TETON COUNTY — The Teton County Board of County Commissioners on May 16 adopted written decisions upholding earlier denials of reconsideration requests for two subdivision extension applications and accepted the documents for signature.

The board voted to “uphold and affirm” its earlier decision on the Wysong Ranch subdivision extension request and separately adopted a written decision affirming the denial of a reconsideration request for the Dorothy Gale subdivision, the board recorded in the special meeting. Both written decisions were presented for signature; staff noted the page numbering on the draft documents was not accurate.

The actions formalized motions the board made at its May 12 meeting. Andrew (staff member) said the written decisions are intended to “capture really the reasoning that went into the board’s decision,” and stressed that courts are placing increasing emphasis on reason statements that explain the facts relied on and the board’s analysis. “In making these kind of land use decisions, they’re gonna put more and more emphasis on the reason statement is what the statute requires,” Andrew said.

Commissioner Powers asked why a second public meeting was needed to adopt the written decisions rather than having a single meeting or allowing an official to sign the document administratively. Andrew explained that, under county practice, the Board acts together and adoption of the written decision is a formal public act by the board requiring a public meeting to memorialize the motion and reasoning.

Andrew summarized the basis for a prior opposing vote by Commissioner Whitfield at the May 12 meeting, saying Whitfield’s objection stemmed from standing concerns related to ownership structures — “an LLC and a trust that are both controlled by Glenn Meridian” — and factual questions about whether the developer had “promptly” or “diligently pursued” development within the statutory timeframes. The transcript records that those were Commissioner Whitfield’s main concerns previously; the board nevertheless voted to affirm the original approvals of the extension denials.

The written decisions reference county application forms and the criteria in the Teton County subdivision ordinance identified in the draft as “title 9-3-2-d-2-i.” Staff advised commissioners that the draft documents included page-numbering errors but otherwise were ready for signature. After the motions were moved and seconded the board voiced approval and the motions passed by voice vote.

Board members concluded the special meeting after adopting the written decisions and arranging for signature of the finalized documents.