Dear Editor:
The city’s new PAD ordinance (Planned Affordable Development ordinance) is unacceptable, and will cause irreparable negative impact on existing residential zones.
The city passed the PAD by a 3 to 2 vote at the May 14 council meeting, without customary public notice or public hearing. I think this may have just been an oversight on their part, but should be corrected.
Our city council members are well-meaning and I find it impressive all the time they donate to causes outside their council duties. However, I do want my right to be heard on important issues that affect me to be upheld.
At a time when there is a moratorium on nightly rentals and motels, Arches National Park is considering a reservation policy, both the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service have said in front page articles that they are overwhelmed with visitors, traffic is at gridlock conditions on weekends, and etc. Yet at a time like this our city government thinks it it a good idea to increase density to a ridicules level in our residential zones. No minimum lot size, minimum 275-square-foot unit size. Is it just me, or does it seem somewhat insane to increase density in an area you have declared to be too overcrowded?
When I bought my home the minimum lot size was 75-feet-by-100-feet, and that is what is needed for a house, garage, yard and garden. That lot size was developed by decades of planning experience in the needs of the urban lifestyle.
Many people in the R3 zone have much bigger lots with nicely restored historic homes and award-winning landscaped yards and gardens. This is the fabric that is Moab, it should be protected and cherished as a part of our past heritage. We will regret selling out to developers trying to entice them into building affordable homes
The PAD will tend to encourage the cutting down of trees in an attempt to squeeze the maximum number of units on a lot. Trees Moab needs to help in cooling, noise and wind reduction, bird habitat and aesthetics.
There are many poorly thought-out clauses in the PAD, so please download the ordinance, read it and decide for yourself. If you feel the PAD is a bad idea, or that the Moab City Council should follow due public process, please join the “rescind the PAD movement,” sign the petition and write your city council members.
Kirk De Fond
Moab
(Editor’s note: Lisa Church, Moab City communications manager, said the city’s planning commission held a public hearing on the PAD on Oct. 11, 2018. Church said the city council was not required to hold a public hearing for the PAD.)
