Housing Mitigation, making developers house their new employees, is a good idea. It requires the developers that cause the housing crisis to ‘mitigate’ it, to pay for it. But 22 years ago, when the old requirement was set, it was way too low. And it hasn’t increased — until now. Kudos to the councilors and commissioners who last year voted […]
As a community, most don’t like where local government is leading us. We don’t want four- story apartment buildings, certainly not in our neighborhoods. And we don’t want to be taxed to build housing for others or buy buses with no riders. Jackson Hole is the most generous and giving community you will find anywhere. Here is the Other Side […]
Wildlife is losing. Little or nothing has been done for wildlife since 2012 when electeds declared it priority #1 in the Comp Plan — eight years ago. In those eight years our electeds produced two massive new plans, a housing plan and transportation plan, both big-growth enablers. Ecosystem Stewardship, our #1 Comp Plan Common Value, has been ignored. Based on […]
Local housing ‘mitigation’ requirements have been around for decades, but our electeds have kept the mitigation rate at a laughably low level. They’ve focused on business growth; lots more. Now our housing problem is painfully obvious, and mitigation requirements are under review. In 2017 our electeds voted for 100% mitigation. Developers would need to provide housing for 100% of new […]
A government of, by and for the people does not blindside its citizens. It represents the majority and does the people’s bidding. Far too often our current town and county electeds pursue self-serving agendas that have little backing from their constituents. When did the public clamor: “We need more snowmobile racing at Snow King?” When did they say, “Summer is […]
The joint housing department is pedaling as fast as they can, all the while chasing the unachievable. Town and County Planners say we need another 280 housing units a year just to keep from falling further behind. That’s fairy-tale thinking, unrealistic, unachievable and unsustainable. Here is the Other Side of the Story of June 12:
The Town of Jackson says this is what you want. After consultants met with town residents, they determined you want to make room for more people. You want a lot more density in town. You want 1,800 more living units crammed into our small mountain community, even though those 1,800 homes were originally meant to be spread throughout the county. […]
More isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s just more. This notion that quality of life equates with an ever expanding economy, that community equals cash registers ringing faster, is a perversion spread by a few in the business community. Often it’s those with the most that are greedy for more. The Chamber of Commerce, along with pop-up strong-arm groups like ‘Think […]
Our local government has gotten off track. Lately they’ve set their core responsibilities aside and become lost in the weeds, creating special meetings, emergency joint meetings, and additional workshops so they can spend endless hours talking about fringe (some say lunatic fringe) ideas that are of little concern to the majority. Government’s core responsibility is basic services: provide for our […]
The filing deadline is fast approaching. May 31st is the last day to ‘declare’ and run for local office: county commissioner, town council, etc. Needed: Candidates focused on a livable Jackson Hole, wildlife, and small town values. The Big-Growth coalition has had their way for the last decade, ever since the great recession. They’ve built large hotels, approved massive housing […]
