A Comprehensive Plan is a long-range blueprint to guide the growth and development of a community according to the vision of the members of that community. Jackson and Teton County are currently operating under a Comp Plan that was passed in 1994. In 2007, the town and county began the process of revising the 1994 plan. The third draft of the revised Comp Plan was released on May 7, 2010; click here for information about it, and click here for the latest Alliance Action item on the status of the revision. Click here for recaps of the past year's hearings and a rundown of what to expect next.

Why should you care?

Potential growth proposed under the draft Comp Plan could permanently degrade what makes Jackson Hole unique – our wildlife, open spaces, scenic vistas and community character.

Although it’s hard to quantify the qualities of small-town life that we cherish and want to preserve, it’s a fair guess that a large increase in numbers of buildings and people will result in a corresponding decrease in the quality of life and experience for all who live and visit here. Picture more traffic jams, longer lines at the post office and stores, higher taxes, fighting for parking spaces at trailheads and searching for solitude on crowded trails.

Since development on private lands has a direct, negative impact on the wildlife depending on them for survival, also imagine yourself looking for say, moose, and not finding any. Not good – especially when you consider how much our community character and tourism-based economy depend on wildlife.

All of us who are privileged to experience Jackson Hole have an obligation to take care of it. Now, more than ever, it’s time to join those who have worked for decades to keep this precious place a global treasure and demand a Comp Plan that will do what our community wants: Protect our irreplaceable wildlife, open spaces and character.

Throughout the Comp Plan revision process, the Conservation Alliance will continue to work for a plan that will preserve and protect Jackson Hole’s unique ecosystem, wildlife, natural resources, quality of life and community character in a sustainable and predictable manner. Click here for a list of items the Comp Plan needs to include to accomplish this.

Click here for links to all of our comments regarding the Comp Plan rewrite.

Questions? Contact Alliance community planning director Kristy Bruner at (307) 733-9417 or Kristy@jhalliance.org.

PLEASE HELP!

We urge you to stay informed and involved. Please read the draft plan and then comment online at www.jacksontetonplan.com to demand that it will do what our community has repeatedly said we want it to do – protect Jackson Hole's wildlife, natural resources, scenery and character.

You may also submit comments to:
Jeff Noffsinger, Jackson principal planner, jnoffsinger@ci.jackson.wy.us
Town of Jackson, P.O. Box 1687, Jackson, WY 83001
Alex Norton, Teton County lead planner, anorton@tetonwyo.org
Teton County Planning Department, P.O. Box 1727, Jackson, WY 83001
Click here for a list of other people to share your comments with.