Planning Commission to review proposal changing who can start zoning rule changes
On July 13, the Teton County Planning Commission will continue its review of AMD2026-0002, a proposal that would shift Land Development Regulations text and zoning map amendments to a county-led process, with the Board or Planning Director as the only initiators.
If you have ever wanted to push a zoning rule change because the current rules are blocking needed housing or a safer project, this is the meeting to watch. On July 13, the Teton County Planning Commission will review AMD2026-0002, a proposed rewrite of the Land Development Regulations (LDRs) process that would limit who can initiate LDR text amendments and zoning map amendments to the Board of County Commissioners or the Planning Director, instead of letting the public file a direct application agenda.
County staff says the goal is to manage limited long range planning capacity and line up amendments with the County’s annual work plan, plus require a mandatory pre application conference. The packet notes that public comment at the June 1 hearing was mostly opposed, with concerns the change would reduce the public’s and Planning Commission’s ability to initiate amendments, even as staff argues people could still petition the government under state law and ask the Board to start an amendment packet. The Planning Commission’s recommendation would feed into an August 4 public hearing before the county commissioners, after staff already recommended postponing the original June 16 board date to give commissioners time to discuss alternatives memo.