We are an Idaho
nonprofit grassroots organization with close to 700
concerned individuals dedicated to the
implementation of smart growth principles.
We provide a united
voice against senseless development that destroys
our way of life and natural resources, reduces
property values and results in higher taxes.
Important Goals:
Preservation of
our working farms and ranches, open space and
scenic vistas, natural resource and recreation
that can be passed on to future generations.
Partners with
other non-profit organizations interested in
protecting Fremont County's natural resources.
Our Board of
Directors
Chan Atchley Chairman of the Board
Most of the first 33
years of Chan’s life were spent in the foothills
east of Ashton farming and ranching. He is a
graduate of the University of Idaho with a B.S. and
M.S. in Agriculture and an M.B.A. He also has 30
years of experience managing large agribusiness
operations for Dole, United Brands and Du Pont.
During that time, he lived and worked throughout
Latin America and in Asia. In 1999, he and his wife
Judy moved into the house where he grew up. Since
then he wrote an award winning book The Soul of the
Land about his Grandfather and Great Uncle who
homesteaded in Fremont County in the early 1900's.
Chan’s interest in land use planning began in 2005
while serving on the Fremont Growth Solutions
steering committee. In early 2006, he became so
concerned that he and his wife Judy founded the
Smart Growth Coalition. Since then, he has served as
President of the Board of Directors and been an
active participant in all aspects of Fremont
County’s land use planning.
Douglas Siddoway Vice President
Doug grew up in a
farming and sheep ranching family near Teton. He
received a BA from the University of Notre Dame and
a JD from the University of Utah College of Law, and
is an attorney with Randall & Danskin in Spokane,
Washington. Prior to moving to Spokane in 1985, he
practiced law in New York City. Doug's interest in
land use planning took shape in the mid 1990s when
he and his wife Lauri (also an attorney at Randall &
Danskin) helped stop construction of a massive
concrete bridge over the historic Lower Falls of the
Spokane River in downtown Spokane.
Doug has been a director of SGC since late 2008 and
is also a member of the Henry's Fork Foundation, the
National Ski Patrol, the American Civil Liberties
Union, the Spokane Scholars Foundation, and other
charitable organizations. Doug and his wife own
property in Squirrel and near Teton, and eventually
plan to move back to the area. He believes Fremont
County's uncommon beauty and agricultural heritage
are its biggest assets, and that both can be
preserved through thoughtful planning and wise and
transparent political leadership.
Pat Sturm Treasurer
Pat is a long time
resident who with her now deceased husband Ralph,
farmed in the Ashton area for many years. Her
family, the Bakers, were among the original
homesteaders that settled in the Marysville area in
the late 1800's. Pat and Ralph's farming operations
included land that was homesteaded by the Sturm
family more than a 100 years ago. Her love of the
land and concern for Fremont County's natural
resources motivated her to become one of the
original founders of the Smart Growth Coalition.
Judith Atchley Secretary
Judith Atchley spent the
first 55 years of her life in Philadelphia. She
graduated suma cum laude with a B.A. in Fine Arts in
1995 and then went on to work as a curator for
several area art galleries. She is an accomplished
artist and photographer whose work hangs in many
private collections. Her photograph of the Tetons on
this website is part of the SGC logo.
Since moving to Idaho with her husband Chan, Judy
has continued her artistic career and been an active
participant in land use issues. Backpacking in the
Tetons and fishing on Fall River has instilled a
great appreciation of Fremont County’s natural
resources and a desire to help protect them. She has
served as Secretary of the Board since the formation
of the Smart Growth Coalition and is very much
involved in promoting responsible development for
future generations.
Jennifer Zung Director
Jennifer Zung, PE, LEED
AP Principal M.S. Civil Engineering & Hydrology,
B.S. Civil Engineering Jennifer is a registered
Professional Engineer in Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho
and has provided civil engineering services for
commercial and residential developments of varying
sizes in Northern Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho. She
also directed small and large scale sanitation and
water supply projects in the Philippines while
working as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer. Jennifer is
a LEED Accredited Professional and is dedicated to
high quality, cost effective and innovative
engineering design.
Jay "Goose" Garrett Director
Goose was born and
raised in the Cache Valley of northern Utah and
attended Utah State University. As a young man he
moved to Blaine County, Idaho where he pursued his
dream of living in a small, and what was then a
rural community, and enjoyed the seemingly limitless
great outdoors. His knowledge and love of skiing led
to a career in the ski industry, where he became a
Product Service Manager and Promotion
Representative. He now owns and lives on acreage
east of Ashton.
Living his entire life in the Intermountain Region
has led Goose to understand that the sustainable
well being of a community depends upon its natural
surroundings which in turn enhances the quality of
life and protects land values. “The future of
Fremont County,” he says, “is dependent upon
preserving these values through the use of Smart
Growth Principles.”
Kristi James Director
Kristi James grew up in
California, has been an Idaho resident for 19 years,
and now lives in Idaho Falls. She has a Bachelors
Degree in Social Work and has worked as an adoption
specialist for 17 years. Captivated by the beauty,
purity and treasures of Fremont County, in 1994, she
and her husband Dan became property owners in Island
Park where they spend as much time as possible
during the summer months. While living in
California, Kristi witnessed what can happen with
uncontrolled development, and understands the value
of following smart growth development principals to
preserve Fremont County's great natural resources.
