Dog Park realized

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

By Jake Nichols

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-“I apologize for the complexity of this problem,” Bob McLaurin told the Council right up front. The problem was the same as it ever was: How and when would Jackson finally get a dog park? Enter complexity.

Before the ink dried on the contract to purchase the failed development called The Grove, the Town worked out a land swap with the Housing Authority so the former could build a bus barn in Karns Meadows and the latter could erect affordable units for Jackson’s idled workforce.

The arrangement would mean, technically, that PAWS would have two landlords back-to-back, with the HA looking to break ground in the spring of 2012 though Mayor Mark Barron said he seriously doubted the HA would be ready to pull the trigger by then. That gave PAWS a two-year lease with the Town for a nominal dollar-a-year fee, which the Council OK’d Monday night along with a Conditional Use Permit.

Councilors felt confident that poop would be regularly removed and the property would be maintained. When Bob Lenz fretted over the “substantial capital investment” PAWS would be undertaking in landscaping and irrigating the 1.5 acres, he was assured the organization was doing things on the cheap and would be able to roll it up on 90 days notice when and if the lease terminated.
People’s Market: help or hurt downtown merchants?

Steve Michel is organizing the Jackson Hole People’s Market to occur every Wednesday at the Lutheran Church through September. The event, which will feature a wide array of items for sale, will be sort of like a flea market-meets-farmers market for locals who avoid the downtown area during the height of the summer.

The event was slated to take place on private property so it needed no formal Town Council approval; still, Mayor Barron wanted a chance to discuss the idea of making an exposition fee applicable.

“Technically, this does not fit the Municipal Code’s definition for an exposition business license,” Rachael Fuller told the panel.

“But this is certainly an exception to the spirit and intent of the expo business license,” the Mayor said. I admire you, Steve, for your business acumen, but I am very uncomfortable with this.”

The mayor continued, “Downtown merchants pay their dues by advertising year round to get that 120 days of core business. This is a street market that, in my mind, feeds off of the energy and expense of the downtown businesses because of a loophole in our rules. We have seen a whole slew of stores and restaurants close their doors in the past 18 months.”

Public comment backed the market. Locals felt the vibe and increased locally-crafted wares would promote ‘collateral damage’ shopping throughout the Square.

Town protects prime habitat
The Town finalized another financial scheme of McLaurin’s in purchasing 38 acres from Mike Halpin to be used primarily under open space and easement protection. McLaurin said the deal would go down nearly identically to the Karns Meadow purchase, which took the town five years to pay off. McLaurin also credited the Land Trust, that will purchase a few small parcels from the Town to help finance the deal.

Save Historic Jackson Hole’s Armond Acri was happy to sign off on the arrangement as long as no new trails would be created on the northwest side of Snow King below Sink or Swim. Franz Camenzind, who will challenge the mayor in the upcoming August election, said he thought it was the right thing to do.
“In the interest of full disclosure, I will tell you I own property abutting this property,” Camenzind said. “I have been an observer of it since 1979. The only place that wildlife can come off Snow King and get water is this area. Deer, moose, otter, mink, beaver, muskrat, fox; I see them daily. It is some of the richest habitat around.” JHW
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Dog Park realized | Planet JH News Article: Council Chronicles

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