Planning commission approves Avid Corporation expansion, live‑work unit at 222 East Baker Street

The Laramie Planning Commission on Aug. 15 unanimously approved a conditional‑use permit allowing Avid Corporation to expand its machining and light manufacturing operations and establish a dwelling live‑work unit at 222 East Baker Street.

The permit, labeled CUP250006 in staff materials, authorizes a roughly 5,000‑square‑foot addition to the existing building, continued internal machining and processing with enclosed CNC equipment, and conversion of the western loading‑dock structure to a live‑work dwelling, provided the applicant meets staff’s recommended conditions.

Planning staff presented the application, describing the site as a former ARC recycling facility split between B‑2 and C‑2 zoning. Staff recommended approval after reviewing site layout, noise and screening measures, parking, and utility access. “Staff does recommend approval of the conditional use as provided, and subject to the conditions that we have associated within the staff report,” Planning staff member Derek said during the meeting.

According to staff and the applicant, the business operates 22 CNC machines on site. Jared Gustav Anderson, identified as Avid Corporation’s director of operations, told the commission the operation is constrained by machine capacity rather than labor: “We currently have 22 CNC machines. One of our operations people typically will operate two to three machines per person.” Anderson added that additional throughput would come from changing shift patterns or adding a third shift rather than substantially increasing on‑site parking.

Staff’s analysis estimated a standard parking requirement of 48 spaces for the proposed manufacturing intensity but recommended a reduced parking count based on the applicant’s operational profile and a submitted parking analysis. The staff report noted some existing on‑site spaces along Baker Street would be cleared of stored vehicles and counted toward the site’s parking supply; Americans with Disabilities Act parking requirements will be met.

The staff report described other site features and conditions: landscaping concentrated along the Baker Street frontage because limited space is available along Third Street; a six‑foot screening fence proposed around the property to obscure outdoor storage and to buffer an adjacent junkyard to the west; a preexisting loading area at the front of the building that is rarely used; a screened refuse enclosure toward the south of the site with a paved access path; and requirements to remove a small number of shipping containers that are not permitted on the site. Staff also noted a prior conditional use from 2016 (CUP16‑07) and that some previously required site improvements had not been completed; the current CUP process is intended in part to resolve outstanding items such as final pavement and landscaping and to ensure proper building permits and certificates of occupancy are in place.

One condition in the approval addresses a property line discrepancy on the west side of the lot: staff said the existing fence does not align with the recorded property line and allowed the applicant up to one year to resolve the boundary issue with the adjacent property owner while proceeding with other required improvements. The city will require removal of an unauthorized curb cut on Third Street and replacement with curb and gutter under YDOT direction; there will be no new access from Third Street, the staff presentation said.

Commission discussion was brief. A commissioner asked whether Avid had ever needed to temporarily increase on‑site parking; Anderson replied that throughput is limited by machine count and that adding staff does not speed the machines. Another commissioner noted the residential unit is separated from the manufacturing building and asked about electrical service; the applicant indicated three‑phase power had been pursued previously. One commissioner suggested a mural on the visible Third Street wall in lieu of planting that is impossible in the narrow setback.

The commission moved to approve staff’s recommendation. Commissioner Donald made the motion to approve the permit subject to staff findings and conditions; another commissioner seconded. The motion carried with an unanimous voice vote.

The conditions of approval recorded in the staff report include: removal of unauthorized shipping containers; required landscape installation concentrated on Baker Street; installation of a unified six‑foot screening fence; a requirement that the back gate be opened on scheduled refuse collection days to allow access to the screened trash enclosure; resolution of the west‑side property line discrepancy within one year or as otherwise agreed with staff; compliance with site plan, building‑permit and certificate‑of‑occupancy requirements; and that any future signage meet city sign code. The staff report also notes that the city provided public notice by mail to property owners within 300 feet and by a newspaper posting in the Laramie Boomerang; no public comments had been received at the time the staff report was written.

The action closes the current land‑use review, but the permit imposes conditions that the applicant must satisfy before full occupancy or expansion work is considered complete.