JACKSON, Wyo. — During Town Council’s regular meeting on Monday, June 2, residents voiced concerns with the large size and “incompatible character” of the proposed Snow King condominium development project.
Four condominium buildings are proposed to be built at 553 Upper Snow King Loop on Grand View Lodge Lots 53, 57 and 58.
Staff notes state that the applicant, Northworks Architects, is requesting approval for three development plans for the Snow King Condos. The three lots would comprise four condominium buildings, totaling 110,370 square feet (sf) of above-ground habitable space. Within the four buildings, the applicant proposes 60 market short-term rental condominiums, 12 affordable deed-restricted condominiums and underground parking to accommodate a peak average of approximately 240 occupants.
Northworks Architects Project Manager Alex Starinsky said that all of the project’s affordable deed-restricted units would be located on Lots 53 and 57.
“The affordable units are full-time,” Starinsky said. “The other units are more part-time. We are providing accommodations to residents.”
Prior to public comment, Town Senior Planner Tyler Valentine told Town Council that it’s challenging to retain community character with larger buildings. Valentine asked Town Council to consider if the proposed condominium buildings comply with the Town’s design guidelines and if the overall scale was acceptable to the surrounding neighborhood.
The majority of the public comments stressed that the plans for Lot 57 are not in compliance with the Snow King Master Plan or compatible in bulk, scale and character with the current architecture of Grand View. According to Town staff, two three-story buildings would be constructed on Lot 57, totaling 69,322 gross sf.
President of Grand View Homeowners Association Richard Lurie said that Lot 57 would be the largest development at Snow King Resort.
“Nowhere in the Master Plan was a building proposed this large,” Lurie said. “An out of town developer has no concern for an oversized development … he wants to put in all the square footage that he can. We ask to redesign Lot 57 to be compatible with the rest of the development.”
Grand View Property Owner Kyle Levine invited Town Council to participate in a site visit to view the location of Lot 57.
“This scale mismatch is really notable,” Levine said. “The photos don’t adequately show the canyon effect. The buildings on Lot 57 are too big and too close. What happened with the Mogul Hotel — developing to the very lot line — is what’s happening here.”
A 20-year owner of Love Ridge said that parking would be an issue.
“This is a narrow roadway with a lot of traffic,” the property owner said. “There isn’t room for a firetruck to turn around. As neighbors, we are voicing concerns. We are not afraid of development, it’s just the bulk, scale and size that we oppose.”
Resident Harrah Dannenberg said that he voted against the development plan.
“Residential owners are most affected by this project,” Dannenberg said. “I think they just want more customers at the mountain. When the plan was first proposed, there wasn’t a lot of detail that was done. The real issue with deciding the bulk, character and scale is really up to you.”
Town Council voted to continue the discussion at its next regularly schedule meeting on Monday, June 16.
