City holds public hearing on proposed annexation of 95 parcels in northeast Cheyenne

Mayor Mary Collins and the Cheyenne City Council held a public hearing on a city-initiated annexation proposal affecting 95 parcels totaling roughly 44.56 acres in northeast Cheyenne, generally north of Del Range Boulevard, east and west of Ridge Road and south of Story Boulevard.

Connor White, planning and development staff, told the council the annexation was initiated under Wyoming Statute 15-1-404 and that a resolution initiating the annexation was adopted on May 12, 2025. White said certified notices were mailed to landowners and affected utilities on April 25, 2025, with the earliest confirmed receipt recorded April 28, 2025. He said many parcels are already connected to city water and sewer under outside user agreements and that the area is inside the urban service boundary and designated for mixed-use commercial and urban residential land uses on the future land use map.

Why it matters: annexation would change who regulates land use and who provides municipal services for the affected parcels. Residents in the area said the change could raise taxes, alter existing uses and remove the county-pocket status many cited as a reason they bought or rented in the area.

Several residents and community members spoke against moving forward at this time. State Rep. Daniel Singh (House District 61), who said he was speaking without his legislative hat, asked the council to "hit the brakes on this annexation" and said many residents chose the properties because they were in Laramie County rather than city limits. Mary Simons, a resident of the area for about 30 years, expressed similar concerns and said she intends to file a written complaint with the city clerk and, if necessary, "a petition with the court for a declaratory judgment" challenging the annexation. Resident Kevin Tanner said he and neighbors "strongly oppose" the annexation and urged the council to allow a vote of the property owners in the pocket.

Council members and staff answered questions during the hearing. Dr. Aldridge asked whether notices had produced calls or complaints; White said staff received inquiries from property owners seeking forms to document current business or uses so those nonconforming uses can be recorded. White and Mayor Collins clarified that properties currently on outside user agreements had technically consented to annexation and that their utility billing would move to the city's regular residential rates if annexed. Mayor Collins also noted that many nonconforming uses (for example certain existing home-based businesses or livestock) are typically protected as "grandfathered" uses under the annexation process so long as the use is continuously maintained.

Outcome and next steps: no formal vote on annexation occurred at the hearing; the council chair said the hearing satisfied the statutory requirement and the item will be referred to committee for further consideration and a future council vote. Council members thanked those who testified and said they would take the testimony into account when the council later considers the annexation. Several speakers said they would pursue legal or administrative remedies if the annexation proceeds without what they consider adequate protections or consent.

Key factual details: - Area proposed for annexation: 95 parcels and various rights-of-way, approximately 44.56 acres. - Location: generally north of Del Range Boulevard, east and west of Ridge Road, south of Story Boulevard (northeast Cheyenne). - Statutory basis cited by staff: Wyoming Statutes 15-1-402 and 15-1-404 (public hearing and initiation rules for annexation), with related references to 15-1-407 and 15-1-410 regarding contiguity, services and franchises. - Notice timeline: certified mailings dispatched April 25, 2025; earliest confirmed receipt April 28, 2025 (staff stated 20 business-day notice requirement met). - Utilities and fees: staff said many properties are already connected to city water/sewer under outside user agreements; White said those property owners have effectively consented to annexation and that post-annexation fees would be the city's regular rate rather than the outside-user rate (source: Connor White).

Discussion vs. decision: the hearing was a statutorily required public hearing (discussion); the council made no final decision on annexation during the meeting (formal action deferred to committee). Several residents announced intent to pursue complaints or court review (possible future legal actions).