Laramie Planning Commission postpones rezoning request for Trinity Baptist Church to allow broader review around Labonte Park

The Laramie Planning Commission voted 6-0 to postpone consideration of rezoning request RZNE-26-00001, a proposal to change zoning for properties at 1270 North 9th Street and 715 Shield Street from R2 to R3, and directed staff to study whether a broader R3 map amendment for the area around Labonte Park is warranted.

Philip, planning staff, told the commission the two parcels are currently occupied by Trinity Baptist Church and a developmental preschool and that staff finds the applicant request generally supportable given existing land uses. "We are recommending a postponement to August 24th," Philip said, explaining that additional mapping, coordination with parks and expanded public notice would be required for a broader rezoning.

Why it matters: Staff said the zoning around Labonte Park currently includes R3, B2 and R2 districts and that a narrow approval could create an "island" of different zoning that does not reflect actual land use. Philip told commissioners the broader review would allow staff to evaluate lot sizes, surrounding uses, major streets and development potential and notify property owners within 300 feet of any expanded area.

Commissioners pressed staff on boundaries and procedural implications. A commissioner asked whether Pacific Court or properties on North Fourth Street would be included; Philip said Pacific Court is not part of the current request but could be considered in a broader amendment and that the existing site’s nonconforming status would remain until a property owner sought changes. On outreach, Philip said the current notice radius for the two-parcel application was 300 feet and that a broader rezoning would expand notification accordingly.

What R3 would change: Philip explained that recent code revisions have narrowed differences between R2 and R3, but the principal distinctions remain density and some permitted low-impact commercial uses. He summarized the residential contrast as roughly 1,250 square feet per unit in R2 versus about 1,000 square feet per unit in R3 and noted that R3 permits certain neighborhood-serving commercial uses (bakeries, barber shops) that are limited or conditional in R2.

Applicant statements: Pastor John Mattingley, representing Trinity Baptist Church, said the congregation has occupied the site for more than 70 years and wants to modernize the building and add a welcome center and parking as needs arise. "We just want that whole corner ... to improve it, make it look good," Mattingley said, adding that near-term work is primarily interior remodeling and that the August delay would not impede those plans.

Christy Roberts, representing the applicants for Dwell, told the commission that rezoning to R3 would make existing uses (place of worship and the developmental preschool) more consistent with the code and could streamline future approvals. Jamie Stein of the Developmental Preschool said rezoning would help the preschool avoid potential land-use conflicts in the future and that the postponement to August would not affect their timeline.

The motion and vote: A commissioner moved to postpone consideration of RZNE-26-00001 and to direct staff to evaluate a broader R3 zoning map amendment for properties surrounding Labonte Park, including the subject parcels; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with six yeses, zero nos, and one absence. The commission scheduled the item to return on Aug. 24 with an expanded staff report and notifications to affected property owners.

Next steps: Staff will prepare updated mapping and an expanded staff report for the Aug. 24 meeting. The commission may then consider either recommending approval of the larger zoning amendment or, if appropriate, approving the original two-parcel request. If changes are proposed that require additional notice, staff said further postponement could be necessary.