Jackson Hole Underground

Last week’s enactment by the Teton County commissioners of a moratorium on large developments effectively killed the proposal for Teton Meadows Ranch, which even the staunchest supporters admitted was less than ideal. So what’s the next step?

Come up with a better plan. Most disconcerting about the fight over Teton Meadows was the backlash against affordable housing in general. Now with the focus on drafting a new Comprehensive Plan for the town and county, the naysayers will be busy at the keyboard, trying to insert their language into the document.

For affordable housing advocates, it’s easy to be discouraged by the furor over Teton Meadows. But it’s more essential than ever to stay involved in the process. Tonight there’s a meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Jackson campus of the Teton Science Schools (on Highway 22) where consultants will present scenarios for future development.

Showing up to these meetings and making your presence felt sends a message that the new plan won’t be shaped by a few. The easiest way to give input is to visit the Web site JacksonTetonPlan.com, where all documents are posted and comments will be accepted throughout the summer.

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Our beloved local brewery made like Bode Miller and took home a lode of medals at the World Beer Cup.

Snake River Brewing Co. won three golds and one silver at the competition in San Diego, which drew nearly 2,900 entries from 58 countries.

Winning gold were the much decorated Snake River Pale Ale and Zonker Stout from the Jackson brewery, as well as Rock Chuck Rye from the pub in Lander. On Belay IPA, also from Lander, took silver in the English-style India Pale Ale category.

Grand Teton Brewing Co. of Victor, Idaho, won a bronze for its Bitch Creek ESB.

Congrats to all the brewers, and let’s drink the spoils!

Tonight the Teton County Planning Commission resumes its hearing on the proposed Teton Meadows Ranch development south of town.

Public comment begins at 5:45 p.m. in the Snow King Grand Room.

What can I write about this project that won’t amount to throwing gasoline on the fire of a simmering class war?

I sat through three and a half hours of last week’s meeting and listened, when public comment began, to a filibuster by South Park “Neighbors” opposed to the proposal. Without a hint of irony, they listed a litany of reasons why their suburban neighborhood is unsuited for human habitation besides their own.

A common thread in many of the comments: “my property values.”

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In case you missed it, “Smart Growth” has the solution to congestion on Teton Pass.

Seriously, smart growth will be the topic as two important issues converge this week: affordable housing and a new Comprehensive Plan.

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Wyoming Blue Cross/Blue Shield is raising its rates again next month, by about 20 percent.

The cost of an MRI at St. John’s Medical Center is about $1,300.

But if you’re the St. John’s CEO, you’re moving into a $2.5 million house the hospital just bought you, while making nearly $500,000 a year.

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