Commissioners approve Maverick subdivision, zoning change and large sign variance for Highway 30 site

Sweetwater County commissioners on March 18 approved a package of land‑use actions to allow a Maverick convenience store and associated signage near the Interstate 80/Highway 30 interchange.

The board voted unanimously to approve a partial vacation of the Covered Wagon Subdivision (resolution 25‑03‑01), a zoning map amendment from manufactured home/rural residential to commercial (resolution 25‑03‑02), the Maverick Sweetwater Subdivision final plat (resolution 25‑03‑03) and a variance for a freestanding sign larger than zoning limits allow (resolution 25‑03‑04). All four items were recommended by county staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission, which heard the matters and voted 4‑0 to advance them.

County land use director Eric Bingham told commissioners the actions are the first step in “cleaning up” an old, partially built plat from the early 1980s and that the goal is to create a single, buildable lot for the Maverick convenience store across from Love’s Truck Stop. “Just glad to finally come to a point where we’re cleaning up the area with legal descriptions and such,” Bingham said.

What the board approved - Partial vacation (25‑03‑01): The resolution removes a number of outdated easements and plat fragments in the Covered Wagon Subdivision to allow creation of the Maverick Subdivision. Approval is contingent on the final plat and zone change and on continued coordination with Project West for a waterline easement across affected parcels. Motion: Commissioner Slaughter; second: Commissioner Richards. Vote: unanimous (aye by Chairman [name not specified], Commissioner Slaughter, Commissioner Richards, Commissioner Toman and Commissioner Jones).

- Zone map amendment (25‑03‑02): The board rezoned the parcel from MH (manufactured home) and RR (rural residential, 5‑acre minimum) to commercial. Cassidy Brown, county planner, said staff found the proposed commercial zoning “consistent and compatible with the current resolution and comprehensive plan” and suitable given existing commercial zoning nearby. Motion: Commissioner Slaughter; second: Commissioner Richards. Vote: unanimous.

- Final plat (25‑03‑03): The board approved a one‑lot Maverick Sweetwater Subdivision final plat with conditions: recordation only after final financial assurance and a fully executed subdivision improvements agreement; the county recommended a two‑year term on the improvements agreement (staff typically uses one year) to allow the sewer line and other utilities time to be installed. Bingham told the board that WYDOT has approved access for two driveways aligned with Love’s, the drainage report has been approved, and Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) review raised no concerns. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued an adverse recommendation tied to soil conditions; staff said an advanced septic system will be required because soils there do not support a conventional commercial system. Motion (as corrected on the record): Commissioner Slaughter; second: Commissioner Toman. Vote: unanimous.

- Sign variance (25‑03‑04): The board granted a variance from section 13(f) of the Sweetwater County Zoning Resolution (02/2015) to allow a freestanding sign substantially larger than the sign standards. Final motion approved a freestanding sign with 1,272 square feet of sign face and a height stated in the motion as 125 feet; staff materials and presentations described the larger sign as intended to provide advance notice to highway traffic given topography and high speeds. County planner Cassidy Brown said staff believes the variance “will definitely benefit the welfare and safety of the community” by improving driver reaction time. Motion: Commissioner Slaughter; second: Commissioner Jones. Vote: unanimous.

Applicant and project details Todd Myers of Maverick Incorporated represented the applicant. Myers described the proposed facility as a convenience store rather than a truck stop: “We do not consider ourself truck stops. Truck stops have overnight. They have lounges. They have showers,” he told the board, adding the site was sized to allow potential future truck parking if needed for weather or interstate incidents. The applicant said two access points will be constructed and that WYDOT’s approvals include required improvements to the lanes and turn pockets.

Conditions, outstanding items and next steps Staff recommended and the board imposed several conditions before recordation and final implementation: final financial assurance and an executed subdivision improvements agreement must be filed prior to recording the plat; the partial vacation and rezoning must be finalized; the applicant must continue to collaborate with Project West on the waterline easement across the site; and engineering for utilities and access must be completed to staff satisfaction. DEQ’s finding that soils will require an advanced septic system remains a material constraint for sanitary service; staff said that constraint is already noted on the plat and must be addressed before connections are made.

No members of the public spoke during the public hearings on these items. Planning and Zoning previously tabled the matter in January to resolve concerns with adjacent property owners and utility routing; the applicant has signed a memorandum of understanding with Jamestown‑Rio Vista to address other plat fragments.

The board directed staff to finalize the documents and to provide corrected resolution paperwork for signature. Once the applicant provides the mylar plat and financial assurances, the chair will sign the final plat for recordation.

Ending The package of approvals clears major procedural hurdles for Maverick’s planned convenience store on the Highway 30 frontage near the I‑80 interchange, while retaining conditions tied to utility construction, engineering and financial assurances. Commissioners and staff said they expect the county to review the final mylar and subdivision improvements agreement for signature once the outstanding items are resolved.