Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County to pursue easement and eventual adoption of Montana Road to support Presbyterian Church workforce housing
Summary
The Teton County Board of Commissioners held a June 30 workshop and agreed to pursue an easement and later formal adoption of Montana Road to allow driveway access for a Presbyterian Church workforce housing project that received town approval.
The Teton County Board of Commissioners held a workshop June 30 on a proposed Presbyterian Church workforce housing project that received town approval for phased construction of up to 21 deed‑restricted units. Presenters asked the county to grant an easement across county land to allow driveway access because Montana Road is not currently recorded as a county road.
Scott O’Hare, chairman of the Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole housing task force, described a two‑phase project with a near term first phase of 10 units (a seven‑plex, a three‑plex and a fellowship cabin) and a second phase of additional units to follow. O’Hare told commissioners “we discovered this process as Montana Road is not a road,” and said the church needs an easement that would be converted to a driveway permit once the county formally adopts the road.
County staff and road officials said that approach is feasible. Dave Gustafson, Teton County Roads and Levee, told the board an easement could be prepared quickly and that adoption of Montana Road as a county road would require formal steps including public notice and map updates; Gustafson estimated adoption could take on the order of six weeks to two months once staff and legal work are complete. County engineer Amy Ramage said county staff previously reviewed the project with town planners and had recommended Montana Road as the safer access point rather than an additional approach on South Park Loop.
Commissioners directed staff to develop an MOU or easement document to permit driveway construction and to pursue adoption of Montana Road as a county road at an appropriate time. They asked staff to ensure the record is cleaned up for related subdivisions (Gains/Larry’s Subdivision and High Country Drive) that may lack formal access documentation. The board also requested commitments on construction staging and enforcement: road staff said they can post no‑parking zones and rely on sheriff enforcement where necessary.
The workshop also addressed a planned north‑south pathway. O’Hare said the church had agreed to grant a north‑south easement on its property “if and when pathways actually wanted to move the path,” but said the church does not plan to fund an immediate pathway relocation; the church intends the units’ residents to walk to work at the adjacent church and preschool, reducing commuter trips. Commissioners and staff discussed the desirability of moving the path to avoid driveway conflicts and asked staff to explore whether cost sharing or a joint plan with Pathways or the town is appropriate.
Neighbors raised concerns about construction staging, parking and nuisance effects. The board acknowledged a written comment from a High Country subdivision resident and said it would treat those concerns as part of the permit and easement process.
Next steps: staff will prepare a draft easement/MOU and present it to the board, seek to clean up road and plat records, and pursue formal adoption of Montana Road as a county road as time permits. Road staff indicated the easement could be ready in weeks and road adoption may take six weeks to a couple of months.
