Planning commission forwards positive recommendation for annexation of 486 Riversands Road

The Moab City Planning Commission on Jan. 8 forwarded a positive recommendation to the City Council for Ordinance 2026-01, which would annex property at 486 Riversands Road into the city with a proposed split zoning of C-2 Commercial and R-3 Residential. Commission Member Carolyn Conant moved to forward the recommendation; Commission Member Jill Tatton seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Associate Planner Johanna Blanco described the proposal and noted that a 2024 pre-annexation agreement includes a requirement that "all housing would be 100 percent active employment households (AEH)." Blanco said the parcel will undergo a minor subdivision process. Developer representative Ben Byrd described plans to build alternative dwellings on foundations aimed at workforce housing. Blanco and staff said two letters were received from neighbors raising concerns about residential density; staff characterized those objections as related to density rather than to the annexation itself. Conant identified a typographical error in the packet where C-3 had been listed instead of C-2; staff confirmed the correct proposed commercial zoning is C-2.

The commission's positive recommendation moves the annexation ordinance to the City Council for final action and public hearing as required by the municipal process. Matters remaining for staff and the applicant include addressing public comments on density during the subsequent public hearing and completing the minor subdivision steps.