JACKSON, Wyo. — At a joint meeting on Monday, May 11, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) and Town Council for the Town of Jackson reached a temporary impasse regarding the 90 Virginian Lane housing project after more than 20 meetings and more than three years of discussion. Town Council voted no on the project. The BCC voted yes on a conditional basis.
Regional Vice President of the Mountain Region for Pennrose Shannon Cox Baker and CEO Tim Henkel pitched the projects outlined in the staff report. The recommended option required an additional $5 million public investment with a projected project end date in 2029.
Only Mayor Jorgensen voted in favor of preparing documents necessary to move forward with the housing development.
“Ninety percent of our community could not afford it,” Councilor Devon Viehman stated regarding the rental units in the proposed project. She subsequently voted no on the motion to compile paperwork to move the project forward with the chosen development partner, Pennrose.
Councilor Kevin Regan said succinctly: “Just because we spent a long time going down a road, doesn’t mean it is the right road.”
The BCC voted in favor of the project with the caveat that a workshop, suggested by Commissioner Luther Propst, be held to find a method to fund 50% of the debt and equity for the project from “socially motivated investment sources.” The motion for the workshop passed three to two, with Gardner and Natalia Macker voting against.
“We’re in the wealthiest county in the country per capita,” Propst said after he made his suggestion. “I know there are big foundations that have representatives here.”
The commissioners additionally voted to prepare development documents, but only with a commitment to raising half the debt and equity from foundations, nonprofits, and impact investors willing to lend at below-market rates. Any savings would go directly to lowering prices of the units.
While opinions varied amongst individual commissioners, Chair Mark Newcomb was blunt: “If we’re trying to do the right thing for the community, somebody needs to move forward with this project.”
The project will be scheduled to be discussed again by June 30 or after the workshop for finding investors has occurred, whichever comes first.
Per usual, the meeting was rife with small-town moments. Commissioner Len Carlman called a resident seeking to make public comment on speaker phone, and light jokes were passed regarding the number of meetings held for the decision.
“We can schedule an extra meeting — my favorite thing,” Commissioner Macker stated with a hint of sarcasm at the meeting’s conclusion. “We’re going to be wheel spinning until we have the chance to talk [further].”
The next regular Joint Meeting is June 1.
