Andy Ripps’ building saga

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

By Jake Nichols

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-As Cache Creek LLC, Andy Ripps filed a Final Platt application for his condominium project on January 4, 2008. Eleven days later, the town imposed a ban on so-called ‘condo-izations,’ fearing that short-term rental units (apartments) were being flipped by developers who were issuing eviction notices to dishwashers over fruit salad spreads at condominium open houses. The moratorium was eventually lifted in February 2009 after the condo market in Jackson showed the vital signs of Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Ripps then had to retrace his way through the government gauntlet of building approval only to find in the meantime that affordable housing mitigation rates had jumped from 15 to 25 percent. For Ripps, it meant his calculated fee-in-lieu for eight condos and a commercial element would seriously hitch his giddy-up.

“I feel the applicant was stuck. He bought these units and got caught in two different scenarios,” Greg Miles said. Ripps argued that, thanks to the new steep requirements and the current condo sales climate, he and everyone else would be screwed by offering one unit as affordable housing. “The current housing situation shows fairly affordable market housing available now,” Ripps said. “If I put these two-bedroom, one-bath condos on the market now – the least expensive two-bedroom condo in Jackson is listed now at $139,000 – well, an affordable housing condo right now would go for more than a free market [condo].”

Currently, the Housing Authority can’t give away condos at Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis. Five units are available first-come-first-served, no lottery, for anyone who fills out an application and drops their dog off at the shelter before they move in. The in-lieu fee for the proposed condo-ization at 242 E. Broadway, if based on today’s requirements, would run Ripps $203,874. When the applicant did the ‘figgerin’ it came to $19,958. That’s where his calculator stopped agreeing with Melissa Turley’s.

Turley acknowledged Ripps was the victim of unique circumstances, but said she couldn’t justify cutting him a break on the fee-in-lieu. Mayor Barron, however, agreed with Miles. Even Save Historical Jackson Hole’s Armond Acri gave his blessing, calling it a gray area. Ripps’ double request to build and bill himself less for affordable housing passed 5-0 and 4-1, with Turley opposed to the latter.
Who let the dogs out?

Remember Karen Keckley? She drew a winning ticket to move into one of the 22 affordable units at JH Golf & Pony Show but was told she would have to nix Fido first. She vowed to fight and fight she did. Appearing before the council Monday night was the first step in having the prohibition of dogs removed. A public hearing before the County Planning & Zoning Commission is next, scheduled for September 13. Expect Gail Jensen to be there arguing that area moose don’t do so well with dogs attached to their legs.

Expect the new dog park at the Grove property to officially open on August 26 at 5:30 p.m. PAWS rep Diane Peterson promised beer and pizza. No word on what the humans will be eating and drinking. JHW


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Andy Ripps’ building saga | Planet JH News Article: Council Chronicles

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