Parcel of land in Jackson sparks heated community debate
JACKSON, Wyoming (KIFI) -UPDATE 11/10/23: The Wyoming Office of Lands and Investments is considering auctioning off a 640 acre parcel of state trust land, dubbed “the Kelly Parcel.”
As a state trust, the land raises money for the K-12 public school system.
"It could go to anything from building school facilities to buying school busses, books, paying teachers. Really everything involved in the K through 12 school system," said Jason Crowder of the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments.
But auctioning off the land isn't popular with the residents of Jackson, especially since many people use the land for recreation, wildlife protection or lease the land for their livelihood or livestock.
Local News 8 spoke to business owner and Jackson resident Jake Hutton of J.H. Outfitting Company. He actually runs a company and uses part of this land that may be auctioned off now.
"We do farm to table dinner ride," Hutton said. "We serve a seven course locally sourced meal out there handful of times out of the week, as well as custom tailored trail rides and then we also graze these horses out there over the course the summer, and we put about 20 or 30 horses out there versus 300 head of cattle, even more grass for the wildlife."
The parcel has been appraised at a value of $62.4 million in an auction. Many of the residents in Jackson worry that should that happen the land would become yet another subdivision for the ultra rich.
"It's surrounded on three sides by the national park already," said David Sollitt of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. "So it would be integrated quite nicely into the park. it would be used for the public. It could be used for wildlife. It can be used for a lot of things. That is not the same as putting in 18 houses in."
"Someone's going to see a golf course or a bunch of trophy homes at that price in this town," Hutton said.
These fears even sparked protests and rallies earlier this week in and outside Jackson Town Square.
Actioning the land wasn't the office of lands and investments first choice. They had attempted to sell the parcel to the department of the interior in 2016. But the department was unable to purchase the parcel in addition to three other state trusts they had already committed to buy.
Without approval of the Wyoming legislature the office of land and investments is not left with many options.
"At this point, without an authorization, the board of commissioners is left with looking at a public auction to see if that possibly optimizes the revenue for this asset to the beneficiaries," Crowder said.
Thursday night, the office of lands and investments held a public meeting in Jackson to hear comments, before the board of land commissioners makes a decision on the land Dec. 7.
They'll be accepting comments until Dec. 1s
Written comments can be sent by email to: jason.crowder@wyo.gov.
ORIGINAL: There is an interesting debate going on in Jackson Thursday evening.
It's over a piece of state land called the Kelly Parcel.
It is outside the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Many people find the area beautiful, but Wyoming’s Office of State Lands and Investments is holding a public meeting Thursday about opening the land up for potential residential development.
One of the local owners of a business who will be participating in Thursday night's meeting is Jake Hutton of J.H. Outfitting Company. He actually runs a company and uses part of this land that may be auctioned off now.
"Could you tell me what's at risk if this land is actually auctioned off? What's at risk for this community?" Seth asked.
"The public lose access to hunting bike in walking their dog. Our permit is up to jeopardy. These horses graze out there that grazing leases up to jeopardy. It all, honestly could go very south, depending on how this auction goes," Houghton said.
"What does your company actually use the land for? What's at risk for you personally?" Seth asked.
"So we do farm to table dinner rides. We serve a seven course locally sourced meal out there handful of times out of the week, as well as custom tailored trail rides. And then we also graze these horses out there over the course the summer, and we put about 20 or 30 horses out there versus 300 head of cattle, even more grass for the wildlife," Hutton said. "We go around and drop the wires, put smooth wire out and make it easier for the wildlife to cross through and also pull wires down in the fall to make it easier for those migration corridors."
"So this land is being used for both wild animals, for both locals and their animals as well. What is the potential this land becoming should it be auctioned off?" Seth asked.
"Someone's going to see a golf course or a bunch of trophy homes at that price in this town. It's crazy to me that $60 million is cheap for that square mile," Hutton said.
Thursday's meeting is one of four being held. The others will happen later in Casper, Cheyenne and Cody.
The State Board of Land Commissioners is expected to consider the disposal of the parcel in early December.
