Well, this is interesting. The Planning Commission on Tuesday August 3rd will consider recommending approval of a request by the resort to get a special exception to the City’s 35-foot maximum height limitation on commercial development.
The resort wants the ability to build some 40-foot, 50-foot, and 70-foot tall buildings. That’s up to double what is permitted.
It’s unfortunate that the community gets very little advance notice. And doubly unfortunate that the community doesn’t have an opportunity to make public comments at Tuesday’s meeting. It appears this will be decided without a public hearing.
Note:
The developer is requesting a special exception on height limits. The Planning Commission and City Council did not initiate this request, so don’t blame them for the developer’s request or assume they are in favor of it. They haven’t even discussed it yet. It is the Planning Commission’s job to consider the request and make a recommendation to approve or deny the developer’s request, or they may make some other recommendation. They may do this at Tuesday’s meeting or continue their discussion to a future meeting (or meetings when dealing with complex issues). Then it’s the City Council’s job to make a final decision based on the Planning Commission’s input and their own evaluation, along with helpful input from residents. So it’s our opportunity to help the Planning Commission and City Council with constructive input.
Please share your comments and tell me about other Ivins issues I have not addressed in recent posts. CONTACT ME
Recent “Development” posts
- Shivwits/Black Desert DevelopmentPDF 📄Update: June 9, 2026: City Council member Wayne Pennington provided a more recent plan (download) than was proposed in the presentation from last year that I initially posted. At our City Council meeting last Thursday, we agreed to place a discussion item on the June 18 Council agenda regarding the proposed development being planned…
- What Should Go Where?PDF 📄One of the most important discussions affecting Ivins over the next several decades is about to begin. On July 28 at 3:00 p.m., the City Council and Planning Commission will hold a joint work meeting at City Hall to discuss how we should update Ivins’ Land Use Map. This is just the first step…
- Anasazi Commons Annexation: Resident ConcernsPDF 📄I have received a number of emails from residents opposed to the annexation of the SITLA land just off Hwy 91 next to the Indigo Trails neighborhood and the proposed “Anasazi Commons” attainable housing development (previously called Anasazi Ridge). There will be a City Council Work Meeting at City Hall (85 N Main Street)…
- Short-Term Rentals: A Difficult VotePDF 📄At our December 18th meeting, I voted to approve a 160-unit short-term rental development called Mojave Village just off Hwy 91. I do not believe short-term rentals are good for Ivins. In addition to practical challenges they create, they undermine the sense of community that defines this city. That’s why I have consistently voted…
- SITLA Affordable Housing Proposal — Great Goal, Challenging LocationPDF 📄As noted in previous articles, the Utah Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) is moving forward with a proposal to build 254 small, attainable single-family homes on its 40-acre parcel just off Hwy 91 next to Indigo Trails. The land is in unincorporated Washington County and within “Area 2” of the Ivins Annexation Policy Plan. The…