City and county move forward on MAPS senior‑housing master plan; RFP due next week

City and county leaders told the joint meeting on April 17 they are advancing the final phase of the Moab Area Partnership for Seniors (MAPS) campus and will soon issue an RFP to hire a planning consultant to prepare a master plan and feasibility analysis.

Chair said the green parcel in the presentation is about 8 acres owned by the project’s district and that the county and city want to prioritize independent senior housing integrated with health‑care services and nearby retail. Staff noted a planned expansion of the existing care center to add roughly 34 memory‑care units and asked the consultant to evaluate how to integrate a nearby privately owned strip with trailers into the full development.

County economic‑development staff said a community needs assessment and gap analysis will guide policy, funding advocacy and program design; they urged residents to participate in the public survey and said the assessment would inform discussions with state legislators for funding. Officials said roughly one in five local residents is 55 or older, making senior housing an economic and social priority.

Speakers also raised questions about allocation policy: presenters urged planning that protects local access so longtime residents are not displaced by retirees drawn by new amenities. The district expects consultant proposals back in May–June and hopes to have planning deliverables that support grant applications and future construction timing.

No formal approvals were made at the joint meeting; staff said they will return with consultant recommendations and a public‑engagement schedule.