Council approves subdivision, annexation, rezone and administrative transfers; several measures pass by voice or roll call

Sheridan City Council approved a slate of land-use, zoning and administrative measures Tuesday evening, including certification of the Gillespie Draw Subdivision final plat, a deannexation and annexation to correct municipal boundaries around Kendrick Golf Course, a rezone to permit gambling at 1140 Coffeen Avenue, an ownership transfer for a retail liquor license and several administrative cleanups.

The actions resolve boundary and zoning irregularities and allow existing business operations to continue while the council revoked its standing audit committee and authorized dissolution steps for a regional economic development alliance.

Council certified the Gillespie Draw Subdivision final plat (resolution PL‑25‑20/Res. 20225) after a presentation by City Planner Kelly Schroeder describing a county-led conservation-design subdivision north of Kendrick Golf Course that will create 15 lots (13 residential lots plus two larger conservation lots that encompass Soldier Ridge and Hidden Hoot Trail). Schroeder said the subdivision will be served by private wells and septic systems and accessed from West Fifth Street via a private 60-foot access easement named Gillespie Drive. The council approved staff’s recommendation that the city certify the subdivision is in conformance with the joint planning area’s future land‑use plan. The council approved the resolution by voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided in the record.

The council also approved paired ordinance actions to match municipal boundaries to property lines after a December boundary-line adjustment related to Kendrick Golf Course: Ordinance 2295 (PL‑25‑21) deannexed 3.64 acres owned by Sheridan Heights Ranch LLC from the city, and Ordinance 2297 (PL‑25‑26) annexed 4.15 acres the city owns back into city limits. Schroeder said the County Commissioners prepared a deannexation report and found little to no expected impacts to county services because the land is undeveloped and will become part of the conservation tract. Council voted by roll call on the deannexation and annexation; recorded votes on the annexation showed Council Members Lightnam, Wood, Lumen, Weitzel, Brance and Mayor Bridger voting aye.

On zoning, the council approved Ordinance 2296 (PL‑25‑22), rezoning 1.78 acres at 1140 Coffeen Avenue from B‑1 (neighborhood/business) to M‑1 (industrial) so the Derby Club may continue pari‑mutuel wagering at that location. Kelly Schroeder told the council staff had requested the zoning be corrected ahead of the 2026 liquor‑license renewal; Planning Commission had voted unanimously to recommend approval and staff recommended approval. During the vote Council Member Wood announced an abstention; the record shows the motion carried with Council Members Lumen, Weitzel, Brandt, Lightnam and Mayor Bridger voting aye.

The council approved an administrative ownership transfer for retail liquor license No. 22 (Verdello LLC to Verdello Market, Inc.), a resolution revoking the standing audit committee established in 2019 (Res. 20425) and authorized the mayor to sign a memorandum related to dissolution and distribution of member investment returns for the North East Wyoming Growth Alliance (NUGA). The City Administrator told council the audit‑committee resolution was intended to be rescinded because current audit and oversight processes remain in place and a temporary committee could be formed if future issues arise.

The evening’s consent agenda — minutes from the Aug. 18 regular meeting and claims — passed by voice vote. Several measures that were handled by voice vote did not include a detailed roll‑call tally in the meeting record.

Votes at a glance

- Gillespie Draw Subdivision final plat (PL‑25‑20 / Res. 20225): motion/second not named in the record; outcome: approved (voice vote).Referenced in transcript: opening of public hearing at 05:59 and voice vote concluding the item.

- Sheridan Heights Ranch LLC deannexation (PL‑25‑21 / Ord. 2295): motion/second not named; outcome: approved (roll‑call recorded: Brance Aye; Lightnam Aye; Wood Aye; Lumen Aye; Whitesell Aye; Mayor Bridger Aye).

- Annexation correcting municipal boundary (PL‑25‑26 / Ord. 2297): motion/second not named; outcome: approved (roll‑call recorded: Lightnam Aye; Wood Aye; Lumen Aye; Weitzel Aye; Brants Aye; Mayor Bridger Aye).

- Rezone 1140 Coffeen Ave from B‑1 to M‑1 (PL‑25‑22 / Ord. 2296): motion/second not named; outcome: approved (roll‑call recorded: Lumen Aye; Weitzel Aye; Brandt Aye; Lightnam Aye; Mayor Bridger Aye; Council Member Wood abstained).

- Retail liquor license No. 22 ownership transfer (Verdello LLC → Verdello Market Inc.): administrative transfer approved (voice vote).

- Resolution revoking standing audit committee (Res. 20425): approved (voice vote).

- Dissolution and distribution for North East Wyoming Growth Alliance (NUGA): council authorized mayor to sign MOU to dissolve and distribute funds (voice vote).

- Consent agenda (minutes and claims): approved (voice vote).

What it means

The land‑use votes tidy up a municipal boundary mismatch created by an earlier property line adjustment at Kendrick Golf Course and allow a long‑standing gambling operation to remain at its current location under consistent zoning. Several administrative items rescind a standing committee created in 2019 and complete a regional economic‑development dissolution that has been inactive since about 2020.

Council members and staff noted that the Gillespie Draw subdivision is outside the city’s urban service area and therefore will use wells and septic systems; the deannexed tracts will become part of a conservation tract and the county reported no expected service impacts.

Provenance

Transcript evidence supporting this summary includes the city planner’s public‑hearing presentation and the recorded roll‑call and voice votes for each item. Excerpts: "public hearing for PL‑twenty five‑twenty, which is a resolution 20 two‑twenty 5, Gillespie Draw Subdivision final plat... welcome Kelly." and "All those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed? That motion passes."