Planning Commission recommends city council approve UDC text amendments clarifying signs, setbacks and egress rules

The Laramie Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council adopt TA-24-07, a set of text amendments to Titles 8 and 15 of the Laramie Municipal Code meant to clarify multiple development standards and correct drafting errors.

"The item before you today is a text amendment initiated by the City of Laramie," Emma, a city planner, told the commission as she summarized the package. The amendments are split into substantive changes that affect applicants and minor grammatical or cross‑reference corrections, Emma said.

Why it matters: the package clarifies how staff and applicants should interpret the unified development code and addresses recurring compliance questions. Key changes staff highlighted include: clarifying that the 20% window-sign limit applies to each building facade rather than to a building’s total window area; defining "facade" as a side of a building; establishing a five‑foot minimum separation for new detached and attached one‑ and two‑family units; specifying that egress window wells that meet the International Building Code and International Residential Code may project into setbacks; and allowing signage changes for nonresidential uses in residential zoning districts to be considered through a conditional‑use permit rather than requiring a variance.

On window signage, one commissioner said limiting signs to 20% of all exterior windows could be overly restrictive for downtown retailers; staff replied the change simply clarifies an existing 20% limit on each façade and was intended to preserve pedestrian sightlines while still allowing businesses to market themselves. On the ``facade'' definition, the commission amended the draft to replace the word "portion" with "side," a clarification the commission voted to adopt before taking the overall recommendation vote.

Staff said the egress‑window change is meant to align the municipal code with state building codes (IBC/IRC) so that permitted egress wells are treated the same way as other permitted projections such as fire escapes. For nonconforming signage in residential zones, staff said the conditional‑use permit route gives the Planning Commission a review path better suited to signage changes than the more burdensome variance process.

The commission moved, amended and voted to recommend the package to the City Council. The roll call recorded five yes votes (Evans; Matamore; Aisler White; Commissioner Donald O'Toole; Commissioner Moody) with Sharon Pacino and Schneider absent. Staff recommended approval to City Council.

Next steps: the Planning Commission’s action is a recommendation; City Council will review and decide whether to adopt the amendments.