Some Moab residents at odds with proposed luxury development along Colorado River

MOAB, Utah (KUTV) — Situated on Kane Creek Boulevard roughly two miles from Moab, parcels of private land are the focus of scrutiny for some Grand County residents.

“You just go up the hill here and you’re in another planet it’s incredibly gorgeous,” said Moab resident Jerry Shue. Shue and a handful of others spoke to KUTV 2 News about the Kane Creek Development that’s been in the works for roughly five years. “Yeah, you can own a piece of land but what do you do with it, how does it fit into the bigger picture; this certainly does not fit into Moab’s picture.”

Shue calls the project, “Rich boys playing to get richer.”

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Trent Arnold and his business partners Craig Weston and Tom Gottlieb have been working on this project on behalf Kane Creek Preservation and Development, LLC.

Arnold declined to interview, citing ongoing threats made towards the developers. However, he shared a few statements with KUTV 2 News about the vision for the project.

“Earthwork is underway on the initial phases along with utility infrastructure development with a goal of initial lot presales / sales in the next 18-24 months,” wrote Arnold. “The developed includes a number of different areas across the property – riverside, canyon, higher elevation sites, etc. that will be developed at different times.”

Arnold says the project lies on 176 acres and final unit types and quantities are not finalized but will likely be less than the approximate 580 units originally envisioned.

“Mix of residential lots and attached housing in a higher density central area with some combo of attached twin homes and condos,” wrote Arnold. “10% of the final residential units will be privately funded work force housing. No pricing yet – we’re two years from selling most likely.”

According to records released by the Grand County Clerk and Auditor, the property was rezoned in 1992 from ‘General Grazing’ to ‘Commercial Highway Use’, allowing this type of development to take place. However, before a development could be built, the land had to be re-graded in the zone near the Colorado River in order be above flood elevation. This would also be required to build a water treatment plant and septic system.

On May 7, 2024, the Grand County Commission denied a conditional use permit for Kane Creek Preservation and Development, LLC to construct the wastewater treatment plant and water storage facility. Developers intend to appeal the decision with another hearing in the works for September.

“Our predevelopment work has taken longer than expected with the county, but we are patient and continue to work through the process,” wrote Arnold to 2News. “The development team along with our partners are all pleased with our progress to date and by the even better than expected response from potential buyers as more people learn about the project.”

Meanwhile, opposition from various locals in the Moab area continues while the first phase of ‘earthwork’ has been completed.

“It’s just so not aligned with the culture of the town and it feels like it’s being forced down our throats,” said Eugenio Fernandez, who is nomadic, but spends a lot of time in Moab.

“I think that this piece of property never should have been up for development in the first place I think it should have been kept pristine,” said Jeanette Kopell, a Moab resident of 25 years and former member of Moab City planning and zoning.

For resident Rory Tyler, the most concerning part of development in the area involves petroglyphs and history.

“It’s not a park, it’s going to be restricted space, houses and stuff and there’s a lot of ancient Indian rock art along here,” said Tyler.

The topic of developing on a floodplain has also been top of mind for many opposed to the Kane Creek development.

“To me it’s a squeaky one foot above a flood so they build these homes all out here and it floods and it doesn’t really stop at the flood line,” said Dave Closser, a Moab resident of three years. “It’s just magnificent and to know that it’s going to be so dramatically changed I think that’s the biggest thing probably for most people.”

2News spoke with Grand County Engineer Dan Stentz and Floodplain Administrator Bill Hulse about the Kane Creek Development.

“Being along the Colorado River obviously that’s a major factor, that’s really been looked at quite closely,” said Stenta, who called the project a ‘very large undertaking’.

During recent flash flooding, Kane Creek Boulevard was hit with natural flowing waterfalls including debris flows and large rocks. Stentz says the road will need to be re-done when the ‘daily trips’ increase.

“When their development progresses to when they exceed that 2,000 trips a day threshold they’ll have to bring that road up to our county standards for that class of road, it’s considered a major collector route,” said Stenta, who estimated roughly 1,200 to 1,500 ‘daily trips’ are taken on this road during busier days.

When it comes to the floodplain concern and conversation, Hulse says he looks at this project as no different than others in the county; other than the large scale of development.

“They have the right to grade that property and raise it out of a floodplain regardless of what the use is,” said Hulse. “This project is a bigger scale but it’s no different than building along Pack Creek and Mill Creek. The Colorado River actually has more of a warning time when it braces it’s banks it’s not from the typical monsoon storm. It’s more from snowmelt. We have a weeks advance notice that that water’s coming.”

Hulse echoed the project along Kane Creek Boulevard is no different than elevating a home in the floodplain.

“Grand County has 96% of its land is public lands there’s 4% private, these people have legitimate land they have the right to build what’s allowed to be built on that land,” said Hulse.

Despite opposition, Trent Arnold says they’ve done minimal marketing and receive sales enquiries almost daily.

“It’s been a way more balanced response than expected but not surprising as housing supply issues continue to increase since we started the project,” wrote Arnold. “We think a lot of citizens are growing more concerned with the no growth mindset pushed by certain groups and elected officials, now that those policies are having real negative economic impact and a worsening quality of living.”

According to public records, preliminary plans for the development itself remain under review and are subject to change. Those plans outline specific project areas on both sides of Kane Creek Boulevard including proposed areas for residential and mixed-use development, townhouses and condos, single family homes and ‘green space’ within the community.