What can be done to protect wildlife habitat?
Where should workforce housing be built?
Where is parking an issue and how can parking be improved?
Do you have ideas or want to learn more about the questions above and other questions facing our community? Come to the Open House and Community Discussion put on by the Town of Jackson and Teton County governments on Thursday, June 1.
The Open House is from 12:00-8:30 p.m. and the Community Discussion is from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Both will be held at the Center of the Arts, and free childcare as well as snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Can’t make the event? Fill out this survey to make sure your voice is heard on these important community issues: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Engage2017Jackson.
Here are some Alliance responses to some of the questions posed:
What can be done to protect wildlife habitat and improve water quality?
Please convene a stakeholder taskforce of local experts who would deliver recommendations outlining the scope and strategy of a potential program to protect open spaces and improve habitat connectivity in Teton County.
The goal of this taskforce would be to deliver a habitat and open space conservation plan with recommendations for your consideration. This taskforce could use existing information, needs assessments, and spatial information to develop recommendations for such a program. Conceptually, this group could recommend some version of a program that leverages and complements existing private land conservation efforts and works innovatively to advance our Ecosystem Stewardship goals, within already adopted policies established in our Comprehensive Plan and existing regulations.
In addition, please strengthen our Natural Resources Protections, while respecting private property rights.
Where should workforce housing be built?
Please focus on getting housing affordable to people who work here built in already identified transitional complete neighborhoods. Please start by zoning enough land residential in appropriate complete neighborhood locations and densities to achieve our Comp Plan goal of housing at least 65 percent of the workforce locally.
Also, please consider a suite of policies to more efficiently accommodate housing development in complete neighborhoods like minimum density requirements; bonus density allowances for mixed-use housing developments, participating in a TDR program, or underground parking; reduced on-site parking requirements; and fee waivers for new accessory dwelling units.
What role should businesses and developers play in providing workforce housing?
As our community has four times more potential for commercial development than residential development, based on population projections and market demand, businesses and developers should play a significant role in providing housing for people who work here. Specifically, please strengthen the housing mitigation requirements for new commercial and lodging development so that it mitigates its impact on our housing challenge.
