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As developers eye projects in the town of Alpine, some community members are questioning whether the infrastructure is sufficient to support additional growth.
Amid contentious public discussions surrounding a new charter school, Alpine town councilors recently tabled an annexation proposal by Palisades Investments LLC during its potential final stage of approval. The council’s aim is to buy more time for further legal review.
The mayor and the majority of the council have so far supported the annexation, which would add undeveloped land adjacent to the fly-in community Air Park and Alpine to town boundaries. The developer plans to build a residential subdivision and restaurants, if the 33 acres marketed as “Alpine Lakes,” are annexed.
However, several community members are worried that Alpine isn’t ready to sustain more development.
Mayor Eric Green confirmed that the town’s water capacity has reached a threshold and its budget has hit its borrowing limit.
Some community members are now worried that development applications are coming in faster than the town’s timeline to upgrade infrastructure.
Estimates suggest that connecting a new mega-well, which would expand the town’s water system, would cost the town upwards of $1.4 million.
Despite the costs, Mayor Green does not believe the water concerns should slow down pending annexations.
“If in the middle of the summer one of our water pumps went out, we more than likely would have to go into a conservation mode,” Green said. “So, conservation of water would more likely be no more watering your lawn and things of that nature, but we would have more likely enough water for day-to-day operations for everybody in the town.”
Sue Kolbas, a volunteer on the Planning and Zoning Commission, would prefer that the council wait to make any big decisions on development proposals until all the ongoing data — including traffic, engineering, sewage and water systems — is compiled. Green said all of the research won’t be ready until August 2025.
However, Green said it’s still likely the council could vote on the third and final reading before then.
Kolbas added that the master plan, last updated in 2006, is outdated. Earlier this week, the council sent out requests for proposals to initiate the process of updating it.
“Growth is inevitable. You can’t stop it. It is what it is. It’s just how you do it. It has to be thoughtful. It has to be planned,” Kolbas said.
A separate development proposal for a conservative-leaning charter school, American Preparatory Academy, is also raising concerns. If the proposal stays on its intended timeline, the school will be built and operating by August 2025, adding to worries about the town’s ability to sustain even more development.
The charter school company has been under fire in both Nevada and Utah for allegations of misusing public funds. The founders have also made negative comments toward immigrants and the LGBTQ community.
The school’s construction is being championed by Senator Dan Dockstader, an Afton Republican, according to reporting from the Jackson Hole News&Guide.
A petition titled “Halt the Rushed Alpine WY American Preparatory Charter School Application Process,” launched on Oct. 3, largely voices concerns that the school has been considered too quickly. As of Friday, the petition has garnered 190 signatures. Alpine has about 1,300 residents.
Meanwhile, the Planning and Zoning Commission is considering a recommendation for two separate moratoriums — one on annexations and the other on large building applications — until the town has better data to inform their decisions.
