[DISCLAIMER: The “SVR News Roundup” is the personal newsletter of the author and is not an official publication of the Town of Star Valley Ranch or the Star Valley Ranch Association. The SVR News Roundup provides a weekly summary of publicly available information and also occasionally includes opinion and commentary by the author.]
Here’s your SVR news roundup for the week of June 15th, 2025:
The Roundup
Here’s the giddy-up on meetings from the past week:
Wednesday, June 18th at 5:30pm the Town of Star Valley Ranch (TSVR) Planning Commission met at Town Hall. The main agenda item was discussion of a variance request for an accessory building. The key subject at issue with this variance application is the resident’s request to include sleeping space in the accessory building layout. The Planning Commission ultimately voted to deny the variance request. The resident has the right to appeal this decision to the Town Council and if the resident chooses to do so, I’ll keep you posted on the outcome. In the meantime, here is a link to the video recording of the full Planning Commission meeting in the event you’re interested.
Sleeping or “dwelling” space apart from a primary residence on a single family lot (as in an accessory building or in the area above a detached garage) is a bit of a murky topic in my opinion. Town code is currently not consistent in defining a dwelling prohibition for both building types. And, if you are a Star Valley Ranch Association (SVRA) homeowner, there is no discussion at all about “accessory buildings” in the applicable Declarations of Covenants Codes and Restrictions, affectionately referred to as the DCC&Rs.
All of this makes me want to ask your opinions about dwelling space being allowed (by Town Code) in either detached garages or accessory buildings. Seems like the perfect topic for a poll! Feel free to participate in the below if you like. Thanks in advance for your opinion if you opt to share it.
For what it’s worth when contemplating your answer—note the Town currently has an ordinance on the books that prohibits short-term rentals in detached garages or other detached spaces (RVs, tents, etc.).
Thursday, June 19th at 2pm the TSVR Natural Resources Board (NRB) met at Town Hall. Here’s a link to the agenda and while I was not able to attend this meeting note the Town has begun to video-record all volunteer board meetings. As Town Board meetings are public meetings, this is an attempt to improve information flow and communication with residents. You can watch all meeting video-recordings on the TSVR YouTube page and here’s a direct link to the NRB meeting video.
Lastly, on Saturday, June 21st TSVR held its annual Safety Days event from 8am until noon next to the First Response Center on Vista Drive. There was outstanding representation from local agencies to include the Mid-Valley Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service, Star Valley Emergency Management Services, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office along with many others. There were also pancakes and puppies (adorable border collies looking for forever homes courtesy of Lucky’s Place)! I hope you were able to stop by and meet some of our local first responders and to learn about the services that keep our community safe plus a whole lot more.
Other News and Notes for the Week
Here are a few additional news items from the week:
The Town sent out a couple of email notices this week.
The first, notified residents that free wood chips are currently available at the Public Works Shop located at 560 Middle Branch Drive. Residents are responsible for loading the wood chips themselves and can schedule a pick-up appointment by contacting the Public Works Director at (307) 880-5325.
Please note the Town cannot guarantee these wood chips are disease free.
The second, reminded residents that the Town is not responsible for repairing or replacing any landscaping around meter pits that might be damaged during the ongoing Water Improvement Project 2023 or during other routine water system maintenance. In addition, the Town advised that if a paved or cement residential driveway extends into the roadway easement and needs to be removed, the Town will only repair it with gravel.
Sorry folks, but this is in keeping with Town Ordinance §72.04, so please keep landscaping and driveway surfacing out of the roadway easement. Thanks!
Friday June 20th the SVRA sent out an email reminder to members about the upcoming Annual Election and the need to establish a 30% quorum of eligible voters. Here’s what you need to know in order to cast your vote while there’s still time:
Vote in person at the Administration Office through Friday June 27th.
Vote by dropping off your sealed ballot in the SVRA Black Box at either the Town Mail Center location or the location outside Cedar Creek Center at the garden level door entrance by Friday June 27th.
Vote in person at the election on Saturday June 28th, polls open at 7am and close 30 minutes after the adjournment of the Annual Meeting (the latter starts at 8am in the Cedar Creek Center multipurpose room).
And, finally, SilverStar is out and about around the Ranch putting in cable in preparation for fiberoptic installation. This photo was taken on the north-end this weekend.
Calendar Items
Here are calendar items for next week:
Wednesday, June 25th at 6pm the Town Council will hold a work session upstairs at Town Hall.
Friday, June 27th from noon to 4pm and Saturday, June 28th from 8am to 2pm the TSVR NRB will hold their annual Garage Sale for Trails and Parks across from Town Hall next to the First Response Center on Vista Drive. Don’t miss it!
Friday June 27th through Sunday June 29th is SVRA’s Property Owner’s Weekend. Festivities include the Annual Meeting & Election, a potluck dinner, live music, and more!
Final Thoughts
This past Friday was the first day of Summer. While I should be celebrating, this morning my jubilation was curtailed by a reading on the temperature gauge of 33 degrees Fahrenheit (°F)! And, tonight my weather station is predicting a low of 29°F! What season is this?!? Like many of you who have already put seasonal plants in the ground—you know since summer is here—I imagine you may have spent the past 24 hours grudgingly covering up those tender sprouts. I suppose this is just one of those things that goes with growing (or trying) in the territory that is northwest Wyoming. While standing on the back-deck this morning, watching with some resigned disbelief as one form of frozen precipitation and then another came pelting down, there was a moment when the battle of late spring versus summer took a knee and the resulting scene was truly amazing. I took a short video below which I thought you might enjoy. For now, that’s all I have. I hope all of you had an amazing week and that the week to come is equally spectacular! Until next time—I bid you a fond adieu!
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