HomeMy Public PortalAboutMIN-CC-2019-05-23MOAB CITY COUNCIL and PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
MAY 23, 2019
Call to Order and Attendance:
The Moab City Council held a Special Council Meeting on the above date in the City Council
Chambers located at 217 East Center Street. The purpose of the meeting was for a joint City
Council and City Planning Commission workshop for a Future Land Use Plan Update. An audio
recording is archived at http://www.utah.gov/pmn/index.html and a video recording is
archived at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDOlYs5UmvE. Planning Commission Chair
Allison Brown called the meeting to order at 5:0o PM. In attendance were Councilmembers
Rani Derasary, Tawny Knuteson-Boyd, Kalen Jones and Karen Guzman -Newton. Planning
Commission members Kya Marienfield, Marianne Becnel, Jeanette Kopell, Cory Shurtleff and
Becky Wells were present. Brian Ballard arrived at 5:27 PM. Also in attendance were City
Manager Joel Linares, Recorder Sommar Johnson, Planner Nora Shepard, Assistant Engineer
Eric Johanson and Recorder/Project Specialist Eve Tallman. Thirty-three members of the public
and media attended.
Planner Shepard introduced the Future Land Use Plan and provided an overview with proposed
options for Council including expanded overlay zones. Councilmember Jones asked about the
downtown edge area as compared to the downtown core. Councilmember Derasary asked how
many overnight accommodations were currently in the City and County and Shepard stated
there were approximately 3,800. Wells brought up condominiums in currently -existing
subdivisions which are not yet licensed as short term rentals and discussion ensued regarding
existing property owners and future uses. Councilmember Derasary presented a scenario for
other commercial uses such as restaurants and noted she was in favor of Option 5.
Councilmember Jones also stated his support for Option 5 and added there was a need for more
nuanced future development such as Option 4 could accommodate. Chair Brown asked for
clarification regarding the priority to removed overnight accommodations from all zones.
Councilmember Guzman -Newton brought up a desire to give Landmark consultants more
directives. Wells asked about redevelopment in the event an existing overnight accommodation
burns down. City Manager Linares explained redevelopment is a grandfathered right within the
same building footprint. Discussion followed regarding lenders approving grandfathered uses
and vested rights. Wells spoke in favor of protecting existing condominium subdivisions with
overlay zones. The option of protecting future rights through business licensing met with one
"thumbs up" from Councilmembers. Councilmember Jones clarified he wanted staff advice.
Assignments for Landmark consultants were suggested including proposed overlay zones and
mixed -use ideas. Councilmember Guzman -Newton asked for the "North of Downtown" area to
equal the existing Resort Commercial (RC) zone. Councilmember Jones brought up the example
of Durango for ideas. Mayor Niehaus clarified her understanding that redevelopment would be
limited to the same number of overnight accommodations as currently exist. Planner Shepard
noted drafting options would take some time. Councilmember Derasary stated her desire for
expansion that incorporates mixed uses and Councilmember Jones concurred.
Community nodes incorporating neighborhood commercial uses was mentioned as being farther
out on the timeline with no overnight accommodations allowed. Mayor Niehaus asked if an
existing commercial campground could be redeveloped as a hotel and the answer was no. More
discussion regarding the development of new campgrounds followed. Becnel brought up the
purchase or transfer of development rights. Councilmember Jones asked about the list of new
units exempt from the moratoria and Shepard confirmed there could be 6,200 overnight
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accommodations at buildout. Dialogue arose about the implications of the General Plan
regarding a vision for the future of tourism impacts such as noise and crowding. Councilmember
Derasary suggested participation of federal agencies regarding campground development.
Adjournment: Marienfield moved to adjourn the meeting. Becnel seconded the motion. The
motion passed unanimously. Mayor Niehaus adjourned the meeting at 7:06 PM.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
Emily S. Niehaus, Mayor Sommar Johnson, City Recorder
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May 23, 2019