Commission recommends approval of Range Echo subdivision with fire-district signoff and financial assurance

The Albany County Alternate Planning and Zoning Commission on July 8 recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve the final plat for the Range Echo subdivision (SD 0226) with conditions requiring written fire‑district approval and financial assurance.

Planning staff David (planning staff) told the commission the 131.2‑acre proposal at 83 Littleworth Lane would create 11 lots ranging from about 10 to 20 acres, served by individual wells or hauled water and on‑site septic systems. "There is a well on the property that's used for irrigation that they're just trying to limit to that one lot," David said, and he noted a Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality advisory that wells completed in the Chugwater formation "may contain elevated concentrations of total dissolved solids and sulfates," for which homeowners may wish to install treatment.

Commissioners discussed road ownership, fencing and agency review. Staff explained that regulatory changes permit private roads when specified on the plat and that the Board of County Commissioners had previously required signage notifying the public that such roads are private and will not receive county maintenance. David said the proposal includes improving existing Littleworth Lane and constructing a new Big Worth Lane to serve most lots; "the roads will remain private," he said. The staff report also recommended a condition that financial assurance equal to 125% of the cost to construct improvements be provided to planning staff prior to final approval.

A commissioner asked about the fire district's response; David said the commission could recommend approval conditioned on receipt of a written fire‑district letter and that the final BOCC decision would not proceed if that condition was unmet. The commission moved and seconded a recommendation that the BOCC approve the subdivision, adopting staff findings and imposing the two conditions (fire‑district signoff and financial assurance). The transcript records the motion carried; the commission forwarded the recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners for final action.

The applicant named in the application is Nathan Willis. Staff also noted reviews and comments from the Laramie Rivers Conservation District and the Wyoming Department of Transportation; WYDOT requested a traffic‑generation estimate to determine whether a more detailed traffic evaluation is required. Planning staff said final financial assurance and fire‑safety plan approval must be received before the BOCC acts.

Next steps: The planning commission's vote sends the recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners; county staff said the BOCC will require the listed conditions be satisfied before final approval.