Downtown Jackson’s skyline could soon face a significant rule change. On Aug. 17, the Town Council directed staff to draft regulations that would obscure the third stories of new buildings from pedestrians standing across the street—a stricter standard than planning staff originally recommended.
Under the current code, developers can add a third story as long as 40% of it is set back by at least 10 feet. Councilors said that standard does not go far enough.
“I want to be able to walk down either side of the street and not see the third story,” Councilor Devon Viehman said.
The likely standard would prevent a 6-foot-tall person standing across the street from seeing a building’s third floor.
The push follows more than two years of resident concern about the scale of downtown development, intensified by projects such as the block-sized Jacksonian on West Pearl Avenue and the North Cache hotel complex. Mayor Arne Jorgensen, an architect, cautioned that an upper story will eventually become visible from a distant enough vantage point. He encouraged the council to establish a clear, measurable standard.
Councilors also requested two related changes: a 30% cap on short-term rentals in new buildings, intended to reduce the number of empty condos, and a requirement for more retail and nonresidential uses on the ground floors of new developments. The proposed changes would not apply to North Cache because the project is already in the development process.
The third-story rule still requires approval through three ordinance readings. Planning staff must now translate the council’s direction into measurable development standards. For buyers, sellers and residents watching downtown’s next chapter, this debate could have a meaningful influence on the scale and character of future development.
Questions about how downtown development trends could affect your property or your next move in Jackson Hole? The Harland Brothers team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Brokers of Jackson Hole is here to help. Reach out anytime.
