JACKSON, Wyo. – It was all eyes on the Wilson pathway plan at the Jan. 7 Teton County Commissioner meeting, but the ongoing discussion about what to do with the remaining lots at Stilson received a moment of attention, and action by the Board.
The Board directed the Public Works staff to enter a consulting agreement for comprehensive analysis of the County’s remaining 8.5 acre parcel at Stilson, including the development of a restoration plan, environmental assessment, conservation easement and a recreation conditional use permit.
The Board had initially considered including Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s (JHMR) lot 4 in the restoration plan and analysis but walked back this plan in favor of looking at county land first, and making the scenic preserve trust easement boundary more concrete.
Discussions have been ongoing about what to do with the County’s remaining lot at Stilson, while considering wildlife permeability, and the efficacy of the newly built wildlife crossings at the intersection of WY390/WY22.
The Board came to the conclusion that the site needed to be looked at holistically and directed Public Works to issue a request for proposals for the scope of work. In December the Board heard JHMR’s proposal for developing its three remaining parcels, about 37 acres total, including amending the open space Scenic Preserve Trust easement that protects JHMR’s lot 4.
The conceptual site plan considers all the remaining parcels at Stilson, utilizing a portion of the 27-acre conservation easement to cluster development, placing a housing development toward the northern edge of the property, closest to the Stilson Ranch Subdivision, along with a daycare facility, tennis courts, retail space and restrooms.
The proposal was floated during the Dec. 9 workshop, where county officials discussed the logistics of providing such an amendment. The majority were against retracting an easement to make way for development on scenic preserve trust land, although no formal vote was taken. The public echoed concerns about the impact further development of the property would have on wildlife in the region.
During the meeting last Tuesday, Chair Mark Newcomb and Commissioner Luther Propst both suggested the item be continued to reconsider the contract and connect with JHMR.
“There’s no rush to get this out the door,” Propst said.
Macker said she, too, wanted to see the site looked at holistically and pointed out that the product of the overall site study should not be used as a justification for a boundary adjustment if JHMR’s lot is included, prompting support from other members of the board. Newcomb said that moving the item forward now means the Board is not pursuing amending an open space easement, but rather examining it as the status quo.
Commissioner Wes Gardner opposed the motion but said he was in favor of moving the item forward; he didn’t want to see JHMR’s lot removed from the scope of work.
“This creates further momentum, further inertia in what was created in our last discussion on Stilson, that this board takes our responsibility as members of the scenic preserve trust, and makes the boundary a little more concrete,” Gardner said.
