The Casper Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve a zone change for the property at 777 Antler Drive, rezoning it from C4 Highway Business to M2 General Industrial.

The rezoning would allow the applicants to pursue a conditional use permit for a security residence tied to the principal business on the site; the Commission approved the zone change after staff described the application and commissioners discussed parking, precedent, and process. The decision is a recommendation to City Council, which will hold a public hearing and three readings before any final change takes effect.

City Planner Craig told the commission the applicants previously applied for a conditional use permit to allow residential use in a C4 district that was denied on March 13, 2025, and that they are seeking rezoning to M2 because "M2 zoning lists security residences as potential conditional uses, for safety and security for the business or principal use of the property." Craig also said the applicants were granted site-plan approval in March 2024 for a 7,380-square-foot office/warehouse and that the building has a temporary certificate of occupancy; a full certificate of occupancy is conditioned on completing required site work.

Commissioners asked about parking and consistency with surrounding zoning. Commissioner Elston asked whether the existing site plan provided sufficient parking if a residence were added; city staff responded that the approved site plan provided parking adequate for the commercial use but that the applicants would need to add two paved, on-site spaces for a residential unit. Commissioners also discussed whether approving a single rezoning would constitute impermissible spot zoning; staff noted similar M2 zoning exists across the street and cited a prior 2012 case at 650 Antler Drive, which was granted a conditional use permit for a security apartment and M2 zoning.

Commissioner Collins read the M2 conditional-use language into the record, saying: "Apartments as part of the main structure or manufactured homes necessary for safety and security reasons in conjunction with the principal use occupied by any persons responsible for security in the principal use and employed by the industry or business conducting the principal use." He left it to the commission whether they wanted evidence of a business operating on the site when the applicants later seek a conditional use permit.

Commissioner Ruble moved to approve the zone change (case ZOC-830-2025); Commissioner Bocek seconded. The chair called for a vote and "with all members voting aye, the motion carries." City staff told the applicants the approved recommendation to City Council requires scheduling a public hearing, re-notifying neighbors and placing another public notice in the newspaper.

Votes at a glance:
- ZOC-830-2025 — Rezoning of 777 Antler Drive from C4 Highway Business to M2 General Industrial: Motion to approve by Commissioner Ruble; second by Commissioner Bocek; vote: unanimous; outcome: approved (recommendation to City Council). Next steps: city staff will set a City Council public hearing date and re-notify neighbors.
- CUP-856-2025 — Conditional use permit request by Christ United Methodist Church for professional office at 1868 S. Poplar (Hyde Park Edition): withdrawn by applicant; outcome: withdrawn.
- SUB-859-2025 — Final plat (Mesa Del Sol 5 addition): postponed by applicant to next month; outcome: postponed.

Background and next steps: Rezoning decisions recorded by the Planning and Zoning Commission are forwarded to City Council for final action. Staff advised that zone changes undergo a public hearing at City Council and three readings before becoming effective. The applicants were told to coordinate with staff on public-notice requirements and the next appearance before Council. If the rezoning is adopted by Council, the applicants would still need to obtain a conditional use permit to authorize a security residence and would need to add two paved on-site parking spaces for the residential use before receiving a full certificate of occupancy for the site-built 7,380-square-foot office/warehouse.

No members of the public came forward in support or opposition during the Commission's hearing on the rezoning; the public-comment portion for the case was closed before the vote.