Comprehensive Plan Adopted

After a lengthy five-year process, town and county officials last night adopted the Jackson Teton County Comprehensive Plan. Approximately 50 residents attended the three-hour meeting at Snow King’s Grandview Lodge and about half of those residents spoke during the public comment period. While some urged officials to adopt the plan, others discussed issues that have moved to the forefront during the final stages of the Comp Plan, such as adding a statement of intent and releasing specific development numbers. However, elected officials did not approve either of those options. Teton County Commission Chairman Ben Ellis said some of the items that residents wanted in the statement of intent are already included in the land-use document and that a statement of intent would prioritize those issues. Elected officials also explained that future land development regulations, which are to be tackled next, will determine specific development numbers. Under the new plan, promoting the stewardship of wildlife and natural resources is a main priority. The plan also aims for 60 percent of future development to occur in already developed areas and 40 percent in rural areas, and for 65 percent of the area’s workforce to be housed locally. The next step in the process is approving an implementation plan, which the Town and County planning commissions will review on May 16th, followed by Town and County elected officials on June 4th. – Robyn Vincent