At a special meeting on June 4, the Moab City Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend annexing two properties on Cermak Road into city limits.
The vote supports a proposal by the National Ability Center (NAC) to offer expanded adaptive recreation programming and overnight accommodations for people with disabilities.
The annexation recommendation now goes to the Moab City Council for a final decision following a public hearing on June 10.
What is the context of the proposal?
The two parcels—602 and 611 Cermak—are currently located in unincorporated Grand County. The NAC plans to develop its property into a facility for program participants, while the adjacent parcel will provide staff housing in support of the same effort.
Both properties are subject to pre-annexation agreements that were already approved by the City Council in 2024. These agreements lock in zoning (C-3 Central Commercial), sustainability requirements (LEED standards), and a 50-year covenant requiring any future housing to be reserved for local workers or qualifying students.
Why was annexation into the city needed?
Grand County’s Rural Residential zoning wouldn’t allow the kind of development proposed, and the NAC’s plans depend on a custom use category—adaptive recreational service provider—that only exists under Moab city zoning.
Additionally, only part of the larger project area was already within city limits. Annexing the remaining parcels creates a simpler zoning and permitting path.
Are there any larger implications?
Planning staff noted that because the use, zoning, and housing restrictions were all negotiated in advance through pre-annexation agreements, the Planning Commission’s role in the process was more limited than usual.
The project also signals a significant expansion of the National Ability Center’s presence in Moab. While the satellite office has run seasonal programming like rafting trips for years, this development could allow expanded opportunities for people with disabilities to access adaptive recreation in the region.
What’s next?
The project will return to the Planning Commission for a formal site plan review and additional zoning cleanup if the annexation is approved by the City Council.
The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for June 12, when members will review updates to the city’s development fee schedule.
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