Consultants launch 'Forge Laramie' comprehensive-plan process, seek early public input

Consultants working on Laramie’s 20-year comprehensive plan update told the Planning Commission on Monday that an 18-month process called Forge Laramie will begin immediate community engagement and technical analysis to produce a draft plan for formal adoption by the City Council.

The kickoff presentation was given by Leanne King of Clarion Associates, who said the team will build a long-range, 20-year policy document that “sets the vision, goals, and kind of actions for the community for the next several decades.” King said the effort will include a steering committee, stakeholder interviews, public intercept events and three rounds of public engagement before a formal adoption phase in 2026.

Why it matters: A comprehensive plan guides municipal action on land use, infrastructure and related policy for decades; the commission and council will rely on the plan to set capital priorities, regulatory updates and implementation steps. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that clear priorities will shape what the city can realistically implement given limited staff and budget resources.

Key details and schedule

King said Clarion is leading project management and policy development; local and specialized partners include Yarden Company for public engagement, ABI for infrastructure and Fourth Economy/Thrive Laramie for economic strategy. Early outreach already has included tabling at community events and an online survey; the project website and branding—Forge Laramie—were presented and expected to go live the next day. The team described project phases as: technical foundation and vision (summer–fall 2025), policy drafting and additional engagement (winter 2025–summer 2026), and adoption in late 2026.

The consultants emphasized measurable implementation steps and recommended periodic progress checks—perhaps every two years—so the city can assess whether the plan is being implemented and adjust as conditions change.

What commissioners and attendees raised

Commissioners and attendees identified several priorities for the consultants to examine: housing and workforce development, aging infrastructure (utilities and transportation), and economic development aimed at attracting outside developers and employers. Commissioner comments also asked for stronger policy tools to support downtown and corridor revitalization, including flexible code provisions to encourage façade and site improvements on aging commercial parcels.

Several commissioners and attendees urged intensive outreach to younger residents and University of Wyoming students. King and Clarion staff said they plan public-intercept events at Jubilee and other local festivals, targeted focus groups, on-campus engagement when students return in the fall, and online tools (QR-code surveys, social media) to reach younger cohorts. Clarion noted they already had invited university participation through the steering committee and planned to meet the steering committee the following night.

Staff and consultants said they will review existing plans, including Thrive Laramie and the current comprehensive plan (adopted in 2007), to identify which policies remain relevant and which need rethinking in light of new demographic, economic and energy trends.

Questions about scope and outputs

Commissioners asked what the commission’s role will be during the process; consultants said Planning Commission will serve as an important reviewer and sounding board and that the project team welcomes input via meetings, email and the project website. Commissioners also asked for examples of priorities other communities are addressing; King said housing and infrastructure consistently top the list nationwide but agreed to provide an example list for Laramie to edit.

Community engagement approach

Clarion described three rounds of engagement: an initial round to gather community values and concerns; a second round to test policy choices and willingness to change; and a final round presenting a public review draft before formal public hearings. The team said they will craft an implementation framework and suggested measuring progress periodically.

Ending

Commissioners expressed broad support for early engagement and for focusing the plan on implementable priorities. The consultant team will return with materials, a live project web page (ForgeLaramie.com), and a schedule of upcoming stakeholder meetings and public events. The Planning Commission will continue to receive updates as the process advances toward draft policy recommendations and eventual referral to City Council.