Milestones + Millstones

MILESTONES

Hog Island

Developers proposed building a large market-rate subdivision in Hog Island. This proposal would have required amending the Comprehensive Plan and would have been a textbook example of leapfrog sprawl into rural land – without any guarantee that the homes would be permanently affordable to local workers and families. Luckily, the Town Council and County Commissioners held firm to the Comprehensive Plan and said “no thanks” – knowing that development proposals will always come back, and that the community can wait until proposals actually provide a net positive to our community on all fronts (housing, open space, wildlife, and transportation).

Save the Block over the finish line

After a team from our Conservation Leadership Institute Round 9 rallied public support, we successfully prevented an upzone that would have paved the way for another hotel and threatened historic cabins and beloved local businesses in the heart of Jackson. Since then, the Jackson Hole Land Trust permanently protected the cherished green space and cabins on the Genevieve Block. The southeastern corner of the block will also be the new home of the Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum. Win-win-win!

Horses graze in a golden field with fall colors in the cottonwood trees behind them. The Teton mountains are visible in the far distance through hazy, smokey skies.

Photo credit: Madison Webb @ms_madison

Funded Wildlife Crossings through SPET

Teton County voters said a resounding YES to $10 million in SPET (specific purpose excise tax) funds for safe wildlife crossings last November. After ten years building the foundation with partners, this was a fantastic conclusion to one of the most significant proactive wildlife campaigns in the history of Jackson Hole. Thanks to everyone who worked, volunteered, and voted for this measure!

Graduated another round of new conservation leaders (CLI)

During the 10th round of CLI in the Fall of 2019, participants worked on gaining support for SPET measures of their choice. By engaging with the community on the different SPET measures, they helped turn out voters and spread the word about the important election. All of their measures passed!

State legislation to strip housing mitigation failed

State legislation that would remove our local government’s ability to require commercial or mega-home development to mitigate their impacts by building homes that locals can afford appeared again this session, after JH Working hosted a controversial “lunch and learn” with lawmakers. Along with local representatives and state partners, we helped beat this bill in Cheyenne, though it may come back again next session.

A wintery aerial of the Town of Jackson, Snow King, and surrounding National Forest.

Photo credit: Skye Schell

Critiqued the Forest Service’s flawed analysis of Snow King’s expansion

We hired a local ecologist and went on record with over 50 pages of concerns about the resort’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and we supported 271 community members [BS1] in drafting their own comments. Although the draft decision the Forest Service released in Fall 2020 [BS2] [KG3] ignored this overwhelming public comment, our robust engagement lays the foundation for winning in the formal “objection process” or beyond.

Continued Accountability Checks and Conservation Vote Round-up

The Alliance Accountability Check helps our members stay informed about important conservation votes in our community. By tracking and sharing votes throughout the year via Accountability Checks and compiling them into the Conservation Vote Round-up in the Spring, we help our members stay up to date with important decisions when they are made. This allows people to easily hold our representatives accountable – the backbone of a healthy democracy.

A small weasel in its white winter coat coming out of a hole in the snow.

Photo credit: Jacob Paul @JaconPaulPhoto

Don’t Poach the Powder

Last winter, we teamed up with coalition partners to spread the word about the need for responsible backcountry recreation to protect bighorn sheep, elk, and other important wildlife. We recruited passionate volunteers, gave out stickers at trailheads, shared info at a coalition “Sheep and Skier Social,” and helped drive attendance to bighorn sheep discussions with federal and state agencies.

MILLSTONES

Snow King zip lines and base area expansion

Town Council approved a master plan for Snow King’s base area that allowed a zip line but ignored the request from us and the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club for a 1% fee on the future 500,000 square feet of commercial development to ensure the lifts could keep spinning

Town Council (the Schechter, Morton-Levinson, Muldoon majority) voted to approve a zip line on Snow King, that would connect to potentially multiple other zip lines higher up on our Town Hill

Heli Tours approved

The Airport Board approved heli tours out of the Jackson Hole Airport, after our petition gained 2,482 signatures (and counting!) and hearing over 6 hours of public comment, 97% against such intrusive tours. They believed they had no choice under Federal Aviation Administration rules.