Natrona planning panel recommends approval of Buffalo Creek gravel pit permit

The Natrona County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-0 on Jan. 13 to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners approve Conditional Use Permit 25‑02, an application by Natrona County Road and Bridge to open a roughly 40‑acre gravel pit at Buffalo Creek Ranch off Buffalo Creek Road.

Planning staff told the commission the proposal meets the county’s approval criteria in the 2022 zoning resolution and recommended the commission forward a recommendation for approval. "Staff finds the criteria for approval as listed above in steps 1 through 7 are met," planning staff said during the staff report.

The permit, in the Grama zoning district, would allow the county to extract gravel to maintain area roads. Staff said the use is consistent with the land use plan and noted that adjacent parcels are also zoned RAM. External reviews reported no current concerns: the County Fire District and County GIS Department provided no objections; the Natrona County Health Department advised the nearest plotted sanitary systems are about 3,500 feet away and any sanitary facilities would require a wastewater permit; YDOT and the Conservation District did not submit comments.

A nearby resident questioned how notice was sent to neighbors; planning staff said the standard notification radius is 1,000 feet and that notices were sent to the state and the Bureau of Land Management and likely to the ranch and BLM rather than more distant private neighbors. The resident reported not receiving a letter.

Mike Hegler, Natrona County Road and Bridge superintendent, answered questions about the property arrangement and operations. Hegler said private landowners who host similar county pits receive a royalty "per ton, and they also get a stockpile of gravel up to 250 tons a year." He said the county initially expected to complete extraction at the site in about two years but that work depends on pending state approvals related to reservoir permits and other water‑related permitting.

Commissioner White moved to recommend approval, incorporating staff findings; Commissioner Schulte seconded. The commission recorded a 4-0 favorable vote and will send its recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners, with the case expected to appear before the board in February.

Planning staff also announced that the Christianson Foxborough major subdivision — which the commission tabled in November — will return to the Feb. 10 agenda. The commission adjourned after the administrative items.

Next steps: the Board of County Commissioners will consider the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation at an upcoming meeting; no final county action on CUP 25‑02 has been taken yet.