May 2012

in this issueComprehensive Plan ............2

Visualizing Teton Valley ...2-3

Sustainability Series ............4

VARD Featured in HCN .....4

Youth Philanthropy Grant ...4

Calendar of Events ..............4

miSSioN: To advocate for the private, public and civic actions that will result in the responsible development and sustainable use of natural resources (water, land, wildlife and air) in Teton Valley.

oFFiCE HouRS—m-TR 9:00am-4:00pmFriday by appointment

oFFiCE ADDRESS—285 E Little Ave, Driggs, iD 83422

mAiLiNG ADDRESS—Po Box 1164, Driggs, iD 83422208.354.1707 ph / 208.354.1709 fxwww.tetonvalleyadvocates.org

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This beautiful early spring marks the two-year anni-versary of Teton Valley’s 2020 Comprehensive Planning process and serves as a great reminder of the importance of Teton County’s ongoing efforts to develop a new and improved Comprehensive Plan. As bikers take to the roads and trails and fisherman and boaters flock to the put-ins along the Teton River, it confirms the importance of safe and accessible outdoor recreation to our com-munity. Many of our local business owners are taking advantage of a quiet month to relax and prepare for the coming tourist season. The quality and variety of outdoor activities in Teton Valley makes this a fantastic place to live and supports a vacation industry that keeps our communities economically sustainable and vibrant.

The comprehensive planning process, known as Teton Valley 2020, will help guide policy on land use and economic development. It serves as a vision statement for our community as we seek to cultivate beneficial growth while preserving our rural character.

The residents of Teton County have resoundingly called for a

Comprehensive Plan that encourages suitable access to public lands and

development of community trails and recreational facilities.

VARD is committed to advocating for a meaningful Comprehensive Plan that promotes commercially vibrant urban cores, enhances quality of life and recreational opportunities, and protects critical wildlife habitat and migration corridors. We appreciate the hundreds of en-gaged citizens who have shown a personal commitment to this process. We will continue to support their efforts through the production of science-based research and community outreach materials. I am confident that the people of Teton Valley are committed to working together to produce a representative plan designed to foster the health, safety, and welfare of our community.

Feel free to stop by the office to learn more about our ongoing projects and programs and stay tuned for upcoming summer events. We are always available to share knowledge and to support pri-vate, public and civic actions that protect and enhance the amenities that make Teton Valley an excep-tional place to live and visit. —Stacey Frisk, Executive Director

Creating a Vision for Our Community

Celebrating Over 10 Years of Working Together

VACAtED SUbDiViSioNS clockwise l-r:

• Scenic river Estates vacation pending on this 51-unit PUD on 160 acres in spot-zoned Ag 2.5

• Milk Creek Estatesfour lots on 70 acres in Ag 20 zoning

photo by Jeff Russell

• Warm Creek Manor19 lots on 60 acres in Ag 2.5 zoning

STAFF—Stacey Frisk, Executive Director Anna Trentadue, Program DirectorChris Lundberg, Communications &

Education AssociateJen Werlin, Communications &

Development manager

BoARD oF DiRECToRS—David Axelrod, PresidentDave Work, SecretaryGuch Lombardi-Spray, TreasurerRich Berg Sandy masonNancy SiverdKat SmithhammerJulie Stompermolly TysonSusie Work, Trustee Emeritus

ADViSoRY BoARD—Jeff CarterRichard DanforthGeorgie Stanley

Why Good PlanninG Matters to teton Valley

We are incredibly fortunate to live on a beautiful piece of land in the middle of a critical wildlife corridor in the shadow of the Tetons. We had no way of foreseeing the irony, at the time we purchased this land (2000), in asking the county to vacate 22 lots in what was the first platted, but incomplete, golf course subdivision (1971). What we did know was that we had an opportunity to help maintain the incredible natural beauty of this land for wildlife, our family, and all who live and travel through Teton Valley by ensuring a future wooded open space. Every time family and friends gather

here, it makes us realize what a good decision that was.—Valerie & Bob Margulis

I own Snowdrift Farm in Victor. We produce vegetables, flowers, herbs, eggs, pork, beef, and hay. I believe that unchecked growth hurts our community more than it helps. Some day sooner or later we’ll need some of our fertile soil to sustain ourselves. A few concerns of poorly planned growth include: higher infrastructure costs, which increase taxes; the eyesores of zombie subdivisions; houses built in viewscapes; an increase in weeds; and lower property values. The Comprehensive Plan process is designed around lots of

community involvement. Please get involved and consider the long-term health of the whole valley. Help Teton Valley grow smarter.

—Georgie Stanley

23 years living in Teton Valley being a fishing guide, founder of World Cast Anglers, Realtor for Sotheby’s and now working on my third company, Pro Guide Direct, it has become ever apparent how decisions and foresight within our local governments can greatly affect our business and personal playing field. “IF” we had had good planning in

the late ’90s and a solid comprehensive plan going into the real estate boom of 2003-2007, I believe we would be in a much better place today with coffers full of money to pay for roads, schools and needed infrastructure. One thing from my short real estate career continues to ring true: If supply is limited, then demand and value is high. If people want their lands to have higher value, everyone needs to give up a little in order to gain a lot. Please support the development of a good comprehensive plan. In the end, we will all be thankful for it.

—Fletcher White

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existing teton Valley landscapethe land in this photo survived the teton Valley development boom without being subdivided. as we take a fresh look at land-use planning in teton Valley through the new Comprehensive Plan, what sort of future does the community envision for rural lands like this?

What should you expect from a “Good” Comprehensive Plan?After two years of community effort in the Teton Valley 2020 Comp Plan, VARD’s hope is that the final plan is built on a foundation of economic lessons learned and broad community values.

Protection of open spaces Tourism is a fundamental component of our economy and is

dependent on healthy fisheries and wildlife habitat

Respects sensitive habitat and migration areas for wildlife

Protects aesthetic and scenic views

opportunities for recreation & sportsman access Important components of our local economy

Greatly contributes to our quality of life

Future Growth Concentrated in the cities

Fills in existing development

Provides incentives for retaining open spaces

agriculture Provides incentives to keep working lands working

Makes it easy for families to stay on the land

Keeps the weeds and electrical boxes from spreading further

Growing our economic Future A healthy landscape = a healthy bottom line for all

Recreation, wildlife, and open space bring new growth

A healthy balance between supply and demand of lots can help break the boom-bust cycle

Outlines specific goals, key actions, and implementation strategies to create a more diversified local economy

Many thanks to the Community Foundation of Teton Valley (CFTV) for awarding VARD a CFTV Competitive Grant this spring! Funds will go toward community visioning and GIS mapping resources to produce three-dimensional visualizations and diagrams shown here of future growth scenarios for Teton County, Idaho.Visualizing Teton Valley

important datesWednesday, May 30, noon - 7pmthursday, May 31, 10am - 1pmteton County draft Comprehensive Plan open houseteton County Courthouse, driggsTeton Valley 2020 hosts an Open House to gather public input on the final draft of the Teton County Comprehensive Plan and seek input on which projects to prioritize.

thursday, June 7, 5-7pmVard Comp Plan education & outreach eventalpine Wines, driggsLearn about the final Teton Valley 2020 Comp Plan draft while enjoying a fun evening at Alpine Wines. Free and open to the public.

Friday, June 29Comp Plan Public Comments due for Planning & ZoningDeadline for public comments for upcoming P&Z hearing

tuesday, July 10Planning & Zoning Comp Plan hearingP&Z public hearing to recommend approval of the final Comp Plan

Watch www.tetonvalleyadvocates.org for these dates:Public Comments due for Board of County CommissionersDeadline for public comments for upcoming BOCC hearing

Board of County Commissioners Comp Plan hearingBOCC public hearing to approve and adopt the final Comp Plan. Your attendance is highly encouraged.

the Challenges We Face Moving Forwardthis visualization depicts the full build-out of the already existing subdivisions in the vicinity of 5000n and highway 33.

low-density rural Planning this artist’s rendering illustrates what low-density rural planning can look like on the ground. note the similarity in density to the photo of the existing teton Valley landscape at left.

high-density rural Clustering Growth and development are inevitable in teton Valley. But as a community, we can make choices about how and where that growth should happen.

A. A large-lot subdivision tool would make it easy to divide and sell parcels large enough that they still need to be farmed – creating two sources of income from what used to be one.

B. A family subdivision tool would allow a farmer or rancher to pass along the knowledge and responsibility for working the land to the next generation without having to move out of the house or off the property.

C. Wildlife and agriculture both suffer from land fragmentation. Roads, fences, fire hydrants, cul-de-sacs and utility boxes interfere with efficient farming and ranching activities, while roads, homes, dogs and people block migration routes for deer, elk and many other species.

Conventional 2.5-acre subdivisionWhen roads replace wildlife.

A. Land-use impacts are cumulative. Neither cluster of homes shown in this sketch poses a major threat to the community by itself. But with each additional subdivision, the pressures on wildlife habitat, groundwater quality and public infrastructure increase, while the desirability of the valley for tourists and new residents tends to decrease.

B. The economy of Teton Valley depends on wildlife, recreation and open space because they draw both tourists and new residents. To fully harness that economic value, some land needs to be developed. Through clustering incentives, more new homes can be built on one part of a larger parcel in exchange for keeping the rest of the land undeveloped.

C. Not all development is created equal. Through responsible placement and design, populations of wildlife and people can thrive alongside one another. By respecting the ecological value of waterways and meaningful open space, Teton Valley can continue to realize the economic value of thriving wildlife and majestic views.

A. Protecting private property rights includes the right of this landowner to continue farming after their neighbor subdivides. But with every patch of disturbed earth in Teton Valley comes a new crop of noxious weeds that further strains the farmers’ ability to stay afloat in our challenging environment.

B. Habitat loss and fragmentation reduces wildlife herds and threatens many species. If we choose to continue developing the landscape into 2.5-acre parcels, before long the elk will leave for greener pastures, and take the foundation of our economy with them.

C. The initial costs of installing new roads and utilities increases the risks and borrowing costs of development. Maintaining those roads and utilities is a constant expense for homeowners. Encouraging clustered designs minimizes those initial costs and ongoing expense, while also protecting wildlife habitat.

A. Growth and development need to be encouraged to get our economy back on track. But without thoughtful planning, ranches like this will produce more vacant lots than cattle.

B. What do farmers, ranchers and wildlife all have in common? They all depend on contiguous open space to continue their way of life.

C. The conservation of waterways like this one helps maintain water quality and quantity while also providing critical migration corridors for wildlife from their summer range in the mountains to wintering habitat along the Teton River.

A. The sprawling high-density development depicted here is the result of 2.5-acre zoning in a rural area. By asking your county commissioners to adopt a Comprehensive Plan that supports rural zoning for rural land, you can help keep the vision that you see here from being replicated in the top photo.

B. Tools to encourage the owners of vacant subdivisions to vacate their plats can effectively erase future degradation of wildlife habitat and migration corridors, while providing a blank slate for environmentally and economically viable developments in the future.

C. Tools to facilitate the re-platting of partially built developments can help reduce the economic and ecological impacts of the project while also making them more attractive to potential home buyers.

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Get Involved • Become a Member • TeTon Valley needs you!name ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Members will receive meeting invitations, regular newsletters and e-mail updates.

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM AND YOUR CHECK TO: VaRd P.O. Box 1164, Driggs, ID 83422VARD IS A NONPROFIT 501(c)(3) ORGANIZATION. DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

MEMBERSHIP LEVELSBenefactor ...................$1000+/year ❒Sponsor ................. $500-$999/year ❒Patron ..................... $250-$499/year ❒Friend ...................... $100-$249/year ❒Supporter ...................$50-$99/year ❒Member .......................$25-$49/year ❒

teton Valley & Vard Featured inhigh County news Cover story

In March 2012, the popular “American West” magazine High Country News published a cover story about unfin-ished and distressed developments in Teton County, Idaho. The article featured Valley Advocates for Responsible Development and our ongoing Reshaping Development Patterns efforts. You can view the full article on VARD’s website at www.tetonvalleyadvocates.org or if you are a subscriber to High Country News, you can view it at www.hcn.org/issues/44.4/unfinished-zombie-housing-developments-haunt-the-rural-west. VARD

youth Philanthropy Project supports Voters rights in tetonia

The Community Foundation of Teton Valley initiated a partnership with Teton High School this year that gave the students of the AP government class the opportunity to solicit, review and award a total of $3000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations. The students awarded VARD $700 to support our continuing pro bono legal representation of citizens and landowners in and around Tetonia. We are grateful for their support!

VARD submitted a request for support in the ongoing legal effort to enforce the May 2010 referendum election held in Tetonia that de-annexed a 267-acre parcel of wetlands and agricultural fields. Oral arguments before the Idaho Supreme Court on the issue of who has the right to seek enforcement of the election are currently being scheduled.

Once the standing issue has been resolved, the case will return to the District Court for hearings on the merits of the case. Based on discussions with all of the attorneys involved in the case, VARD still anticipates that the merits will ultimately be determined by the Idaho Supreme Court hopefully sometime next year. VARD

teton Valley sustainability series Wraps Up Winter 2011-12

In March of this year, the Teton Valley Sustainability Series wrapped up our five-part series of presentations covering pertinent natural, wildlife, and agricultural resources in Teton Valley. We had a great time learning about how our decisions as a community impact the sustainability of both our economy and our environment and how citizens can become more involved in the deci-sion making process. Many thanks to 1% for the Tetons for funding the series as well as the National Wildlife Federation, Teton County Planning & Zoning, Teton Valley Trails & Pathways, Teton Regional Land Trust & Friends of the Teton River for donating their time, talents and energy to pull the series together. VARD

tin Cup ChallengeSaturday, July 21 • Driggs City ParkPlease support VARD in the Tin Cup Challenge and stop by our booth at the Driggs City Park!The 5th Annual Tin Cup Challenge is our most important fundraiser of the year! Your generosity will help us continue our outreach events and programmatic work to promote responsible land-use decisions. Your impact is even greater through the Community Foundation of Teton Valley matching funds program. Donations can be made at www.tincupchallenge.org and will be accepted until July 30, 5pm.

3rd annual Vard Golf tournament & evening social at huntsman springsWednesday, september 12Tournament proceeds will be donated to VARD’s Reshaping Development Patterns! Tournament Details: •Entryfeeincludesgreensfee,rangeballs,cart,barbeque

lunch, post-tournament party and entry for prizes.•Maximum16four-personteams(64players).Signupyourownfoursome,orasanindividualorpair.•11amwarm-upfollowedbycateredlunch.•1pmshot-gunstartinabestballscrambleformat(foursomepicksthebestdriveandplaysoutthe

hole from that spot, with the best ball score being used). •Puttingcontest,receptionforplayers&friends,prizegiveawaysfollowingtourneyplay.•Post-TournamentParty,includingdrink&food,forfriendsandVARDmembers&friends(FREE

for golf tournament participants).•Indicatelevelofplay(beginner,novice,intermediate,advanced)andnamesoffellowteammem-

bers. Individuals will be teamed up with other individuals based on ability.Space is limited. Registration at tetonvalleyadvocates.org.

10th annual Mad hatter PartyFriday, November 9 • Alpine Wines, DriggsJoin VARD and your friends for a fall evening of revelry! With our usual hat competition and live auction, this event is not to be missed! Stay tuned for further information.

Vard Comp Plan education & outreach event Thursday, June 7, 5-7pm • Alpine Wines, DriggsLearn about the Teton Valley 2020 Comp Plan draft while enjoying a fun, free evening at Alpine Wines.

Vard summer Music Party Friday, June 15, 6:30pm • Knotty Pine, VictorSupport VARD and welcome summer with food, music and fun, as we gather to celebrate the land, water and wildlife of Teton Valley. Music from Teton Valley Honky Tonkers (local and national favorites Tom Marshall, Thomas Sneed, Ted Wells and Greg Creamer) will begin at 6:30pm.Adults$12,Couples$20,Kids12&underFREE!

Grand teton Brewery’s nonprofit night with Vard, Ftr, tVtaP, trltWednesday, July 11, 5-8pm • Grand Teton Brewery, VictorA portion of all day’s beer & merchandise sales will be donated through the Tin Cup Challenge and split between VARD, Friends of the Teton River, Teton Valley Trails and Pathways, and Teton Regional Land Trust. Dinner will be by donation.