Upzone redux...
Aug 01, 2013 | 847 views | 0 0 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Bad ideas never seem to die. For the fourth time, developers are coming to the county planning commission to up-zone the 17-acre triangular parcel across Murphy Lane from Old City Park, bounded on the north by Cedar Hills Lane and on the east by Desert Hills Dr.

The three previous up-zone requests were voted down by both the Grand County Planning Commission and the Grand County Council. At the time the land belonged to the Grand County School District. The land is now owned by Redrock Partners, LLC, represented by Randy Day.

The land is currently zoned RR, rural residential, which allows between 17 and 26 units. The up-zone request is for SLR, small lot residential, which would allow 136 units.

Neighbors fought the previous up-zone proposals, which would have allowed 240 units, 80 units, or 34 units respectively because of the numerous impacts:

• Traffic will be significantly increased on winding, narrow Murphy Lane, and on Old City Park Road.

• The proposed valley-wide water supply study should be completed before any increased zoning densities are granted.

• The criteria required by county ordinance for a zone change were not met.

• Native vegetation dominates this parcel providing habitat for native birds and other wildlife. More disturbance means dust, weeds and loss of habitat.

• More houses do not increase the county’s wealth. Generally, the costs of services for one household exceed the new taxes collected.

Please attend the planning commission meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 6 p.m., in the Grand County Council Chambers at the Grand County Courthouse to speak, or to support your neighbors. Written comments are due by Aug. 8, at 3 p.m. (They can be mailed to the Grand County Planning Commission, 125 E. Center, Moab, UT 84532.)

—Mary Moran and Dennis Silva

Moab
Share This Article |

Copyright 2013 The Times-Independent. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

report abuse...

Express yourself:

We're glad to give readers a forum to express their points of view on issues important to this community. That forum is the “Letters to the Editor.” Letters to the editor may be submitted directly to The Times-Independent through this link and will be published in the print edition of the newspaper. All letters must be the original work of the letter writer – form letters will not be accepted. All letters must include the actual first and last name of the letter writer, the writer’s address, city and state and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Letters may not exceed 400 words in length, must be regarding issues of general interest to the community, and may not include personal attacks, offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or attacks on personal or religious beliefs. Letters should focus on a single issue. Letters that proselytize or focus on theological debates will not be published. During political campaigns, The Times-Independent will not publish letters supporting or opposing any local candidate. Thank you letters are generally not accepted for publication unless the letter has a public purpose. Thank you letters dealing with private matters that compliment or complain about a business or individual will not be published. Nor will letters listing the names of individuals and/or businesses that supported a cause or event. Thank you letters about good Samaritan acts will be considered at the discretion of the newspaper.