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Council returns Planning Commission recommendation amid dispute over bitcoin use of commercial property
Summary
The council voted to return a Planning Commission recommendation after town staff said a bitcoin operation would not be a permitted use; the town attorney advised the council to consider a moratorium to allow ordinance revisions.
At its March 11 work session, the Star Valley Ranch council moved to send the Planning Commission's recommendation back to the commission for reconsideration after town staff raised concerns about a proposed bitcoin operation on commercial property.
Administrator Aitken told council members he had told the bitcoin developer the town did not believe the use was permitted under current rules. "The developer has come back aggressively," Aitken said, and the town attorney advised the council that, under existing ordinance, the town is on solid legal footing and that the Planning Commission should revisit its recommendation. The attorney also recommended placing a moratorium on bitcoin operations while the town updates the ordinance.
Councilman Merrill moved to return the Planning Commission recommendation to the commission for reconsideration; Councilman Toolson seconded. The motion passed with "all ayes" (individual roll-call votes were not specified in the meeting notes).
Why it matters: The vote pauses the approval path for the developer's proposal and creates time for the town to clarify whether bitcoin operations qualify as a permitted commercial use and to write ordinance language if needed.
What's next: The council instructed staff to send the item back to the Planning Commission for reconsideration; the attorney's suggestion of a temporary moratorium would require a separate formal action if the council chooses that route.
