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Commission directs staff to explore housing partnership with Bridger‑Teton National Forest for Nelson Trailhead project
Summary
Commissioners asked county counsel and housing staff to meet with Bridger‑Teton National Forest leadership to explore partnership options for a proposed employee housing project at the Nelson Trailhead; Forest Service would contribute land and $2.3 million to create 13 units for its employees, county staff said.
The Teton County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 22 directed county counsel and housing staff to follow up with the Bridger‑Teton National Forest about a potential employee housing project at the Nelson Trailhead and to report back to the commission with options.
Chair Newcomb asked county counsel to check in with Chad Hudson, Bridger‑Teton supervisor, about interest from partners to develop housing at the Nelson Trailhead in response to a letter the commission received from Community Housing Trust. Commissioners expressed two expectations for staff follow‑up: an initial assessment of financing options and a sense of possible roles the county could play.
During the discussion commissioners asked that the county housing director be included. Jody Pond, the county's housing director, said staff are inventorying existing county employee housing and deferred maintenance and noted that a $10 million SPET (Special Purpose Excise Tax) allocation the county currently holds could not be used for site purchases given the SPET language. Pond said she could begin a deeper review but would be out of the office for about two and a half weeks and could likely return analysis in late October.
Commissioners noted the Forest Service had indicated it would contribute land and $2,300,000 to the effort and would receive 13 units for its employees under the proposal, and that the project could also help meet county employee housing needs. Commissioners requested staff (county attorney, housing director and other staff) to coordinate with the Forest Service and interested foundations and return with a staff report for a future meeting.
No formal vote was recorded on policy or funding at the Sept. 22 meeting; the item was a direction to staff to investigate and report back.
Provenance: remarks appear during the "matters for discussion" portion of the meeting; Jody Pond and county counsel contributed details about funding constraints and timing for staff follow up.
