Ivins is working on updating our General Plan and Land Use map. The Planning Commission decided at their March 15th meeting to hold at least a couple community meetings to get input from residents on land use throughout the city. This should happen soon.
Based on recent comments from residents on issues, here are a few things I would like your input on, as well as other issues that matter to you.
Affordable housing
Generally, the denser the housing the more affordable it will be, with lower land cost per unit and less construction cost with common walls between units. Smaller units help too. So that usually gives us townhomes or apartments. There has been resistance from neighbors to both townhomes and apartments. But the State requires us to find a solution to our affordable housing problem. What types of housing can we encourage to add affordability, how do we make them more acceptable to neighbors, and where should they be built?
Commercial development
Sales tax helps fund community improvements and keeps our taxes lower. Do you favor or oppose encouraging commercial growth within the City? What types of commercial uses (retail, dining, office, services, etc.) should be encouraged, and where should we encourage them to be built?
Transportation
With growth comes more traffic. Not only that, but traffic speed seems to be increasing. Share your thoughts about traffic management ideas, bike lanes, our trail system, speed limit changes, road improvements, and other related issues.
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…