Jackson to vote on waterbody and wetland buffer standards

Jackson Town Council is set to take a third reading vote Sept. 28 on Ordinance 1467, which would amend the town's waterbody and wetland buffer standards in the Land Development Regulations Special Town Council packet. The draft keeps general stream and natural lake or pond development outside the riparian plant community, with a setback no less than 50 feet and no more than 150 feet. It also names specific creek setbacks, including 20 feet for Cache Creek south of the headgate on Cache Creek Drive and 50 feet for Spring Creek.

For the creek edge itself, the useful language is in the buffer rules: the protected area would remain free of physical development and use, including lawns, parking, open vehicle or refuse storage, snow storage and fertilizer use. The ordinance would still allow terrain disturbance for flood protection, wildlife habitat enhancement or public pathways with applicable permits, and it separately recognizes limited water-dependent uses, bona fide stream restoration and stormwater facilities when they must be in or next to waterbodies.