Jackson planners to weigh new habitat rules for wetlands, fences, retaining walls

The Town of Jackson Planning & Zoning Commission meets April 15 to consider four Land Development Regulation text amendments (PM26-0006 through PM26-0009) that would expand and standardize habitat protections under the town’s Natural Resources Overlay (NRO). The proposals are part of a broader package that also includes a separate tiered NRO map amendment (PM26-0005). Details are in the commission’s April 15 packet. Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting Agenda Packet

NRO process (PM26-0006): Staff propose replacing the town’s current “in/out” NRO approach with a tiered system (Base, Mid, High) applied townwide. Base-tier projects would be exempt from additional habitat review; Mid-tier projects would submit a Natural Resources Checklist reviewed by planning staff; and High-tier projects would require an Environmental Analysis prepared by a qualified professional. Staff also propose exemptions (including for small additions up to 500 square feet and certain accessory structures) and a mitigation trigger that staff expect to apply infrequently in town — recommending habitat mitigation only for High-tier properties larger than one acre. Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting Agenda Packet

Buffers, fences and walls (PM26-0007 to PM26-0009): The waterbody/wetland amendment would increase the wetland buffer from 30 feet to 50 feet, add Spring Creek to the list of protected streams with a 50-foot buffer, and tighten what’s allowed in buffer areas by prohibiting uses such as dumpsters/recycling facilities, snow storage and fertilizer application. The fencing amendment would add material and design limits (including prohibitions on barbed wire and certain mesh/chain-link types outside small exclusionary areas), require nonconforming fences to be brought into compliance when more than 25% is repaired, and add required “breaks or gaps” to improve wildlife permeability. A new retaining-wall section would add standards for large/long walls (120 feet or more), including staggered designs and openings to maintain wildlife permeability and line-of-sight, and would limit vegetation clearing and disturbance to the minimum necessary. Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting Agenda Packet