JACKSON, Wyo. — Town Council members voted unanimously to place an emergency moratorium on large scale commercial building applications during their Town Council meeting on Monday, June 3.
The decision followed an outpouring of public comments opposing current Land Use Regulations, which allowed for the Mogul Hospitality Partners’ Sketch Plan of a three-story, 290,000 square foot city block-sized hotel on North Cache.
Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson proposed the adoption of the emergency ordinance, which will place a 120-day moratorium on development applications of non-residential buildings bigger than 35,000 square feet.
Morton Levinson added that the Council always has the option to extend the length of the moratorium as needed.
According to Morton Levinson, 35,000 square feet was the Town’s previous maximum building size, so Town will cap buildings to this size during the emergency hold. The commercial zones in which the moratorium will be applied, based on the areas that receive the largest building applications, are CR-1, CR-2, CR-3, downtown core 1 and core 2. This four-month halt applies to all applications which create, add to or change commercial developments bigger than 35,000 square feet.
Town Attorney Lea Colasuonno presented the Council with the history of moratorium use in Jackson.
“A moratorium is a temporary pause in development used to prevent development inconsistent with pending or proposed zoning changes,” Colasuonno said during the Town meeting.
Town Council will use the time during the moratorium to revaluate the Town’s LDR requirements, with respect to sustainable growth, local economy, habitat preservation and workforce housing opportunities.
While large scale residential applications are not included in the moratorium, Morton Levinson reminded the Council that any enacted LDRs changes during the commercial pause could be applied to all of the Town’s residential large scale buildings, including future residential apartment buildings and condominium complexes.
The moratorium does not apply to the Mogul Hotel sketch plan application, which was received in February. Council members granted a one-time continuance to consider the hotel’s sketch plan, as well as the petition to vacate the adjoining alley, during its Monday, June 17 Town Council meeting.
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