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Council approves annexation, R‑1 rezoning for 15.79‑acre Hilltop parcel
Summary
The council voted to annex a 15.79‑acre county island off Hilltop Drive and rezone it R‑1 (single‑family); staff and councilors noted elevation, drainage and access issues but said annexation resolves a county‑island statutory issue.
The Laramie City Council voted 9–0 on March 4 to annex about 15.79 acres of unincorporated Albany County property off Hilltop Drive and to assign R‑1 single‑family residential zoning to the parcel, Planning Department staff said.
Planner Nancy Dixon told the council the parcel, owned by Wilco Land LLC and represented by Tom Willis, is a county island surrounded by the city and that Wyoming statute (15‑1‑406(d)) discourages county islands. Dixon said the annexation would bring the parcel under city development standards and allow future development to proceed under Laramie rules instead of county regulations.
Dixon cautioned that the site’s steep topography presents challenges for water and sewer delivery and stormwater runoff; she said the fire code limits development to 29 dwelling units unless a secondary access road is provided. Staff also estimated an increase in annual property tax revenue from about $603 to about $647 based on 2024 assessed values, but noted there is no development application pending and revenue projections would change with any specific plan.
Albany County planning staff told city planners they support the annexation because the parcel is surrounded by the city. Several council members said the annexation removes an anomalous county island and brings the land under city standards. Lockhart, who moved the annexation motion, said rezoning to R‑1 aligns the parcel with surrounding neighborhoods.
Why it matters: annexation resolves a statutory county‑island condition and ensures any future development will be reviewed under city engineering, stormwater and public‑safety standards rather than county rules.
What happens now: the annexation and R‑1 rezoning were approved; any future development will require additional plats, engineering review and public notice as required under city codes.
