JACKSON, Wyo. — The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) received rezone approval from the Board of County Commissioners, allowing them to develop employee housing on the 14.4-acre property they own in Hog Island.
WYDOT plans to build 28 housing units on the western side of the property located at 1040 E. Evans Road. The site was previously zoned as neighborhood conservation. Teton County does not have authority over federal or state agencies, because WYDOT is a state agency, they can develop the land they own and can pull out of the planning and development process at any time.
“Even if they are rezoned, at anytime WYDOT could forgo any of the other applications but they have indicated a willingness to participate in the process,” said Rain Rooney, senior long-range planner.
The planning commission previously voted 0-5 to approve the re-zone while the planning director recommended the approval.
Keith Compton, district engineer for WYDOT, spoke during the meeting.
“For WYDOT housing is, of course, critical, but is not only critical to attract and retain employees,” Compton said. “It is also critical in terms of the location of employees. That becomes significant in terms of how efficiently WYDOT can perform the services for Teton County and the surrounding community.”
“There is currently a statewide policy that directs employees to live within 10 miles of their duty stations. Division K, which includes Teton County and northern Lincoln County down to just below Afton, has had to modify that policy and extend those boundaries so [Wyoming Highway Patrol] Troopers can live beyond that 10-mile limit,” Compton said.
Compton explained that people living north of Victor and South of Thayne need to receive special approval but “we have been fairly liberal with those approvals” based on the housing market.
The 10-mile limit was created to keep response times low during emergencies. In other counties, response time is 30-minutes or less. In Teton County, response times can be about an hour and a half on a good day and two-plus hours in bad weather, Compton explained, creating issues for after-hours responses, especially on Teton Pass.
There are nine troopers serving Teton County. Only one trooper currently lives in the Teton County area Compton said.
“The purpose is obviously to attract and retain but really it’s about getting essential personnel and first responders which are troopers and our snowplow drivers, to scenes quickly to help victims of crashes and prevent others from becoming victims,” Compton said.
Hog Island residents spoke during public comment against the rezone citing concerns about density in the rural community.
The board unanimously voted to approve the rezone with hopes that WYDOT will continue to follow the county’s planning and building process.
