Development issues face adversity

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

By Jake Nichols

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Mayor Mark Barron and the Town Council became inextricably tangled in procedure during their “reconsideration of vote” on four criteria of Section 2325, Planned Mixed Use Development Regulations. Fill-in city attorney Dave Larson to the rescue!

“Now the matter is before you as if you never voted,” Larson told five pairs of blinking eyes after the council voted unanimously to reconsider their Feb. 2 vote to adopt four new criteria on PMUDs. Barron was having second thoughts about Criteria 3: Raising the housing mitigation to 33 percent, feeling that would “render [the PMUD tool] negligible and no one would use it.”

With reconsideration a done deal, the group then voted to strike Criteria 3 though Melissa Turley wanted to have future talks about raising mitigation rates if 33 percent was too high. Greg Miles didn’t mind a 25-percent rate, but said he would like to have discussion on more long-term rentals. Mark Obringer didn’t even want to think about mitigation rates or any of the other three criteria – which he said were already being met anyway – until a revised Comp Plan was in place.

“We are putting the cart before the horse on this particular item,” Obringer declared. The council eventually blotted out the 33-percent affordable housing rate, and just when it seemed they were ready to move on to further business, Larson again pulled Robert’s Rules of Order out of his briefcase, explaining there would need to be two more votes – a substitute vote to pass the remaining three criteria and a vote to continue the minutes from the Feb. 2 meeting, amending them with the reconsidered action.

“Move to be confused,” Obringer blurted to a roomful of laughter.

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Shootout at the “Y”
Jeff Heider could not be in attendance for the Sketch Plan approval phase of his proposed development at Broadway and Highway 22. He was, according to Reed Armijo - the architect representing the project - stuck on the East Coast in a snowstorm. He should have been there … at least to see his development get buried under a blizzard of opposition.

Even though Armijo had made significant strides to reduce the bulk and scale of the project, trimming 92 units to 87 on 9.29 acres for instance, Bob Lenz still didn’t see enough open space. “I’m looking at the massing. All I see is buildings,” he said. “It is a difficult space.”

Obringer remained discontented with many aspects of the project.

“It’s been very difficult for me to take the criteria and support it,” Obringer said. “Is it in keeping with the Comp Plan? We are also looking for more industrial and live-work zoning. This is exclusively residential ... I can’t support it at this point.”
Miles liked the project, as did Barron who said the applicant had done a “heck of a job” turning a heavily industrialized site with a scarred hillside into a desirable residential space.

That left the fate of Heider’s “Y Knot” to Turley, who admitted the decision was “extremely difficult.” Turley voiced concerns over the gateway nature of the “Y.” She struggled with traffic safety concerns on Budge Drive and wondered whether the development was in compliance with the Comp Plan – current or revised. Density and uncertainty about the in-holding Bischoff also spurred Turley to admit she couldn’t make the findings.

The project failed to move on from the sketch plan phase on a 3-2 vote.

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“He is beautifying 3,100 square feet at a time when most developers are crawling back to their holes in this time of economic uncertainty,” Roger Strout said of Jim Darwiche and his plan to makeover the Woods Motel and a portion of Gaslight Alley. This project is vital to our economic health, especially for people like me.  Jim has gone far beyond the call to create a public benefit.”

 Strout Architects, led by Greg Mason, had designed an intriguing plan that all councilors felt was exciting and promising. Barron and Obringer worried about the alley being able to accommodate pedestrians along with deliveries for a motel, restaurant, bar, and Skinny Skis.

“The alley will work hard at times,” Mason admitted.

Intimately, the council granted Darwiche his two requested Conditional Use permits but said they would like to see more fleshing out of the concept. Sketch plan approval was put off for April but seemed all but certain if Darwiche could clean up the alley and provide city sidewalks in addition to his own walkway intended to drum up traffic for the development’s “Mom & Pop” retailers. PJH
PERMALINK:
Development issues face adversity | Planet JH News Article: Council Chronicles

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