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1) Get
to know the candidates Oct. 4 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1) Get to know the candidates Oct. 4 Which candidates for public office will stand
up for Jackson Hole’s wildlife, open spaces,
and clean air and water? Find out Saturday, Oct.
4, during a series of forums at the Teton County
Library auditorium, 125 Virginian Lane.
Each forum will last about 75 minutes, with time
in between for people to meet informally with
candidates. Here’s the schedule: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 2) Northern Rockies wolves regain Endangered Species Act protection In a surprising but welcome about-face, after delisting Northern Rockies gray wolves in March 2008, the U.S Fish and Wildlife service has now begun the process of having the species relisted. On Sept. 22, attorneys for Fish and Wildlife filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Missoula, Mont., asking a federal judge to vacate its grey wolf delisting rule. If the judge signs the request, Northern Rockies grey wolves will be back under the full protection of the Endangered Species Act. (UPDATE: On Oct. 14, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy granted the Fish and Wildlife Service's motion to withdraw its delisting rule, so Northern Rockies gray wolves are now officially back on the list of endangered species. A PDF of the judge's order is available at www.jhalliance.org/Library/Alerts/WolfRelistOrder.10-08.pdf.) In effect, the Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized and legitimized our stand that neither the delisting rule nor states’ plans to manage wolves met federal requirements to perpetuate the species. For now, it looks like wolves in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, the eastern third of Oregon and Washington, and the very northeastern portion of Utah will be fully protected, except where verified conflicts with private property, primarily sheep and cattle, occur. Details on this development are available at www.jhalliance.org/Library/PressReleases/WolfRelistingPR.9-22-08.pdf. Then on Sept. 29, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled in another wolf case, this one brought by animal rights and pro-wolf groups challenging the final rule delisting the Western Great Lakes wolf population. In this case, the judge ruled that the Fish and Wildlife Service erred in delisting those wolves in February of 2007. In his decision, the judge ordered that the final delisting rule be vacated, thereby returning wolf management back to the Fish and Wildlife Service, under protection of the Endangered Species Act. The judge found that Fish and Wildlife’s recent decision to break wolf populations into distinct population segments violated the ESA, thus making the delisting order illegal. (We had also challenged Fish and Wildlife’s decision to segment the Northern Rockies wolf population, but the judge in our case focused on other issues, such as population connectivity and the shortcomings of the states’ wolf management plans. See background information at www.jhalliance.org/issueswolves.htm.) We can only guess what the next step will be, but we assume that the Fish and Wildlife Service will write new delisting rules for both the Northern Rocky Mountain and Western Great Lakes wolf populations. If so, the new rules will have to be published in the Federal Register and be open to public comment. This could take months, if not years, placing the next move to delist grey wolves in the hands of a new federal administration. Of course, any of these decisions could be challenged in court by people who want wolf management turned over to the states. Meanwhile, on Sept. 19, State Rep. Keith Gingery (R-Jackson) said he'll introduce a bill during the next legislative session to change Wyoming's current "dual classification" wolf management plan. Gingery's proposed bill would remove Wyoming's wolf predator zone, and instead make the entire state a trophy game zone, where people would have to apply for wolf hunting licenses. Stay tuned for updates.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 3) Next draft of Comp Plan on hold till at least December In an encouraging move during their regular joint information meeting on Sept. 8, county commissioners and town councilors decided to hold special joint meetings on the Comp Plan update each month. The first of these was held Sept. 29, when the electeds agreed to a revised timeline for the update process. For now, the release of the next draft has been put on hold until at least December (UPDATE: On Oct. 13, planners advertised that the next draft will be released on Dec. 8.), with public comment expected to last through January. Planners say this release will include a draft in its entirety -- an introduction, future land use plan maps, theme-based chapters, and a concluding action and implementation plan chapter (12 chapters in all) -- rather than piecemeal releases as previously scheduled. This welcome change should make it easier assess the plan as a whole. In addition to the electeds’ special monthly joint meetings, both the town and county have stepped up workshops to independently consider the Comp Plan. The Teton County Planning Commission held a workshop with the Teton Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 23, and the town will start a similar process this month. Interestingly, so far it doesn’t look like the planning team is asking town and county planning commissioners to meet jointly to discuss the plan. Here’s a schedule of upcoming public meetings: Oct. 6, 3 to 5 p.m., County Commissioners’ chambers, 200 S. Willow -- Town and county elected officials' regularly scheduled joint meeting on Oct. 6 should include a brief update on the plan. For the agenda, check the town website at www.townofjackson.com (look under Jackson government, meeting agendas, Town Council agendas, Oct. 6 meeting). Oct. 7, 4 to 6 p.m., Town Council chambers, 150 E. Pearl -- The Town Council and Town Planning Commission are scheduled to hold a special workshop to discuss the Comp Plan. Oct. 14, 3 to 5 p.m., County Commissioners’ chambers, 200 S. Willow -- The Teton Board of County Commissioners and the County Planning Commission will hold their second meeting to discuss the Comp Plan. Oct. 30, 1 to 3 p.m., 4-H Building, 255 W. Deloney Ave. -- A stakeholder advisory group discussion about policy questions related to the Comp Plan is scheduled. Nov. 3, 3 to 5 p.m., County Commissioners’ chambers, 200 S. Willow -- County commissioners and town councilors plan to discuss Comp Plan policy questions. Nov. 13, 4 to 6 p.m., Town Council chambers, 150 E. Pearl -- The Town Council and Town Planning Commission are scheduled to discuss the town's future land use maps and buildout numbers. Even though the deadline for online comments on the first draft of the Jackson/Teton County Comprehensive Plan was July 31, general comments are still being accepted throughout the update process. Public comments are available at www.jacksontetonplan.com; the Conservation Alliance’s comments are also posted at www.jhalliance.org/Library/Alerts/CompPlanComments.7-08/JHCACompPlanComments.7-08.pdf. For a list of people to share your comments with, please visit www.jhalliance.org/Library/Alerts/CompPlanContacts.6-08.pdf. The Alliance will continue to work on the Comp Plan throughout the update process. As part of the Comp Plan stakeholder advisory group (STAG), we’ll be meeting with other STAG members on Oct. 30 (public is invited to listen in -- 1 to 3 p.m. at the 4-H building, 255 W. Deloney Ave.) and in November to discuss “big picture” items related to the update. If you’d like to be kept current more often than once a month, please write Conservation Alliance community planning director Kristy Bruner at Kristy@jhalliance.org and ask to be added to our Comp Plan email list. Background information is available at www.jhalliance.org/issuescompplan.htm.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 4) Other community planning news In addition to the Comp Plan, the Conservation Alliance continues to monitor several other town and county private-lands matters. Here’s a brief roundup; however, please note that all meetings are subject to change. Please call Teton County at (307) 733-8094 or the Town of Jackson at (307) 734-3993 for confirmation, or contact Alliance community planning director Kristy Bruner at Kristy@jhalliance.org or (307) 733-9417. TOWN CONDO CONVERSIONS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING -- Jackson Town Council workshop, Oct. 3, 3 to 5 p.m., Town Council chambers, 150 E. Pearl. The extended moratorium on converting apartments to condominiums in town is set to end in mid-October, and councilors are expected to begin hashing out revised policies regulating such conversions at a workshop rescheduled from Sept. 22 to Oct. 3. (Before the moratorium, which began in January, Jackson experienced a rash of condo conversions. However, because converted buildings didn’t have to meet the same affordable-housing requirements as new construction, displaced renters were ending up with fewer places to live.) This past summer, the Town Council contracted with Craig Richardson of Clarion Associates to conduct an analysis of rental conditions in Jackson. This report, available via www.townofjackson.com (look under Jackson government, meeting agendas, Town Council agendas, Oct. 3 meeting, then click on condominium conversions), should help provide a starting point for the workshop. PLANNED MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT TOOL -- Jackson Town Council discussion, Oct. 6, 6 p.m., Town Council chambers, 150 E. Pearl. On Aug. 20 and Sept. 3, the Jackson Planning Commission met to talk about improving the town’s PMD tool. Planning staffers are now compiling a summary of the commissioners’ recommendations, which is expected to be posted at www.townofjackson.com by Oct. 3, in time for town councilors’ consideration on Oct. 6. (In June, the Conservation Alliance formally asked the Town Council for a one-year moratorium on consideration of PMDs because we’ve become increasingly concerned about their strong influence on the nature of redevelopment in Jackson. It’s clear that the PMD tool facilitates large-scale developments that don’t mesh with our current Comprehensive Plan or with the community’s wishes recently voiced during the Comp Plan update process. While our call for a moratorium was unsuccessful, town officials did acknowledge that they should discuss ways that the PMD tool can be modified to make sure it’s working effectively and that it provides more community benefit.) Meanwhile, citing concerns similar to the Alliance’s, the development watchdog group Save Historic Jackson Hole filed suit against the Town of Jackson on Sept. 22 over its decision to approve the master plan for a 4-story, 154,000-plus-square-foot luxury condo-hotel complex near the 5-Way intersection. The applicant, Mills Wyoming Hotel LLC, used the PMD tool rather than apply as a hotel, even though its plan to redevelop the Painted Buffalo property includes more than 90 percent lodging. A number of other PMD applications are tentatively scheduled to go before the Jackson Planning Commission on Nov.5. The Conservation Alliance will monitor these applications as they come forward and provide more detail in next month’s Alliance Action. TEXT AMENDMENT REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS -- Teton Board of County Commissioners, Oct. 7, 9 a.m., County Commissioners’ chambers, 200 S. Willow. On Oct. 7, Teton County commissioners are expected to vote on an amendment to the land development regulations that would require the county to hire the consultants who conduct environmental assessments on properties. (Developers would still pay for the required studies.) (UPDATE: On Sept. 29, county planning staff asked the Teton Board of County Commissioners to postpone voting on this amendment till Nov. 6, but meanwhile it appears to have been postponed indefinitely pending further text changes. We'll keep you posted.) The commissioners began discussing the amendment on Aug. 26, and a session to work out some of its technical aspects was held on Sept. 22. Currently, developers hire and pay consultants to do assessments required for certain developments, such as those within the Natural Resource Overlay. This amendment, which would make Teton County the entity responsible for hiring consultants, would avert potential conflicts of interest. To date, it appears this change would only apply to major development proposals. The Conservation Alliance strongly supports a change in policy that would require such consultants to be hired by Teton County rather than the developer for all types of development proposals. PUD-AH ZONING DISTRICT – On Sept. 23, the Teton Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to deny a text amendment proposed by former Jackson planning director Brian Grubb that would have revised the Planned Unit Development for Affordable Housing zoning district. However, recognizing the need to revisit the PUD-AH as a planning tool, the commissioners voted 4-1 to direct staff to research county planning commissioners’ recommendations for improving the tool. (Planning commissioners have recommended that developers of PUD-AHs be required to provide 100 percent affordable housing, versus the current requirement of 50 percent. They’ve also said that they want county commissioners to decide on a density bonus cap for PUD-AHs (currently there isn’t one), and to decide in which areas of the county PUD-AHs will be allowed. Right now, location isn’t restricted, except for developments proposed in the Natural Resource Overlay.) The county commissioners also directed planning staffers to organize an Affordable Housing Task Force to work on these issues as part of the Comp Plan update.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 5) Conservation Alliance hosts forum on forests Oct. 29 What will our national forests look like in 15 years? What would you like to see? Can you make a difference? Please join the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Teton County Library auditorium to participate in an evening dedicated to protecting our forests and having your voice heard. For details, contact Louise Lasley, Alliance public lands director at Louise@jhalliance.org or (307) 733-9417. (UPDATE: This forum has been postponed indefinitely, due to an illness in Louise's family. We'll let you know when it's rescheduled.) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 6) Snake Headwaters, Wyoming Range legislation in jeopardy Dealing with the nation’s grim economy has monopolized the attention of Congress, and sidelined bills to protect portions of the Snake River system and the Wyoming Range of the Bridger-Teton. In July, the Craig Thomas Snake Headwaters Legacy Act and the Wyoming Range Legacy Act were included in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act (S 3213) and introduced in the U.S. Senate, but it’s unclear if this legislation will make it to a vote. If it’s not considered before a new Congress is sworn in at the beginning of 2009, we’re back to square one -- the long legislative process will have to start all over again. (The current Congressional session was set to end Sept. 26 to give legislators time campaign for re-election. Instead, Congress has remained in session to work on a proposed $700 billion economic bailout package.) Since legislators could schedule a “lame duck” session after the Nov. 4 general election, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act might be considered then. Please contact Wyoming’s congressional delegation now to encourage their support: U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi U.S. Sen. John Barrasso U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 7) New Hoback Wells draft EIS won’t be out till next spring It was November, but now Bridger-Teton officials say that April is when the draft environmental impact statement on Plains Exploration and Production Company’s plan to drill up to 136 natural gas wells at the north end of the Wyoming Range will be out. The Eagle Prospect and Noble Basin Master Development Plan proposes building 17 well pads, 29 miles of roads, and gas lines and facilities on 22 square miles of forest. Just southeast of Jackson Hole, the site is currently recognized as a roadless area, as a critical birthing area for mule deer, and as habitat for elk and moose. Plains had originally proposed drilling three exploratory wells in 2005. The EIS for that project generated about 19,000 public comments; almost all opposed it. Last year, the company withdrew that proposal and presented plans for full field development instead. We’ll keep you posted about how you can comment on the new draft EIS when it appears. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 8) Judge tosses Yellowstone and Teton parks winter-use plan On Sept. 15, a U.S. district judge in Washington, D.C., threw out a plan governing snowmobile and snowcoach use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, leaving park officials with no regulations for the coming season. Released in November 2007, the winter-use plan that the judge rejected would have allowed up to 540 commercially guided “best available technology” snowmobiles and 83 snowcoaches into Yellowstone this winter. In Teton Park, 40 unguided snowmobiles would have been allowed on frozen Jackson Lake (for use by fishermen), and 25 snowmobiles a day would have been allowed to travel on the Grassy Lake Road. Echoing the comments of conservationists including the Alliance, Judge Emmet G. Sullivan said the plan violated the Organic Act by elevating use over conservation of park resources, and that it went against the advice of Park Service scientists. In a Sept. 19 news release, park officials said they are exploring ways that Yellowstone and Grand Teton might still be open to motorized oversnow travel this winter season, set to start Dec. 15. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 9) Wild & Scenic Film Fest is October’s featured event October’s full of events you won’t want to miss, especially our Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival, coming up on Oct. 17. Here’s a roundup: Oct. 4: Candidates Forums; see AA item #1 above. Oct. 8, 9 & 10: Activities promoting the Teton Area 10x10 initiative to reduce energy use 10 percent by 2010. Visit sponsor Pursue Balance’s website at www.pursuebalance.org for event details; visit www.tetonarea10x10.org for info on the program and how you can get involved. Oct. 15, noon at the Conservation Alliance,
685 S. Cache: Critter Crossings Info Lunch on
Wildlife and Transportation. Oct. 17, Center for the Arts theater, on Cache,
two blocks south of Town Square: Oct. 29, 7 to 9 p.m. at Teton County
Library: Conservation Alliance forum on forests.
See AA item #5 above for details. Save the dates: Nov. 4: Vote! Feb. 7 to 10: Wolves of the Lamar Valley field trip. Join Dr. Franz Camenzind, wildlife biologist, photographer/cinematographer and executive director of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, for a winter journey into the Lamar Valley -- one of the most spectacular areas of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the best wolf-viewing spot in North America. For details, please visit www.jhalliance.org/Library/PressReleases/WolfTrip.2-09.pdf, or contact Heather Mathews at Heather@jhalliance.org or (307) 733-9417.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Back to top) 10) Valley Echoes “When you make a difference with what you have, it expands.” - Lynne Twist, author of “The
Soul of Money”
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Alliance Action is a publication of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance is dedicated to responsible land stewardship in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to ensure that human activities are in harmony with the area’s irreplaceable wildlife, scenic, and other natural resources. The Alliance is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. (If you no longer wish to receive this e-newsletter, please send a note saying you’d like us to remove your email address from our list to: allianceaction@jhalliance.org.)
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