[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6284365,"mediaKeyId","2581109-2bf746349fb4c62f6b3b3ee821f50112","parentId",2581109,"title","Planning commissioners discuss rezoning approach for Rancho parcels, conservation easements","audioSeconds",891,"startMs",2701000,"endMs",3592000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2581109-2bf746349fb4c62f6b3b3ee821f50112&start=2701&end=3592","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2581109-2bf746349fb4c62f6b3b3ee821f50112/thumbnail_2701000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6284365/Albany-County/Wyoming/Planning-commissioners-discuss-rezoning-approach-for-Rancho-parcels-conservation-easements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284365-a3ce1ca5c669d01d2e5b40f112b6f1be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771023102&Signature=KI7VQa0hnMsA484HdOgMt8eETMe5P~Kdvz0SnDtnZAQQmu4CpxYXWB11w9ymWeSNlYczRyeihf1icKTdOoFBqJjvh5dhD9RP1-p8WhA2D7nxlMb2xnLjkkjBhOAJySxW0FDkxAk39udUsOfoTps2BqLiZ8uHB7zpGPUPYWbh4GDrRB-pxiryVpoTP~vGCgd8uRhvgyuBs9xBZNoymLiFRaqFJLMcTQcA69rkc6HMBnxOlubhkYNboyAG~mm15jvf2bHbaCTSbgCJK9JinVMxahP9ztu2fcavv7c2cK4TsNRurBSQBXnXzUD4uFpx71U3VdR~YwNHbHLSHQUNeuAumQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Albany County WY","date","2025-03-13T00:36:33.6Z","article","Albany County Planning Commission members on March 12 reviewed updated maps showing conservation easements on several large Rancho parcels and discussed how the county might address rural-residential zoning that appears inconsistent with conservation easements and the comprehensive plan.

Staff presented a map overlay identifying four of the 35-acre-or-larger Rancho parcels that carry conservation easements. Commissioners and legal counsel explored whether those parcels — and other parcels where zoning appears to conflict with easements or the comprehensive plan — could be rezoned to agricultural without individual parcel hearings.

County legal counsel, Mr. Ayers, advised that under current regulations a change to a parcel’s zoning typically requires an individualized zoning-district amendment with attendant notice and hearing requirements. He said there is precedent for correcting clear mapping mistakes more quickly if no party has relied on the mistaken zoning, but when property owners have relied on a zoning designation, the county must respect substantive and procedural due-process protections.

Commissioners asked whether a comprehensive-plan-driven, countywide rezoning could be done by a legislative process rather than a parcel-by-parcel adjudicative process. Ayers and staff noted proposed amendments to the zoning-district amendment rules that would create a legislative pathway; they referenced that other counties have approached similar updates, but cautioned the law is not settled in Wyoming and county procedure and notice requirements must be followed.

Several commissioners said they worry that small, scattered rural-residential parcels inside mostly agricultural lands could become “time bombs” if a future owner seeks subdivision or development under existing zoning. Commissioners asked staff to research options, coordinate with legal counsel, and return with recommended procedures and potential legislative amendment language for addressing multiple parcels or correcting mapping errors.

The discussion also included clarifications about the map colors (pink parcels indicate 35-acre parcels with conservation easements; dark brown are 35-acre parcels without easements; green indicates other conservation easements overlaid on the map). Staff said the GIS update was prepared at the commission’s request and that further work is needed.

No formal action or vote was taken; commissioners directed staff to continue research on procedural options for rezoning and to report back at a future meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Albany County Government - Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - 3/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners reviewed updated maps showing conservation easements on large Rancho parcels and discussed legal and procedural options for converting misplaced rural-residential zonings to agricultural zoning, including potential legislative (countywide) vs. parcel-by-parcel approaches.","taxTitle","Albany County, Wyoming","taxId",52001,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6284370,"Albany County planning commission recommends approval for Heirloom Energy pilot project",2690,181000,2871000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2581109-2bf746349fb4c62f6b3b3ee821f50112&start=181&end=2871","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2581109-2bf746349fb4c62f6b3b3ee821f50112/thumbnail_181000.jpg","/articles/6284370/Albany-County/Wyoming/Albany-County-planning-commission-recommends-approval-for-Heirloom-Energy-pilot-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284370-db1fc4afea39e7d672e38ecbbbefe139/orig.mp4?Expires=1771023102&Signature=LC4vo8wEg1FcEZ3bm6Hjd6oASLZmgi9rj6oDfo1pveH7xL24G4TC5uNqiN18eXyXLcd3rFa6Hkk4FnSYLrjocFguHsNg7AML-RKAewAf77WjpGsLwCTmRBLNvEOEHZ2OSGEIy1-Pz1y0A3zSJrwDU80Ba6dcnOw4lFTm6Oyyzts50aEpecH866vwlFgprFEneZiy69E1uPmNdFfYnY7aiFgbG873y8YD~s8SESlsZGqF2BcfreUwQpB4Y5Jwf~ofvjR~K39Hmk08oMTqsx6~L~whKIxFwazphrIzNukXP9nKlFGFQiboZwyGBsCL1tTfsg~5LSayb8SpPZPGMbIfrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Albany County Planning Commission on March 12 voted to recommend the Board of County Commissioners approve a temporary conditional use permit for Heirloom Energy to test a novel wind-energy device on private land north of Rock River.

The recommendation, made after staff review and a public hearing, follows presentations from county planning staff and Heirloom Energy representatives about the project’s temporary nature, site access, and plans for wildlife and land reclamation.

Staff planner David Gertsch said the application addresses the required conditional-use findings and that the project’s temporary status and distance from occupied structures — nearly a mile — mitigate many nuisance concerns such as noise and air quality. He noted potential permitting requirements with the Wyoming Department of Transportation if the applicant uses a different access, and suggested the company work with Wyoming Game and Fish on wildlife impacts.

Neil Rickner, chief executive officer of Heirloom Energy, described the device as a “new kind of wind turbine” that operates on a rail system and can be shipped in containers rather than transported as oversize loads. Rickner said the company has funding including a $5 million grant from the Wyoming Energy Authority and a $1.25 million contract with the U.S. Air Force, and that the pilot will inform performance, cost and environmental effects.

Rickner said the pilot will not be grid-connected and that the company has committed to reclamation in its lease: within six months of the test period ending, any in-ground foundations will be removed to 18 inches below grade and the site restored with native grasses. He also said a meteorological tower has already been permitted for the location.

Commissioners asked about construction timing, height and duration. Gertsch and Heirloom representatives said construction would likely begin in summer, the structure height would be about 45 feet, and the company applied for a temporary two-year conditional use (the lease language described a three-year construct-and-operate period with an option to extend). Heirloom said the pilot unit will be on the order of a few hundred kilowatts, not the multi-megawatt scale the company may pursue later.

Wildlife and reclamation were central concerns during discussion. Heirloom acknowledged potential effects on birds, bats and raptors and said it will work with Wyoming Game and Fish and local researchers, and is prepared to deploy mitigation measures if monitoring shows harm. The company also said it will host visits with the local fire department and maintain on-site measures such as a diesel generator contained in a gravel laydown area with fire suppression equipment.

After a public hearing with no public speakers, Commissioner [name not specified in transcript] moved that the planning commission recommend approval of the Heirloom Energy Conditional Use Application (CU 125), adopting the staff analysis, findings of fact and conclusions of law as stated in the staff report; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The commission’s action is a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners, which must take the final decision.

The commission and applicant identified follow-up items, including the county’s notice that Wyoming Department of Transportation and county road-use agreements could be required for certain access routes, and that DEQ’s land-quality authorities could be invoked if derelict material remained after the pilot. Heirloom reiterated its lease and application commitments on reclamation and said it will coordinate monitoring and mitigation with Game and Fish and university researchers.

If the Board of County Commissioners adopts the planning commission’s recommendation, the conditional use would allow the temporary pilot under the terms reviewed by planning staff; final permitting or additional conditions could follow depending on BOCC action and any agency permitting requirements.

Less-critical details discussed but not required for decision included the company’s funding sources (venture capital and state grant), the possibility of adding the technology to existing wind farms in the future, and the company’s invitation to commissioners and university researchers to visit the Laramie-area facility and the test site.

Votes at a glance: the planning commission vote on the recommendation was recorded as unanimous in favor; the motion text and outcome are included in the actions array below.

","The Albany County Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the Board of County Commissioners approve a temporary conditional use for Heirloom Energy’s prototype wind device, subject to the terms in the staff report and the applicant’s commitments on reclamation and environmental review.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning commissioners discuss rezoning approach for Rancho parcels, conservation easements

Albany County planning commission recommends approval for Heirloom Energy pilot project