Council approves two subdivisions

by Jon Chown

Pinedale continued on a path to expansion and more housing Monday night at the City Council Meeting held at Pinedale Town Hall.

The council approved two annexations, allowed a zone change to allow for some high-density housing and heard a proposal to build hundreds of more apartments and townhouses.

The council unanimously approved annexing both the Bloom Ranch subdivision and the Trails Creek Ranch development. No residents appeared at the public hearings to voice any opposition or approval for the annexations.

Matt Harber, a contractor from Las Vegas, presented his plan to put 10 townhouses in a space currently zoned for three homes. The townhouses would be built behind the AmeriHost Inn. The change had been previously approved by the planning and zoning board and the town council followed suit.

Kerry Winn, representing the Stewart Land Group, presented a proposal to build apartments on 23 acres, townhouses on 14 acres and commercial development on 16 acres of land located off of Pine Street and east of Ehman Lane.

“There’s substantial need for affordable housing here and this is the best way to address that need,” Winn told the council.

The council listened to the plan with interest and tabled discussion on it in further meetings.

In other council business, the Wind River Baptist Church received permission to place a temporary, 10-feet by 30-feet office building behind the church for use as a classroom. Sheriff’s Wayne Bardin told the Town Council that employee turnover continues to be a problem and the high cost of living in Pinedale is mostly to blame. Since December of 2004, Bardin told the council that the department had 43 employees pass through the department. “A lot of folks come in with little more than the shirts on their backs and just can’t afford to live here,” he said. The lack of available childcare in Pinedale was also an issue, said Bardin and any solution is a long ways off. Bardin said it takes about eight months before a new hire can be out on patrol.

The Town Council approved the purchase of a new dump truck. The Pinedale Aquatic Center gained approval to hook up to the city’s sewer system. A joint county and city meeting is being planned in March to discuss roads, zoning and other ordinances.