On Tuesday, the state Supreme Court disagreed.
Two of the group's members — David Jamison and Robert Hoszwa — own property bordering the subdivision, and the court found that their concerns were greater than the general public's.
The landowners claim that the subdivision will interfere with their scenic views, damage wildlife habitat and migration and are concerned with the increase in housing density.
That was enough to demonstrate to the Supreme Court that they are “aggrieved or adversely affected by the County's decisions” — the qualification needed to bring a suit.
Attorney Deb Wendtland, who is representing the Northfork Citizens, said she was pleased with the decision. She said it had “energized” her clients.
Attorney Laurence Stinson, representing the Worthington Group, said the decision changes little, and that his clients will be “moving forward as they have been.”
“Nothing in the Supreme Court ruling suprises me,” Stinson said. “They decided if you live next door to a project, you have the right to complain about it.”
Stinson said the group is simply trying to harass Copperleaf's developers.
Wendtland said the case is bigger than just the Wapiti landowners. She said the decision is important for impacted landowners throughout the state who now have the opportunity to “have their day in court.”
“Wyoming is kind of ground zero for development,” she said. “That's not a bad thing, but it is something that should make us say, ‘Let's do it responsibly.'”
Stinson said that as long as the county followed its own planning and zoning rules in approving the subdivision, the court will defer to the commissioner's judgement and allow the development to stand.
Construction is already underway at the subdivision.
Wendtland said that with the case still pending, the developers are doing so “at their own peril.”