Resident urges commissioners to inspect Spanish Valley path route as commission votes to enter negotiations

Gail Biederman stood at the commission dais to put a human face on a technical map showing the proposed Spanish Valley multiuse pathway. “My house is one of the most substantially impacted because the corner of my house comes within 18 feet of this multiuse bike path,” she said, asking commissioners to visit the site before finalizing designs.

Biederman identified herself as a full-time Moab resident and said she moved permanently after her husband, an avid cyclist, died mountain biking. She told the commission the proximity of the path to her home will affect privacy, noise and property value; she urged commissioners and staff to examine the stakes in the ground and walk the route.

Later on the agenda the commission considered a staff recommendation to enter the negotiation phase for the Spanish Valley pathway with landowners and project partners. Commissioner McCurdy moved to enter negotiations and Commissioner Hadler seconded; the commission voted unanimously to authorize negotiations and staff said the institute’s presentation and related materials would be attached to the agenda and posted online.

Why it matters: The pathway is an infrastructure project that connects neighborhoods and recreational corridors while also crossing private property. Residents who live adjacent to the proposed alignment raised concerns about proximity to homes and property impacts. Commissioners balanced those local concerns against stated community support for the trail’s completion.

What’s next: Staff will open negotiations with property owners per the motion and will post the report and slide deck to the county website for public review. Commissioners encouraged citizens to review the posted materials and direct deep technical questions in writing to the institute and staff.