Council approves Phase 1 Amasa development agreement, including affordable-unit commitments and parking concessions

The Moab City Council approved a phase 1 development agreement for the Amasa Apartments at 57 West King Creek Boulevard that advances redevelopment and includes affordable-housing commitments.

Planning staff Johanna described the agreement as an extraction of phase 1 lots from an earlier omnibus development agreement and recapped negotiated concessions and benefits; staff said benefits for the phase include units targeted at 50% AMI down to 25% AMI. Amanda, representing the applicant, explained a requested parking concession for a potential phase 3: "At 1.5 times 12…that's 18 parking stalls. With the concession that we've requested, it would be 12 parking stalls instead of 18," she said, adding that the concession would enable more units on site.

Councilmember Miles recused from the discussion and vote. Councilmember Caitlin moved to approve the phase 1 development agreement; Tawny seconded. The motion passed by voice vote, 3-0. Council members questioned how reduced parking in future phases might affect street parking and urged the applicant to show additional parking in designs for later phases; applicant representatives said they expect additional parking to be addressed in phase 2 designs and that design work was already progressing.

The council and staff described the project as addressing local affordable housing goals: staff cited the city’s 2023 affordable-housing plan projection that the city needs 500 new units by 2030 below 55% AMI (with a remaining gap of about 306 units when counting vested units). The developer said construction could start as soon as permits are finalized and fees paid.