Public hearing opened on Bridal West rezone along Robertson Road; no decision taken

The Mills City Council opened a public hearing on a staff-initiated rezoning proposal for the Bridal West area, a parcel along the western side of Robertson Road, and did not take final action. Planning staff told the council the request would change the parcel’s zoning from Urban Agriculture to Residential 1 (R‑1) to align the site with the adjacent Robertson Heights neighborhood and to allow low-density single-family development using existing utilities.

The proposal drew support from a civil engineer representing the applicant and objections from nearby property owners. Planning staff said water, sewer, police and fire services are already extended to serve Robertson Heights and the Platte Bay area, and recommended approval. The planning and zoning commission also recommended approval. Sean Gustafson of ECS Engineers told the council, “I’m in favor of it. I agree with the staff report that this fits with the surrounding neighborhood, and I think it’s the logical zoning for this particular area.”

The rezone would apply to land on the west side of Robertson Road adjacent to Wyoming Classical Academy to the north, Robertson Heights to the east and county property to the south and west. According to staff, the change is intended to remove isolated agricultural-zoned strips between residential areas and to allow infill housing within the city rather than pushing development into county subdivisions. Staff said the proposal is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan and with the 2016 Natrona County Land Use Plan, and cited Title 17 in describing the zoning intent to promote public health, safety and welfare.

Nearby landowners raised specific concerns during public comment about new development’s effects on existing rural uses. Dan Schurlinger, who said he owns the property to the south and operates horse boarding stables there, asked how fencing and barbed wire would be handled, expressed concern that children might reach over existing fences and said relocating fencing could be costly. He said he had left several feet of gap between his steel pipe fence and his property line and worried about animals and liability. Mary Peterson, who said she owns land west of the proposed development, said she had been told previously by the developer that lots would be larger and retain a rural character; she said the current proposal appears to be denser and that she was “very concerned with the density” as proposed.

Speakers also raised traffic and drainage issues. Schurlinger and Peterson asked whether roundabouts were planned for Robertson Road and where stormwater would be routed; staff replied that roundabouts were only proposals from regional planning discussions and that stormwater and drainage would be engineered during development review to avoid sending additional runoff onto neighboring properties. One resident said a prior state road project required moving a fence at a reported cost of $97,000 for roughly 300 feet; residents said similar work here could be substantially more.

Planning staff said there is one letter of formal opposition on file from adjacent landowner Don Oakes and noted the planning commission’s recommendation of approval. The council closed the public hearing and returned the meeting to regular session, and the mayor said the item will return for another public hearing in a couple of weeks before the council takes any final action.

The record at this meeting therefore shows only a public hearing, statements of support and opposition, and no council vote to approve or deny the rezone. The planning staff report, the planning and zoning commission recommendation and written public comments remain in the project record and will be considered at the next public hearing before any zoning map amendment is adopted.