OpEd: Housing Development in Moab threatens locals, wildlife, ecosystem, and recreation

Wasatch Magazine

I want to write about cool stuff: climbing, hiking, and enjoying the pleasantries of the outdoors. But when I see headlines like, “As of February 2024, a developer plans to build a business park on the Colorado River floodplain less than two miles downstream of Moab,” the opportunities to explore the topics of the land diminish.

Sadly enough, the above bit is true. As of February 2024, plans are underway to build 580 luxury houses, and 70,000 feet of commercially zoned land on Kane Creek in Moab, UT. If you’ve ever camped or even been to Moab, you have likely been up Kane Creek on the Colorado River. Huge red sandstone cliffs contrast the deep green water and clash into the blue sky surrounding you. At night, you can see every star in the night sky, and hear the wildlife beginning to wake. This area provides a great location for fishing, climbing, biking, hiking, and an overall good time. However, out of town contractors and their rich investors have found what they believe to be an even better use – mansions and extra land to put more beauty, perhaps a Whole Foods? Maybe an Exxon Mobil?

The Reason

Now, this building plan isn’t without reason. The housing price in Moab has been soaring for years, and many locals can’t afford traditional housing, resulting in your trade-post worker, barista, and raft guide living in their car. As in many cities, especially those that boast such natural beauty, many are suffering from this increased cost of living, and affordable housing would be extremely helpful! Unfortunately, that is not what these contractors are looking to build. I see four types of people who could afford to live in the proposed residence:

Locals who already have a home and want to upgrade
Swanky business folk looking for a riverside vacation home
AirBnB hosts looking to turn the entire neighborhood into a hotel
The Moab raft guide who won the lottery and is conveniently looking to move out of his car and into a new luxury house

Not exactly the most pressing demographic to be gearing towards, is it? By creating unaffordable luxury housing on a very desirable and scenic piece of land, you increase the supply, thus decreasing the space in Grand County. Yet, the demand stays the same because the only people moving in are from out of town.

Environmental Impact

In addition, the second issue with the Kane Creek project is the harm these houses will do to the environment, and how much harm the environment will do to these houses. If you recall my description of this section of the Colorado River, you’ll remember the huge red sandstone cliffs contrast the deep green water. Issues arise with these two, because when the river floods, which it has been known to do, water can’t climb these towering cliff bands very easily. Furthermore houses and their contents have often been known to sink. . .

We already know that this will be an issue. To develop on this land, the Kane Creek Preservation and Development LCC (KCPD) is required to raise the floodplain by 10 feet. That alone is a lot of terraforming, in a canyon located next to one national park and upstream from another, for a company WITH PRESERVATION IN ITS NAME! Huge amounts of earth and waste will be pushed downstream from the terraforming alone, not to mention the construction of the residence and the continual waste that humans bring.

Not only does this pose a risk to families and the ecosystem directly under these houses, but the Colorado River flows into CanyonLands national park, which means that when the creek floods and washes your dog away, you’ll have to buy a day pass and traverse the park to find its corpse. Shoot.

In conclusion, the proposed housing development in Moab will not only hurt the environment and natural beauty of the place, but doesn’t help the people who need housing the most. It will attract out of town residents who don’t need a home, nor contribute as much to the community, and further decrease the already limited amount of space Grand County has to offer.

What you can do

I am likely the least educated or qualified person to write about this, so I encourage you to read the Times-Independent’s articles on the matter, and talk to others or reach out to [email protected] to learn more and share your thoughts. Finally, sign the petition, learn more, or donate at: kanecreekwatch.org.