The Times-Independent

The fastest way to create local housing is to amend the HDHO


Editor,

We are all aware of the housing crisis Grand County is experiencing. Several strategies have been implemented over the years to help solve this issue. Many of these strategies are good. In order to solve this crisis, they will need to be great.

The Moab Area Housing Task Forces meets with local business owners, residents and other housing advocates during an event in December.
File photo

The strategy I am most familiar with is the High-Density Housing Overlay ordinance.

As co-owner of the Murphy Flats Condominium development, an HDHO project, I have seen firsthand where this ordinance’s strengths and weaknesses are. Currently, this is a good strategy. With a little fine-tuning, it could be great.

Why do I say this?

The HDHO ordinance was approved over four years ago. Since then, only 48 units, which are deed restricted to locals, are occupied or are under construction (30 of which are Murphy Flats). This is not a great outcome.

However, abandoning the HDHO for another yet-to-be-created strategy would be difficult and harmful to our community. After all, Grand County started developing this ordinance five years ago. We can’t afford to waste any more time — we need local housing now.

In my day-job I develop large-scale renewable energy projects. The scope of these projects can seem mind-bogglingly large at times. To deal with the complexities I simplify projects to the most critical items.

I’ve used this same approach to try to understand why the HDHO ordinance isn’t working. My belief is that this is through the ability for ownership by anyone, so long as they live in the units.

I urge our community to tell the Grand County Commissioners how the HDHO could better serve Moab.

— John Knight

Moab