JACKSON, Wyo. — After over three years of planning, more than 20 meetings, heated public debate and shifting affordability targets, the 90 Virginian Lane project came to a halt at a special joint meeting between the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) and Town Council this morning. The BCC voted 3-to-2 to terminate the existing collaboration with developer Pennrose, LLC, with Commissioners Natalia Macker and Len Carlman opposing; Town Council came out to the same vote, 3-to-2, with Mayor Arne Jorgensen and Councilor Alyson Spery opposing.
The meeting began in a dry, bureaucratic way, despite high tensions in past meetings. The conversation focused around a binary decision: Should the Town and County move forward with the partnership with Pennrose at all?
A list of pros and cons for the partnership was shared in a staff report presented by Teton County/Jackson Housing Director April Norton. Arguments presented in favor of the project included: housing delivered sooner with approval; a product mix for household types including singles, couple, young families, seniors and people with disabilities; a complementary fit with other housing projects in the community; and compliance with the 2023 request for proposal (RFP) requirements.
The only con Norton mentioned was about the time already committed to the project — making it harder to walk away due to sunk cost already accumulated.
While the meeting opened with a slightly restrained tone, the calm gave way during public comment, when a dispute over speaking time prompted BCC Chairman Mark Newcomb to call a 15-minute recess and ask Jessica Sell Chambers to leave the chambers.
Chambers, a longtime critic of the project, began extended remarks arguing the process was flawed. After she ran over her time limit she said others were willing to give her their time, at which point a resident attempted to yield time to her. Newcomb, in response, said that each speaker would get their own allotted time and called the recess. Chambers continued to speak after the recess was called, and eventually Chambers was asked to leave. She was escorted out of the chambers by Sheriff Matt Carr.
Further public comment reflected the broader divide around the project. Some speakers urged officials to scrap the current proposal while others argued that restarting now would only worsen the community housing shortage.
Resident Margaret Mary Aeckerle stood and emotionally declared she would prefer they not build anything at all on the RV park location. “I think it’s a disgrace. … We need the campground, we are losing our charm.”
“Our elected officials are notorious for kicking the can down the road,” one commenter said.
Others spoke in favor of moving forward with Pennrose. Executive Director of Shelter JH Clare Stumpf spoke in support of the project, stating, “[The project] might not be everyone’s dream home, but it is someone’s dream.”
Jean Day, a more than 40-year resident of Jackson, also voiced support for moving ahead with the Virginian project.
In the discussion following public comment, the subject of affordability resurfaced. “I cannot find a way to move forward with [Pennrose] today. I am, however, very interested in moving forward with this project,” Commissioner Wes Gardner stated during discussion, citing that a one-bedroom unit in the completed project would cost $3,119 per month if the Town and County chose to move forward with the current plan.
The meeting ended with both the BCC and Town Council agreeing to discuss in a future joint meeting what to do with the land at 90 Virginian Lane.
Editor’s Note: Following Tuesday’s meeting, reporters were copied on an email thread between Chambers and Newcomb, in which Chambers articulated that a procedural error was made in not allowing other public commenters to yield their time to her. Newcomb apologized for misinterpreting the situation and thanked Chambers for her comments.
