Presbyterian Church seeks easement for workforce housing access in Jackson

The Teton County government meeting on June 30, 2025, focused on a significant request from the Presbyterian Church regarding the development of workforce housing. The church is seeking an easement to access their property via Montana Road, which has been identified as county land rather than an official road.

During the meeting, representatives from the church explained that they had received approval from the town of Jackson to build 21 workforce housing units in two phases. The first phase includes 10 units and a community fellowship cabin, while the second phase, which is still in the planning stages, would add another 11 units. All units are deed-restricted for affordable housing, addressing the pressing need for employee housing in the area.

The church's representatives highlighted a complication: a 1993 agreement regarding access to the property was based on the assumption that Montana Road was a functioning road. However, it has since been determined that it is not officially designated as such. This has led to the church's request for an easement over county land to facilitate access for construction and future use.

The church's representatives emphasized the urgency of their request, as they are currently navigating the building permitting process with the town. They proposed that the easement could be temporary, expiring once Montana Road is officially designated as a county road, a process that could take approximately 90 days.

The meeting concluded with a call for questions from the commissioners, indicating a collaborative approach to resolving the access issue and moving forward with the housing project. The outcome of this request could significantly impact the church's ability to provide essential housing for its employees and contribute to the community's workforce housing needs.