Community Character
Development and big buildings are a big deal. We see constant and inevitable growth in Jackson Hole. The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance advocates for a responsible and accountable development process. As Jacksonites, we embrace our old western community character. Our picturesque valley is more than a tourist destination or a place for developers to get rich–it’s our home.
In 2016, Teton County Commissioners amended our Land Development Regulations (LDRs). They removed building size caps and added a two-for-one workforce housing bonus to encourage large multifamily constructions. In June 2024, a Utah-based commercial developer proposed a 300,000-square-foot luxury hotel at the northern entrance to Jackson. It was wrong for our community, environment, traffic, and infrastructure (housing). Jackson Hole residents and the Alliance spoke out and blocked the development. The Town Council quickly enacted a moratorium on large commercial buildings. The objective was to give time to develop amendments to our LDRs to address building size and issues relating to “the environmental, infrastructure, and traffic generation” of large commercial buildings.
On October 7, 2024, the Town Council approved a limited set of LDR amendments. Maximum building size is capped at 50,000 square feet, and design parameters are updated. The amendment includes a conditional use permit (CUP). The CUP requires large developments to address secondary community impact (including effects to traffic, environmental resources, historic resources, and water quality). There are no existing standards for how developers should address secondary community impact.
Town Council must set standards to offset and mitigate secondary impacts. In order to do this, the Council must first conduct an analysis of large commercial developments. Then the Council must set an acceptable threshold for community impact and hold developers to clearly defined expectations. A binding commitment and strategy must be in place before November 20, when the moratorium is lifted. This commitment will ensure that newly elected council members (starting in January 2025) are obligated to address this issue.
The newly proposed but inadequate LDR amendments will be read three times before they are officially adopted. The Town Council can and should take the following actions:
- Vote against the amendment and extend the moratorium.
- Contract with consultants to analyze and design LDR amendments to protect our community.
Jacksonites must speak out and tell the Council we want their commitment to address and mitigate the impact on our community caused by commercial developments. Send a letter to the Town Council today.
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