LARAMIE, Wyo. — City Manager Feazer told the Laramie City Council at a Dec. 18 work session that several housing projects are moving through planning and funding stages and that the council's $5 million housing infrastructure fund, state grant rounds and the Wyoming Community Development Association's low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) process could push some proposals into construction early next year.

Feazer said the North 4th Street project, referred to as Labonte Square, is proposed in phases and that Phase 1 would be two buildings totaling about 128 units. "We believe that we will know in January" whether WCDA awards LIHTC, Feazer said, and that an award would be "the impetus" for construction to start. He described the planned mix as deed-restricted affordable units at varying shares of area median income alongside some market-rate units.

The city manager also described a public-private plan for the old Slate School ("Project 34"). The city has submitted a full-price purchase offer and the Albany County School District postponed its decision to Jan. 14, Feazer said. The proposed partners he named included the city, the Albany County Housing Land Trust, WyoTech and Ivinson Memorial Hospital. Feazer said he would amend the offer to extend the district's deadline and cite the Wyoming statute that allows public entities to cooperate in acquisitions (16-6-101).

Feazer described a west-side comprehensive-plan amendment and rezone of roughly 32 acres from industrial to R-3 urban residential, which he said would allow mixed housing and small commercial uses. He said developers envision two apartment complexes there — one senior and one market-rate — with "no fewer than 42" units each and that the project has entered the tax increment financing (TIF) and Urban Renewal Agency process, with public meetings expected around Jan. 16 and potential council review in February.

On utilities and infrastructure, Feazer said residential electric capacity should be sufficient for the housing pipeline but that large commercial users would require major utility investment or self-generation. "Rocky Mountain Power had a plan. It was $251,000,000," he said, describing the scope of system upgrades for large commercial loads. He also said Fox Run and other outlying developments are limited by sewer capacity: staff estimated sewer provision for Fox Run at roughly $9,000,000 and said packaging plants are being explored as a possible solution.

Feazer outlined administrative tools the city is using to accelerate development: deferred payment of upfront plan-review, permit and tap fees to reduce developers' "debt stack," reduced parking and garage requirements, smaller minimum lot sizes, and allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in all housing districts. He gave an example of the fee-deferral approach: recent twin homes faced about $16,000 in upfront fees per unit (about $64,000 for a four-unit project) that can accrue interest during long construction periods.

The council heard project-by-project updates: a revival of the Laramie Lofts micro-apartment plan (first phase proposed at 42 units), two 64-unit complexes at Grandview Heights expected to begin landscaping and come online in spring, and a large set of preliminary plats (Feazer said roughly 340–350 lots across several subdivisions) that staff will contact early next year to encourage buildout.

Public commenters urged caution and clarity. "The city gives a lot of lip service to affordability of housing, and yet everything it actually does seems to make housing less affordable," said Mister Glass, who identified himself as a local housing provider and said contractor licensing, permitting complexity and the Unified Development Code were barriers to building within city limits. Glass also questioned deed restrictions that limit resale or occupancy to employees of particular employers, calling that approach likely to "pick winners and losers" among local businesses.

Mister Henderson, a resident who spoke during public comment, said the presentation relied on many acronyms and urged clearer public communications. He also pressed for direct drainage to prevent West Laramie flooding near Pine Street and raised the Fox Run sewer-cost estimate as a substantial barrier to connecting that neighborhood to city services.

Councilors largely praised the update and asked staff for follow-ups on technical constraints, including drainage design, traffic impacts and utility capacity. Feazer said staff will pursue grant opportunities (including a state unmet housing-needs grant with a Jan. 31 deadline), solicit proposals for the city's housing infrastructure fund and advertise an executive-director position for the Albany County Housing Land Trust.

Next steps the city flagged include the WCDA LIHTC decision expected in January, the school-district meeting on Jan. 14 for Project 34, public meetings on the west-side rezone around Jan. 16, and further council consideration of funding proposals and any code changes after pilot programs on fee deferral conclude.

No formal motions or votes were taken at the Dec. 18 work session; the council concluded the meeting after member updates and board/commission reports.