Laramie council unanimously approves West Side urban renewal plan amid flood and housing debate

The Laramie City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a resolution recommending the West Side urban renewal plan and project, a step officials said is needed before any property owner can seek tax-increment financing (TIF) for public improvements.

The measure, introduced by Councilor Bowling as resolution 2026-34, designates the property as an urban renewal area and lays out the types of public improvements that could be eligible for TIF — including street, water, sewer, and stormwater work. Director Taney and the city’s consultant, Mark Christiansen, told the council the plan conforms with Wyoming statute and represents step two of a three-step process that would require a later development agreement to authorize specific uses of funds.

Why it matters: Supporters say the plan is an enabling tool to attract development and pay for expensive infrastructure upgrades that private developers would otherwise face, notably stormwater mitigation near the Laramie River. Opponents said the property sits largely in FEMA-designated flood zones and warned that TIF can shift public money toward private developments without guaranteeing affordable housing or protections for the adjacent West Side Historic District.

Supporters’ case: Bear Ralston, a local resident, urged the council to approve the plan to encourage housing and opportunities for young people who want to buy homes in Laramie. Evan Grendel, a West Laramie resident, said the designation is only the first stage and argued that it would be difficult to start any future development without the planning framework: “This is the first thing that we need to do in order to do that,” he said.

Opponents’ objections: Brett Glass, who spoke multiple times, told the council the plan “is not urban. It’s not renewal. The area isn’t blighted,” and urged rejection on statutory grounds, arguing the plan lacks the specific, workable redevelopment details required by state law. Anne Brand of the Albany County Conservancy and other West Side residents voiced concerns about flood risk, stormwater impacts and the adequacy of public outreach.

City response and technical context: Planning staff said the site was evaluated under the statutory factors that qualify an area for urban renewal — including inadequate street layout, access constraints and environmental assessments previously undertaken with EPA and DEQ involvement. Mark Christiansen said the plan is consistent with other Wyoming urban renewal plans and that designation only enables, but does not obligate, the use of TIF. “This doesn’t establish any type of development,” Director Taney said, adding that a future developer would need to present a development agreement spelling out specific improvements and funding uses.

What the vote does: The council’s approval makes the property eligible for the Urban Renewal Authority process; if a property owner later requests TIF, council will see a development agreement specifying exact uses and costs. The resolution passed by roll call vote, 9–0.

Next steps: Approval permits property owners or developers to pursue TIF-supported projects but does not itself authorize construction or spending. Council members and several speakers urged more neighborhood-driven work — including the potential for a zoning overlay and detailed stormwater commitments — to be explored in follow-up planning and development-agreement stages.