PINEDALE – Yes, residents were notified, a hearing was conducted by the Pinedale Planning and Zoning Commission and an ordinance was discussed for weeks, beginning in August.

Yes, it was advertised and debated by the Pinedale Town Council for six weeks as it was considered on first and second readings.

However, when it came time for the final vote at the Monday, Dec. 11, Pinedale Town Council meeting to rezone a section of land near the ice skating rink under consideration for the future hospital, council members hesitated.

At the Nov. 13 meeting, there was no discussion and an ordinance rezoning 11.1 acres of land near the Rendezvous Meadows Golf Course passed its first reading, 5-0.

At the Nov. 27 meeting, under second reading, the same ordinance had passed, 5-0, with no discussion. The ordinance would also change the zoning from R-4, commonly called high density residential, to C-1, commercial.

Council member Jim Brost said since Friday, he received many calls from people who do not want commercial businesses near homes. When asked if the people who called lived in the area, he said, “It doesn’t matter; if they’re citizens, their opinion matters.”

He argued the matter should be tabled to give people who object an opportunity to come to the council.

He compared this zone change to Mayor Bob Jones’ discussion two weeks ago, when he objected to a vacation rental operating in his neighborhood.

Jones disagreed. He said he was never given a public notice, hearings or a voice when his neighbors decided to rent out their home. The neighbors near the proposed annexation had an opportunity to speak and many of their concerns were addressed with plat restrictions.

Except for the county skating rink, everything in the area is residential, Brost said.

Council member Nylla Kanard said she had also received calls, and she was frustrated they would wait until the last meeting.

Jones was also frustrated, saying the zone changes were discussed for months.

Council member Tyler Swafford defended the callers, saying that is why an ordinance change has three readings to give the community ample time to respond. He added construction wouldn’t begin immediately this winter so delaying the vote would not delay any projects.

Swafford said the R-4 designation already allows a hospital, so not approving a zone change should not impact the project.

However, council member Matt Murdock disagreed. He said once a hospital goes in, satellite services such as physicians’ offices want to be in the vicinity. The R-4 zoning would eliminate that option making the Redstone site less desirable. Murdock said he didn’t want to call for the vote and have the ordinance fail, because of the council members’ indecision, but he was reluctant to table the ordinance, because it might be perceived as if the council is withdrawing support.

Citizen John Paravicini spoke from the audience, saying people are now getting more interested, because it seems more likely that the hospital will go forward. He also reminded the council that the Sublette County Rural Health Care District Board meets Friday, Dec. 15, to select a design company.

By the council’s next meeting on Jan. 8, 2018, (the Dec. 25 meeting was canceled for the Christmas holiday) any selected team will already start evaluating the three sites. Paravicini said during the planning and zoning process, the developer had agreed to plat restrictions removing some options allowed in commercial zoning, including gas stations.

Jones said the three final sites for the proposed critical access hospital are not all equal in development costs. A proposed $28 million cost for the hospital is too much, he said. He encouraged council members to vote to make sure the Redstone site received the most favorable rating possible during the initial review by any design team selected on Friday.

Kunard admitted her callers were not concerned about the Redstone property becoming a hospital; she said they were more concerned, if the site wasn’t selected, and zoning was opened to allow motels and other commercial businesses.

Paravicini assured her very few businesses other than a hospital would want the full 11 acres; the developer would have to come back again to the city to subdivide.

In the end, the council voted to pass the zone change ordinance on third reading with Jones, Murdock and Swafford voting in favor, Kunard and Brost voting against.

Swafford thanked Paravicini for reminding him about the pending Friday meeting, saying that is the one piece of information that changed his mind. n