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1) Public
officials grapple with Comprehensive Plan process • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1) Public officials grapple with Comprehensive Plan process Citing concerns that problems with the new draft of the Comp Plan were beyond the scope of the public hearing process to fix, the Teton County Planning Commission voted 3-1 (Joseph Palmer absent, Paul Duncker opposed) at the first hearing on the draft on June 11 to recommend that the Teton Board of County Commissioners send the draft back to the planning staff for major revisions, prior to proceeding with the review process. (The Conservation Alliance commends planning commissioners Larry Hamilton, Tony Wall and Forrest McCarthy for this action. The new draft is a complete rewrite, not just an update, of the current Comp Plan. It should be more representative of the community’s will before entering the next round of public review. See our comments at www.jhalliance.org/Library/Comments/2009/CompPlan09/LetterFor6-29-09CPCmeeting.pdf and visit www.jhalliance.org/issuescompplan.htm for details.) The county planning commissioners have since reconsidered their motion of June 11. At a 5-hour meeting on June 29, they drafted specific recommendations for revisions to the draft plan that would better uphold our community’s vision. (For the Jackson Hole News&Guide’s July 1 article outlining these recommendations, visit www.jhalliance.org/Library/Alerts/2009/CompPlan.7-1-09JHNGstory.pdf.) They also voted to continue their discussion at a joint meeting with the Town of Jackson planning commissioners scheduled for Thursday, July 9, 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 150 E. Pearl. (UPDATE: At the July 9 meeting, the county planning commissioners voted 3-2 not to send the draft plan back to staff to rework. In a separate 3-2 vote, they decided to proceed with a joint review of the current draft with town planning commissioners. The town and county planning commissioners then decided to recommence public hearings on the draft from 5:30 to 9 p.m. each Thursday in the county commissioners’ chambers at 200 S. Willow, starting on July 23. (UPDATE: On July 21, when it was determined that there would not be enough planning commissioners at the July 23 to have a quorum, that hearing was postponed to July 30.) Click here for the Alliance's comments prepared for the July 23 hearing. The Conservation Alliance will continue to work to ensure that both planning commissions incorporate the majority of public comments to date to come up with a Comp Plan that will actually protect Jackson Hole’s wildlife, open spaces and community character. Please check back for updates. Questions? Contact Kristy Bruner, Conservation Alliance community planning director, at (307) 733-9417 or Kristy@jhalliance.org and come to our weekly informal discussions regarding the Comp Plan each Thursday through July 16 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Alliance office, 685 S. Cache St.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 2) New report documents value of wildlife habitat and open space in South Park In June, the Conservation Alliance released a review of environmental studies and data that shows the importance of the South Park area to the overall ecological health of the Jackson Hole ecosystem. The report aims to help the community make informed decisions regarding the new draft of the Comp Plan, which proposes that the new priority for South Park is “the provision of housing and light industrial opportunities.” The current Comp Plan lists the landscapes and hay meadows of South Park as areas that “should be kept free of development to the maximum extent possible to help preserve rural character, critical wildlife habitat and important image-setting scenic vistas and river corridors, and to encourage the continuation of ranching and other types of traditional agriculture as a vital part of the community’s character.” More information is available at www.jhalliance.org/Library/PressReleases/2009/SouthParkDataReviewPR.6-09.pdf; to download the actual report click here. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 3) Town of Jackson development news UPDATE ON PLANNED MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT TEXT AMENDMENTS -- Proposed text amendments meant to improve the Town of Jackson’s density-bonus PMD tool were supposed to proceed through town planning commission and elected official hearings this past spring. However, we’ve been informed that they’ve been put on hold, leaving the way clear for more applications, such as the ones below, under the present flawed regulations. We urge you to read our special report on development in the Town of Jackson, available at www.jhalliance.org/Library/Alerts/2009/TownDevelopment.3-09.pdf, and to share your thoughts with the town officials listed at www.jhalliance.org/takeactioncontacts.htm. NORTH CACHE PLANNED MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT -- On June 15, the Jackson Town Council voted 3-1 (Melissa Turley absent, Bob Lenz opposed) to approve the final development plan for North Cache Investments’ 45,428-square-foot above-grade planned mixed-use development project in the 300 block of North Cache. We commend Councilor Lenz for his position that the community’s vision, and not a single development, should determine the character of North Cache, a critical Jackson gateway. The Conservation Alliance continues to question the approval of large, precedent-setting upzones, particularly at Jackson’s gateways and during our community’s ongoing comprehensive plan process. The Comp Plan can’t protect something that’s already gone. Visit www.jhalliance.org/library.htm#comments for links to our comments on gateway development and the North Cache project. GATSBY’S (formerly known as Miller Park Lodge) PLANNED MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT -- Also on June 15, the town councilors unanimously approved the final development plan for Gatsby’s, an approximately 26,000-square-foot PMD at 155 N. Jackson St., across from Miller Park. STAGE STOP APPLICATION -- This application for a 31,494-square-foot above-grade lodging and retail facility at 135 N. Cache and 120 N. Glenwood has been tabled at the request of the developer. For the Town of Jackson planning staff’s report on this application, visit www.jhalliance.org/Library/Alerts/2009/Stagestop.3-09.pdf.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 4) Bridger-Teton updates MANAGEMENT PLAN AND HOBACK WELLS -- The latest word regarding long-term management of the Bridger-Teton National Forest is that requests for scoping comments on amendments to the forest’s 1990 Plan Standards and Guidelines won’t be made until August at the earliest. Officials decided to amend the 1990 plan rather than proceed with revising the entire plan because of legal wrangling over national forest planning rules. Scoping had been expected to begin in late May. Another analysis, the draft environmental impact statement on the Eagle Prospect and Noble Basin Master Development Plan (aka Hoback Wells) now isn’t expected until September. This project near Bondurant initially proposed just three test wells back in 2005, but further study was required after Plains Exploration and Production Company switched in 2007 to a master plan with the potential for 136 wells. We’ll provide more information as it becomes available. EMPLOYEE HOUSING AT NELSON DRIVE -- B-T officials are proceeding with a plan to put more employee housing at Nelson Drive in East Jackson. In early July, they scheduled three public meetings at the Senior Center of Jackson Hole, 830 E. Hansen Ave., all at 6 p.m., on July 14, 21 and 27. (Click here for the agendas.) They intend to present a draft master site plan to the Jackson Town Council and the Teton Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 3. The Bridger-Teton wants to add about 26 homes at the B-T's 80-acre site, which already contains 10 homes. This effort is part of a larger plan to sell off part of the 15-acre Forest Service parcel on North Cache; forest officials say that the housing project would depend on a successful sale. This past winter, forest officials said they were holding off on that sale, following a March 17 meeting when they asked real estate developers for advice. At that time, Bridger-Teton spokesperson Mary Cernicek said the Forest Service was heeding both the public’s concerns that the current recession could lead to poor prices, and developers’ concerns about the lack of certainty regarding the parcel’s zoning and development potential. (In Fall 2008, forest officials said they needed to sell part of the North Cache administrative parcel to raise money to pay for replacing old structures and to build more employee housing. The Alliance’s comments are available at www.jhalliance.org/Library/Comments/BTlandsalecomments.11-08.pdf. Basically, we’re concerned about the intensity and types of development that could end up at Jackson’s north gateway, and the impacts to wildlife at the Nelson Drive site.) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 5) Conservationists sue for reinstatement of federal protections for Rockies wolves On June 2, a coalition of 12 conservation groups represented by Earthjustice filed suit in U.S. District court in Montana against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for its decision to remove wolves in Montana and Idaho from Endangered Species Act protection. The coalition, which includes the Conservation Alliance, contends that the states’ management plans will severely limit the number of wolves in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, isolate wolf populations and increase the long-term risk of inbreeding. Also, the federal rule delisting wolves that took effect on May 4 contradicts Fish and Wildlife’s own stated policy that wildlife populations must be considered by region, and that a state-by-state approach to delisting wolves is not permitted under the Endangered Species Act. (The federal delisting rule excluded wolves in Wyoming because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that Wyoming's current state law and wolf management plan are not sufficient to conserve its portion of the northern Rocky Mountain wolf population. While we agree that Wyoming’s wolves should remain under federal protection, we question both the legal and biological consequences of separating out a part of what is already a small, distinct population.) Highlighting the controversy surrounding this issue, Wyoming Attorney General Bruce Salzburg sought a ruling (also on June 2) from a federal judge in Cheyenne that would include Wyoming’s wolves in the delisting. We’ll keep you posted on this issue as it plays out; meanwhile, please visit www.jhalliance.org/issueswolves.htm for background information.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 6) New garbage storage and bird-feeding regulations meant to reduce conflicts with bears As of July 1, people and businesses in much of Teton County are now required to store their trash in bear-resistant containers and abide by new rules governing bird feeders. The new regulations apply in “conflict priority area 1” north of Highway 22, which includes Kelly, Buffalo Valley, Alta and land east of the Tetons from Teton Village to Wilson. Aimed at reducing conflicts between humans and bears, the rules are explained in full at www.tetonwyo.org/plan/pdplan (look for “Bear Conflict” under the announcements section). • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 7) Coming Events Each Thursday through July 16 Tuesday, July 14 Wednesday, July 15 Wednesday, July 22 July, August and September (Dates to be determined) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 8) Valley Voices “Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile, I caught hell for.” -- Earl Warren
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Alliance Action is a publication of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. The Conservation Alliance is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to responsible land stewardship in Jackson Hole to ensure that human activities are in harmony with the area’s irreplaceable wildlife, scenic, and other natural resources. We’re located at 685 South Cache Street in Jackson, Wyoming. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 2728, Jackson, WY 83001-2728 and our phone number is (307) 733-9417. If you'd like to sign up to receive our monthly Alliance Action via email, please click here. |
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