The rate, magnitude and pattern of development occurring on private lands in Teton County pose great risk to the natural resources of the region. Because 97 percent of the land in Teton County is public, many people incorrectly assume that what happens on private lands won't change life in Jackson Hole and the integrity of surrounding public lands. This is simply not true. Our wildlife depend on a healthy landscape irrespective of jurisdictional boundaries.

Large portions of wildlife seasonal ranges, nesting habitats and dispersal corridors lie within private lands. Without protection of these critical areas, the long-term viability of wildlife populations is greatly threatened. For this reason, our community has a great responsibility, and opportunity, to take an intelligent approach to growth. By promoting smart growth, our community can protect its greatest assets for social and economic vibrancy, as well as fulfill its obligation as a responsible steward of one of the most unique ecosystems in the world.

Broadly speaking, the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance advocates for context-sensitive development that is respectful of the unique landscape in which it sits, and that is representative of our community’s vision to protect wildlife, rural and scenic values. Of key concern are the cumulative impacts that unfold as a result of unchecked development and the potential they hold to erode the values the community cherishes. We strive to inform the public and elected officials about methods and strategies to direct growth at a responsible rate, in soundly defined patterns, and at a scale that reflects historical values and sustains our rural mountain character.

On a day-to-day basis, the Conservation Alliance closely monitors private land development proposals to ensure they represent measured and intelligent growth for our community. The proposals represent a broad range of development types: residential subdivisions, redevelopment in the Town of Jackson, commercial projects, affordable housing, transportation facilities and resort development. Staff reviews proposed developments to determine whether the human activities associated with those developments are in harmony with Jackson Hole's irreplaceable wildlife, scenic and other natural resources.

We also evaluate proposals by the degree to which they show smart growth that respects historical precedence and meets the inevitable demands of changing conditions without compromising landscape health. We look at each development with an eye to two primary considerations that directly affect the quality of life in Jackson Hole and the quality of the visitor experience in regard to our adjacent public lands:
1) Impacts on natural resources, including wildlife, plant life, scenic resources, air quality, noise pollution, waterways and riparian areas; and
2) Built environment impacts, such as the size of the development footprint, project density and compatibility with adjacent land uses, traffic and increase in population.

The Alliance also considers matters such as compliance with the Jackson/Teton County Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations, fiscal impacts, potential to set good or bad precedent for future development, and community character.
Using this approach, our recent work includes:
• Facilitating public involvement in the 2007-08 Jackson/Teton County Comprehensive Plan Update. In addition to holding public information meetings, such as our “Comp Plan Uncomplicated” workshop, the Alliance is strongly advocating for the incorporation of smart growth principles in the plan modification.
• Reviewing Resort Master Plan proposals and pushing for appropriate scales and types of development within resort districts.
• Evaluating Town of Jackson redevelopment policies to ensure that future development sustains the rural character that our community has expressed support for.
• Recognizing that smart community development requires a holistic approach to community needs, the Alliance continues its role in researching opportunities to secure affordable housing options, without compromising wildlife and landscape health.
• Evaluating private lands development throughout Teton County to ensure that sprawl is detered.
• Promoting responsible transportation policies, which includes our recent contract with a private consultant to devise road reconstruction alternatives that would minimize environmental impacts in the Hoback Canyon.
• Conducting research to update the Natural Resource Overlay to provide current information on natural resources throughout the county, which will be integral to the Comprehensive Plan update.

Our past accomplishments include:
• Providing the public with detailed information concerning a proposal to annex and develop 822 acres south of the Town of Jackson. Approval of the development, which would have doubled Jackson's population and resulted in commercial sprawl, was ultimately reversed by a 2-1 vote in a public referendum in 2002, in which the Alliance played a formative and central role.
• Drafting environmentally sensitive guidelines for golf course development that were adopted by Teton County.
• Introducing and obtaining Teton County approval of regulations prohibiting the operation of commercial scenic helicopter tours from private property into wilderness areas and crucial wildlife habitat.
• Removing from the Transportation Chapter of the Jackson/Teton County Comprehensive Plan the option of constructing a bridge for motor vehicles across the Snake River in a pristine, wildlife-rich area in the vicinity of the Jackson Hole Airport.
• Preparing a study on the fiscal impacts of growth to contribute to the understanding of the real costs associated with new residential and commercial construction.

You can play a role in shaping the future of our community. Conservation Alliance members support our work with funding, attendance at public meetings and communicating with key decision-makers. Join the Alliance and learn how you may help.