But a growing
working age population is emerging as a result
of increased employment opportunities in Lincoln
and Teton County, Wyoming.
The Wyoming Rural
Development Council completed a community
assessment for this community in July 2006.
Community issues and recommendations identified
during this process led the Town of Star Valley
Ranch to retain PPC to prepare a master plan for
the community. The Town of Star Valley Ranch,
which was incorporated in 2005, desired to adopt
a working master plan document that would guide
future land use development within its existing
boundaries, as well as take into consideration
potential annexations.
For preparation
of this master plan, PPC initially evaluated
demographic, economic, and land use trends
within and in the vicinity of Star Valley
Ranch. Available information was supplemented
with interviews of Community and business
leaders and adjoining landowners to identify
community insights, attitudes and opportunities
related to future community development. A
forecast of resident population was also made
for the next decade.
A land use
inventory was conducted and incorporated into a
new geographical information system (GIS) that
PPC developed for the community. Other
infrastructure, land use and natural resource
data was added to the GIS to enable various
spatial analyses during the course of the
project.
Future land use
expansion opportunities for residential, commercial,
community and public facilities, and recreation were
evaluated in the context of topography, soil
suitability, wildfire hazards, planned
infrastructure expansion, available community
assets, planned land use development in areas
adjacent to the town, and perceived community
needs. These analyses were used to prepare
alternate land use pattern maps for the community
and a preferred community land use plan map.
Ultimately, PPC
presented a set of conclusions and related community
development strategies that addressed each
community development issue and opportunity. The
Star Valley Ranch Town Council and Planning and
Zoning Commission refined and prioritized the
recommended community development strategies.
Preliminary community development recommendations
were also shared with community residents who
provided further comments via a public hearing,
their review of the draft master plan report, and
the related opportunity to provide written
comments. Prior to its adoption, PPC also presented
an overview of the presented an overview of the plan
to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners to
enable their incorporation of selected master plan
recommendations into the Lincoln County
Comprehensive Plan.
The Town of Star
Valley Ranch, by passage of Resolution 08-09-09-001,
adopted its municipal master plan, its first, on
September 9, 2008.
