JACKSON, Wyo. — Town Council approved a sweeping update of the Natural Resources Overlay (NRO) that was originally penned in 1994 as a single-layer map. The update to the NRO, which was discussed informally at a Chat with Council in April, will switch the map to a tiered system that would scale environmental review of development projects based on factors such as wildlife movement corridors, crucial habitats and waterways.
Five separate motions were approved unanimously: amending the NRO zoning map to use a tiered system; enforcing NRO standards and processes for new development; changing water body and wetland buffer standards; updating retaining wall standards to increase wildlife permeability; and requiring wildlife-friendly fencing dependent on NRO zone.
Approval triggers the first of three ordinance readings. After the third reading, the ordinances will take effect after the TOJ notifies residents and signs them into law.
Principal Long Range Planner Ryan Hostetter presented the suggested update to council.
If approved and written into law, development projects located in the base tier would not see any change. Those in the mid tier would go through a checklist review with staff, and those in the high tier would get a full environmental analysis, which is no different from the current NRO requirements.
The main discussion during the council meeting surrounded which projects could skip the review process entirely if they fell in the new mid-tier zone. Staff recommended the exemption of accessory residential units (ARUs) and affordable housing projects, citing that enforcing the new LDRs on them would add barriers to those smaller projects and to affordable housing. According to council, exempt projects still must meet the requirements of their tier, but they don’t have to go through formal review.
Mayor Arne Jorgensen entreated the public to request any specific updates to the ordinances in upcoming readings during public comment.
