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Laramie City Council adopts text updates to aquifer protection overlay zone
Summary
Council approved amendments to Laramie Municipal Code sections addressing the aquifer protection overlay zone after a public hearing; supporters urged protection of drinking water and staff said the change updates text, not map boundaries.
The Laramie City Council approved Original Ordinance No. 2,099 on second reading on March 4, adopting text updates to the city’s aquifer protection overlay zone in the Unified Development Code, city planning staff said.
The ordinance amends Laramie Municipal Code Title 15.08.040(a) and 15.08.060(a) to reflect recommendations in the aquifer protection plan update; the amendment changes the code text and associated map language but does not alter the overlay boundary, Planning Manager Tini told the council.
Public commenters praised the update at the hearing. Dr. Sally Palmer, who identified herself as living at 715 South 11th, described a personal history of well contamination and urged the council to protect the aquifer for future generations. “I care deeply about the aquifer,” Palmer said during public comment. An online commenter identified as Sarah (submitted by email) wrote that the Albany County Clean Water Advocates and other residents supported the amendments and thanked staff for their work.
Tini said all related applications and plans are available at the Planning Office and that the code changes are intended to keep the Unified Development Code aligned with the aquifer protection plan update. The council voted 9–0 to approve the ordinance on second reading.
Why it matters: the aquifer protection overlay is intended to limit risks to the municipal groundwater source; Tini and commenters framed the changes as clarifications and administrative updates that implement the aquifer protection plan’s recommendations.
What the ordinance does: staff said the amendment revises text tied to the overlay, updates references and the map language, and clarifies how development proposals in the overlay will be reviewed. The city clerk’s published notice identified March 4 as the public hearing date for the ordinance.
Next steps: the ordinance was approved on second reading; staff said the changes reflect updates already recommended in the aquifer protection plan and will guide future development reviews.
