Planning commission recommends rezoning at 1321 Carroll Street to allow neighborhood business use

The Albany County Planning and Zoning Commission on July 9 recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve zoning amendment CDA-05-25 to reclassify 1321 Carroll Street from its existing residential designation to neighborhood business, commissioners said.

The recommendation was prompted by an application from Timothy and Karen Hayes, the property owners and applicants, who told the commission they intend to use a permitted office footprint on the site and to keep equipment and yard operations at a separate location. David, planning staff, said the application "generally follows the comprehensive plan and Laramie growth plan" and that neighborhood business zoning is compatible with nearby residential uses and supports a mix of commercial and residential activity.

The staff report described the site and nearby uses: a recreational trail on the east property line, the Cirrus Sky Technology Park nearby, personal storage buildings directly to the west and vacant parcels to the north and south. The report also noted comments from a reclamation/conservation reviewer urging caution on erosion and encouragement to reclaim disturbed areas. The staff recommendation was approval.

During the public hearing, no members of the public offered comments. Commissioners questioned whether residential uses would be allowed under the neighborhood business classification and whether the existing activity on the property was already grandfathered. Staff replied that an office/residential-use category is allowed in the neighborhood business district and that existing uses could remain while rezoning would bring the site into conformance. David, planning staff, read the district purpose aloud: "The business shall be limited to professional offices and small retail businesses that provide goods and services."

Applicant Timothy Hayes told commissioners the site currently has a permitted outbuilding and that the proposed 20-foot-wide office portion of a new building would be used for office functions; the larger equipment and storage yard is and will remain at a different facility. Hayes said he owns nearby property inside city limits and that annexation was not feasible because the city would require construction of Fifteenth Street to the property, a requirement he said was "not financially feasible" for the small office he plans.

Commissioners moved to recommend approval of CDA-05-25, adopting staff findings and analysis. The motion passed unanimously. Voting recorded on the motion: Commissioner McCormick — aye; Commissioner Hinckley — aye; Commissioner Vandavid — aye; the chair voted aye. The commission's action is a recommendation; the final decision rests with the Board of County Commissioners.

If the board approves the amendment, the change would formally allow neighborhood-oriented professional offices at 1321 Carroll Street and would bring the existing office activity into regulatory conformance, staff said. The commission closed the public hearing after receiving no public input and moved on to other planning business.

Next steps: the Planning and Zoning Commission’s approval is a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners, which will separately consider and decide whether to adopt the proposed amendment.