Renovations have begun on a building intended to house the Grand County Planning & Zoning Department, building officials, and the county engineer. Those services are currently housed within the Grand County courthouse, where county staff said that quarters were getting tight.
“The shared space will lend itself well for coordination between our departments,” wrote Planning Director Elissa Martin in a conversation with the Moab Sun News. Particularly, she said, since the departments “work closely on projects to see them through from initial concept to final build out.”
The building, located at 59 N. 200 East, is just a short distance from the County Administration Building and behind Star Hall. The land is owned by the county and was leased to Four Corners Behavioral Health, who constructed the existing building for use in its InterAct program.
Grand County Strategic Development Director Chris Baird said that the organization vacated its lease when the program moved into the newly completed Four Corners building. Grand County purchased the building itself from Four Corners and contracted with Moab Construction, Inc., to update the building.
“We are hoping the space will be finished mid-summer,” Martin said. “The [b]uilding department was keen on using a local contractor and they are working hard to minimize costs with the renovation, repurposing existing cabinetry that is being torn out, choosing low cost materials, and utilizing the existing space efficiently.
Martin said that the new Community Development building will benefit Grand County residents, builders and developers as well, as people will be able to visit a “one-stop hub for development permitting.”
