The Teton County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on Sept. 29 to approve outgoing correspondence to Bridger-Teton National Forest responding to a master development plan proposal for Turpin Meadows.

The staff-drafted letter, addressed to Forest Supervisor Chad Hudson and Black Rock District Ranger Jason Wilmot, summarizes county concerns about the proposed increase in lodging capacity, potential transportation and public-safety impacts, fiscal effects on county services and clarity about compliance with grizzly bear conservation commitments in the forest plan.

Chris Colligan, public works project manager, told the board the new concessionaire owners are proposing substantial site improvements that could yield "about a 200% increase in lodging capacity." Colligan and other staff recommended edits that emphasize consistency with the county comprehensive plan, clarify how private inholdings would be treated under county land-development regulations, and note watershed protections for Buffalo Fork above the wilderness boundary.

The letter asks the Forest Service to provide clarity on how the proposal would be evaluated against the forest plan amendments that aim to avoid net increases in capacity within primary grizzly bear conservation areas and requests that Teton County be given cooperating-agency status if the proposal advances into a formal NEPA process.

Commission members and staff also discussed transportation maintenance agreements. Public-works staff noted an existing cooperative agreement for road maintenance with the Forest Service but said a schedule A maintenance agreement (similar to one used on Ski Hill Road) does not currently exist for the forest roads in this area and could be required if visitation-related maintenance costs increase.

Motion and outcome

Commissioner Pope moved and Commissioner Carlman seconded approval of the letter as amended. The motion carried unanimously.

Speakers

Chris Colligan, Public Works Project Manager (Teton County Public Works)
Chairman Newcomb (Teton County Board of County Commissioners)
Commissioner Pope (Teton County Board of County Commissioners)
Commissioner Carlman (Teton County Board of County Commissioners)

Authorities

- U.S. Forest Service master development plan process (pre-NEPA comments)
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Clarifying details

- Staff noted the proposal would be subject to Forest Service NEPA review; the county requests cooperating-agency status if an EIS proceeds.
- Colligan quoted the owners' proposed lodging increase as "about a 200% increase in lodging capacity."
- The letter flags Buffalo Fork as a Class 1 watershed and asks the Forest Service for clarity on no-impairment commitments under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Implementation and next steps

Staff will finalize the letter with the minor wording edits directed by commissioners, send it to the forest supervisor and district ranger with the Sept. 29 date, and continue coordination with the Forest Service if the master development plan advances to formal NEPA review.

Provenance

{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block_403","local_start":0,"local_end":140,"evidence_excerpt":"So soon enough, I think. But, let me pull that up. We had, staff did a lot of hard work on outgoing correspondence regarding a proposed master development plan on the Bridger Teton National Forest specific to Turpin Meadows.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_1361","local_start":0,"local_end":44,"evidence_excerpt":"Mr. Chair, I move to approve the letter to supervisor, to Bridal Teton National Forest supervisor Chad Hudson and Black Rock District Ranger Jason Wilmot, it will be dated September 29 as presented and with amendments as discussed this morning.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}