On Monday, to everyone’s surprise, the Town Council voted NO (3-2) on the third reading of an ordinance that would allow renewal and redevelopment of 315 of our AR zoned lots in the Town of Jackson. Currently, AR zoning allows owners to develop AR zoned lots into 3 units with no more than .35 FAR (floor area ratio), but these units must stay as rentals. To sell these properties separately, an owner would need 3 adjacent lots of at least 22,500 sqft—this is called a PUD, sometimes resulting in a change of character in the neighborhood.
The ordinance would allow a homeowner to redevelop his/her individual lot into no more than 3 units, of which the rear (800 sqft max) unit could be sold off. This only pertains to buildings that are either new, built after 1994, and meet today’s building codes, setbacks, height restrictions, etc. Applicable lots must have alley access. This ordinance would have a mandatory public review in 2 years to look at how well the tool worked towards allowing small, market home ownership within today’s neighborhood character while providing no negative impacts.
This tool mostly affects the area near the parking garage, the Brew Pub, Snow King, and Center for the Arts where 90% of the properties are rentals with little investment and upkeep taking place. We need to reinvigorate this area with home ownership, new residential spaces (not larger), sidewalks, garages and storage which will encourage more home ownership, renewal, redevelopment, and investment. Incorporating this change allows young people and first time homebuyers a number of options: single family, one bedrooms and studios on the open market in downtown Jackson. Of 12 new residential building permits in the Town since January 1, 2011, 10 are deed-restricted affordable housing, 2 are free market, of which one is mine.
How many people do you show downtown Jackson who say “this is it?” or “this is all I can afford?” or “I really want to live downtown, but it isn’t nice enough”. You can do something about it. Town needs owners who care and maintain their properties for Town to truly be Heart, not absentee landlords.
Three of the five Town Councilors voted against it on Monday, at the THIRD and FINAL reading to pass the ordinance. I find it ironic that the Town Council will assign priority for infrastructure on Redmond, affordable housing for the Grove and Hall Street, but no priority for renewal of our downtown AR district for smaller, efficient, free market housing. This Town Council has said in their posted Strategic Objectives that they will support housing for lower and middle class families. Yet, this ordinance which would have provided options to these very Jackson families with no public subsidy and no additional density, was voted down in a surprise reversal at third reading.
If you feel strongly about this contact Melissa Turley, Bob Lenz, Mark Obringer, Mark Barron, and Greg Miles towncouncil@townofjackson.com and voice your opinion. Come to the meeting at 6:00PM August 1, 2011 at the Clock Tower Building on Pearl and voice your opinion.
