Commission discusses Land Use Code updates: defined uses, home-enterprise tiers and dwelling definition

City planning staff and members of the Moab Planning Commission on Jan. 8 discussed a broad update to the Land Use Code focused on defined uses, occupancy groups and how to handle mixed or multiple uses on business license applications. Building Official Barry Ellison and Community Development staff described occupancy-group designations that affect maximum occupant loads and safety requirements; commissioners and staff brainstormed specific uses that might be added, including carpentry shops, fireworks stores, shoe repair, coffee roasters, amusement park or mini-golf, heli-pad, indoor shooting range and on-site employee housing.

Associate Planner Johanna Blanco said she was working on a framework to update home-enterprise definitions and tiers of intensity and that she would "send a draft for review before the next meeting." Community Development Director Cory Shurtleff raised questions about the "definition of a dwelling," calling attention to practical details such as bathroom and kitchen facilities and the problem of illegal living spaces that skirt safety rules. Commissioners asked staff to return with a draft code format (broad headings with subheadings or more specific use listings) and to include examples from other municipal codes for comparison. Staff indicated those materials would be available for the Jan. 29 meeting.