Jackson P&Z tees up FY27 planning work plan amid joint planner funding question

Jackson’s Planning & Zoning Commission took up the town’s draft FY27 long-range planning work plan on March 4, alongside the annual “indicator report” metrics used to track growth and other community trends. Planning staff told commissioners the indicator report itself is informational, but asked the commission to recommend the draft work plan to the Town Council. See the staff report and attachments in the Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting Agenda Packet (2026-03-04).

The draft FY27 Town long-range planning work plan lists three town projects: a comprehensive update of the town’s design guidelines (last adopted in 2004, with targeted additions in 2020), biennial “cleanup” amendments to the Land Development Regulations (LDRs), and a placeholder for any public-submitted LDR text or zoning map amendments. The work plan also includes joint projects with Teton County: a Comprehensive Plan update/check-in and the annual indicator report/work plan process.

Staff flagged an open governance/budget issue that could affect how the work gets done: the principal joint long-range planner position is currently funded only through July 1, 2026, and the Board of County Commissioners has been discussing whether to end the position’s joint funding and instead fund it for county-only projects. Planning staff said they are presenting the work plan separately to the town and county planning commissions due to that uncertainty, even though joint projects may continue. (The packet also notes consultant cost estimates of about $50,000–$100,000 for the design guidelines update and the town’s 43% share of an estimated $200,000 for consultant services for the Comprehensive Plan update.)