Planning board approves US Ballistics site plan and landscaping with conditions, cites federal and local permit steps

The City of Cody Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board on June 19 approved a commercial site plan and landscape plan for US Ballistics at 125 Road 2 AB, subject to staff-recommended conditions and modifications to the landscaping plan.

Planning staff described a large redevelopment of a partially completed industrial facility at North Cody Industrial Park that would add 12 magazine storage containers, finish paving and landscaping, revise parking and grading, add a detention facility for stormwater and install two additional light poles adjacent to the magazine storage area. The existing building was originally permitted for pharmaceutical production and later for apparel manufacturing; the new tenant is proposing changes tied to intensive industrial use. Staff noted the tallest portion of the building is 82 feet and that the property lies in the Heavy Industrial zoning district.

Staff outlined required compliance with local, state and federal permits for intensive industrial operations, noting a stormwater pollution prevention plan will be required from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WYDEQ) and that an emergency response plan must be submitted to the Park County Fire Marshal prior to certificate of occupancy. "The use is classified as an intensive industrial use," staff said, adding that the Fire Marshal will be involved in building-review and life-safety issues.

Board members raised multiple operational questions, including lighting, landscaping species, parking counts and waste collection. The applicant confirmed willingness to replace the proposed sumac (described in the plans as a species with undesirable odor) with alternative shrubs: "Absolutely. We could we could just do all ponderose pine," John McHugh, chief executive officer of US Police Technologies, said when asked about replacing the shrubs. The applicant said the currently purchased light poles for earlier plans were already on site; staff said the two additional poles in the magazine area must meet the citys current lighting ordinance unless a jurisdiction with higher authority (for security) requires otherwise. Staff told the board that if federal requirements exceed city standards, the facility may follow those federal requirements under the lighting-code exemption.

The proposed parking was reduced from an earlier approval of 51 paved spaces to 31 paved spaces, including two ADA-accessible spaces. Staff also identified outstanding requirements before occupancy: completion and acceptance of utility easements and a maintenance agreement for water mains, certification of stormwater facilities by the applicants engineer, approval of an emergency response plan by the Park County Fire Marshal, and evidence of necessary state or federal permits as applicable.

A motion by Dan to approve the commercial site plan and landscape plan for US Ballistics, including staff conditions 1 through 10 and modifying the landscape plan to swap the sumac for a different species (Potentilla), was seconded and passed by the board.

Staff was authorized to approve minor modifications to the site plan; several items remain conditions of occupancy and must be completed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, including permits, easements and system certifications.

The board record references coordination with ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives): staff said ATF requires local planning and building approvals before issuing federal permits for the magazine structures.

The approved conditions emphasize safety and regulatory compliance and require that the applicant provide documentation of state and federal permit status, utility easements and an emergency response plan before final occupancy.