Laramie planning panel backs comprehensive‑plan change and rezoning to allow multifamily on 4 Gs parcel

The Laramie City Planning Commission voted 6–0, with one member absent, on Sept. 22 to forward to City Council a comprehensive plan amendment that redesignates roughly 32–33 acres owned by 4 Gs Enterprises from urban commercial to urban residential, and to recommend rezoning the same property from I‑2 (industrial) to R‑3 (multifamily).

Staff said the change responds to updated housing studies and a brownfield review and would allow a broader range of housing types. "The application reflects how our zoning and housing needs have evolved," Emma, planning staff, told the commission, adding that staff recommended including a small southern triangular parcel "to prevent a fragmented zoning boundary and ensure long‑term stability of the zoning map."

The project site carries legacy railroad industrial uses; a Phase I/II brownfield assessment was completed and staff said the Phase II "showed no recognized environmental conditions that required further analysis," though future remediation would be the developer's responsibility if needed. Eric, the city engineer, described the engineering design report that any developer must submit and said it is "one of the most important documents" for water, sewer, storm drainage, grading and roadway systems. Aaron Murray, a WSP consultant, told commissioners that any new development in the mapped floodway or 1% annual chance floodplain would need floodplain permits and measures such…