JACKSON HOLE CONSERVATION ALLIANCE

P.O. Box 2728

Jackson, WY 83001

(307) 733-9417

www.jhalliance.org

4/23/08 Jackson Hole News&Guide

A Moratorium is Appropriate

By Kristy Bruner
Community Planning Director, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance

On behalf of the 2000-plus members of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance who want to ensure that our Comprehensive Plan guides growth – and not the other way around – we urge Commissioners to enact an equitable, broad moratorium on all subdivisions and zoning changes, regardless of acreage, during our community’s Comp Plan update. Or, at a minimum, Commissioners should heed planning staff’s recommendation to consider the number of lots proposed, instead of acreage. Experience tells us that small acreage developments using uncapped density options do not necessarily equate to small projects.

A moratorium is a proven strategy that communities generally use during comprehensive planning to address the less than ideal circumstances that sometimes accompany such a process. These circumstances often include a shift in the type and frequency of applications, putting pressure on planners and the community.

Teton Meadows Ranch, given its magnitude and proposed location, is an example of how a development can detract from a comprehensive planning process. In Teton County, it could hastily set a precedent for future development intensities and patterns – a consequence that flies in the face of our current process’ intent to garner community preferences. While it is too early to tell whether the elephant in the room will be a part of the moratorium, we look forward to a time when our community will be able to delve into a more productive, comprehensive discussion on its future without overriding debates on specific developments. Additionally, Teton Meadows Ranch does not fit with the community’s vision of Jackson Hole – in terms of our land development regulations on the books today, or in terms of the consistently voiced priority to manage growth responsibly as we move forward.

Our community has assets that are irreplaceable. We can’t afford to make mistakes. Taking some months to pause zoning changes and subdivisions is not about denying change or denying rights to develop. A moratorium is temporary; adopting a weak Comprehensive Plan or approving below-standard developments will impact Jackson Hole forever.

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The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to responsible land stewardship to ensure that human activities are in harmony with the area’s irreplaceable wildlife, scenic and other natural resources. The organization has 2,000 members from Jackson Hole and across the nation.