026-01, a petition to annex 486 River Sands Road. Staff noted the property is subject to a 2024 pre-annexation agreement that specifies a split zoning (C-2 commercial and R-3 residential) and includes an employment-household restriction for any residential units on part of the parcel.

Planning coordinator Corey Shurtleff told the commission that two letters had been submitted by neighbors; both letters "do not oppose the annexation itself" but protest the inclusion of a specific number of housing units and related development standards. Staff said the two letters are likely not qualifying objections for the planning-commission step but will be acknowledged and more appropriately considered at the city-council public hearing. Ben Bird, representing the applicant, described the history of the pre-annexation agreement and said the proposed residential portion would be workforce housing, while the commercial portion is intended to maintain existing commercial uses.

Commissioner Carolyn Conant moved to forward a positive recommendation; Commissioner Jill Tatton seconded. The motion passed 3-0. Staff said the proposed site plan shows about 20 units and that utilities, circulation and density will be resolved through the review and building-permit processes. "While we do not oppose the annexation itself, we are formally protesting the inclusion of a specific number of housing units in this annexation proposal," staff read from the neighbors' letters summarizing their concerns about density and sewer utility impacts.

The commission’s action was a recommendation to city council; final annexation approval and any contested development standards will be addressed at the council public hearing.