JACKSON, Wyo. — On Monday, Feb. 5, The Town of Jackson voted 3 to 2 in favor of a newly amended NH-1 zone requiring Workforce Housing sites with a height bonus to have an increase in minimum acreage and to be adjacent to a Commercial Residential-3 (CR-3) zoned property.
The newly amended NH-1 zone will allow for a Workforce Housing Incentive for additional height to be 48 feet and four stories, provided that dimensional, locational and use criteria are met.
During the Town’s Jan. 8 meeting, a Land Development Regulations (LDR) amendment to allow affordable housing units in the Neighborhood High Density-1 (NH-1) zone to be 48 feet tall, allowing for the construction of four-story buildings, was originally approved by the Town Council. However, during the Jan. 22 Town Council meeting, County Commissioners unanimously voted (5-0 vote) to reconsider their original approval of the NH-1 zone.
A new staff report analyzed the potential impacts of the NH-1 rezone on the Virginian property.
The Jackson Teton County Housing Authority asked for two revisions in their request to allow a fourth story and 48 feet height bonus: an increase in minimum acreage from two to three contiguous acres, and for approved sites to be adjacent to a Commercial Residential-3 (CR-3) zoned property.
The CR-3 zone consists of mixed-use, retail, office and residential buildings.
If a NH-1 zone site meets the below updated criteria, a fourth story and 48 foot building height is allowed, provided the fourth floor area is 100% deed restricted workforce, affordable or employee housing with an occupancy restriction.
- A development site must have an employment and/or price restriction.
- The fourth story can be used for parking that serves the deed restricted residential units.
- The project needs to provide affordable housing required by Div. 6.3.
- The site is to be at least three contiguous acres to provide sufficient setback and building height step down to small scale development.
- The site needs to be served by transit within a 1/4 mile.
- The site is required to be within a 1/4 mile walking distance from numerous commercial services routinely needed by residents.
- The additional building height shall not increase the floor area allowance or decrease the required open space.
- For all street facades, the fourth story is to be stepped back a minimum of 10 feet for at least 40% of the overall façade width. Roofs above the stepped-back portions can encroach a maximum of three feet into the 10 foot step back.
- The site is required to be adjacent to a CR-3 zoned property.
