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Laramie Council certifies plan amendment, adopts R3 zoning for 33-acre West Side parcel
Summary
After public comment raising floodplain and historic-scale concerns, the Laramie City Council certified a future land use map amendment and adopted an R3 multifamily zoning district for roughly 33 acres near Snowy Range Road to allow higher-density housing options, moving the project into the standard development review process.
The Laramie City Council on Nov. 18 certified a Planning Commission amendment to the city's comprehensive plan and adopted an ordinance establishing R3 multifamily residential zoning for a roughly 33-acre parcel between Snowy Range Road, West Garfield Street and the Laramie River.
Planner Miss Dixon told the council the map amendment changes the property's future land-use designation from urban commercial to urban residential and "does not approve any development, nor does it rezone the property." She said the amendment establishes the policy basis under which R2M or R3 zoning could be considered and that any future development must meet existing floodplain and stormwater requirements.
The hearing drew extensive public comment from West Side residents and neighborhood representatives. Gwendolyn Christie of the Albany County Historic Preservation Board said she supported more housing but urged lower-density zoning (R2) and said development next to the Laramie River could exacerbate existing basement flooding. Wendy Chapman, a 27-year West Side resident, described the parcel as serving a floodplain function and suggested a land swap to avoid development there.
"If anything is built next to the river, there will be impacts both up and downstream as well as in our neighborhood," Chapman said.
Brad Enzi, president and CEO of the Laramie Chamber Business Alliance and representing the landowner applicant, urged council to move the amendment forward so the owner could pursue housing partnerships, saying the change aligns with efforts to attract businesses that need local housing.
Councilors asked staff about adjacency to industrial parcels, whether certification would allow third reading of zoning tonight, and how urban commercial compares with urban residential in intended building character. Miss Dixon said rezoning would not alter floodplain standards and that site plans and engineered drainage reports would be required for developments above three dwelling units.
The council voted to certify the comprehensive-plan amendment (Resolution 2025-87) and then to adopt Ordinance No. 2112 establishing R3 zoning for the described parcels. The certification vote was announced as 8 yes, 0 no, 1 absent; the R3 zoning adoption passed with 7 yes, 1 no and 1 absent.
The actions taken set the policy and zoning framework but do not approve any specific development. Any future project will still require subdivision or site-plan review, engineered drainage plans, and compliance with FEMA and city floodplain standards. Planner Dixon and staff emphasized that the amendment simply broadens the set of zoning districts the council and Planning Commission may consider.
