Balloon operator seeks expanded flying areas
By Cara Froedge, Jackson Hole Wyo.
September 14, 2009
A west bank hot air balloon operator wants to expand its flight area 2,000 acres.
The Teton County Planning Commission will hear an application tonight from Snake River Ranch and Wyoming Balloon Co. to amend a conditional-use permit to change the boundaries of the permitted launching and landing areas and add launch sites. According to a planning staff report, the amendment would add 2,000 acres on Snake River Ranch property and lands west of Moose-Wilson Road owned by the state.
The permit also would include lands north of Teton Village and east of Highway 390.
“The applicant is requesting this change so that the conditional-use permit accurately reflects the areas where balloon launches and landings have historically occurred under varying weather conditions,” the staff report states.
Planning staff said it had not received a complaint about noise or unauthorized landings since the permit was first issued in 2001; however, since sending out neighbor notices for the application, planning staff has received several complaints about noise, invasions of privacy and unauthorized landings from neighbors living within the Lake Creek area and fronting the Snake River Ranch property.
Staff still recommends planning commissioners approve the application but suggests adding six conditions.
Those would allow the company to have only four balloons in the air at any one time, with a maximum of six flights per day. From May through October, the applicant would be limited to flying three hours after sunrise and three hours before sunset. During the winter months, the applicant would be allowed to fly any time during daylight hours.
Between Nov. 1 and April 15, flights over land in Teton County’s natural resources overlay would be prohibited.
When flying over residential developments, the operator also would be restricted to a minimum elevation of 500 feet, though the condition would not apply when balloons are landing.
The planning commission will meet at 6 p.m. at 200 S. Willow St.
