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City councilman reports annexation hearing, $5 million reserved for Reid Avenue project
Summary
A city council representative told the Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board that council held a public hearing on a Wood Acres annexation, approved $5,000,000 in reserves for the Reid Avenue corridor contingent on an agreement with BNSF Railroad, and expanded the DDA boundary to include the Snyder grocery store.
A city council representative updated the Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board on actions from the council’s most recent meeting, including a contested annexation hearing and a conditional funding move for a transportation corridor.
The representative said the council held a public hearing on the proposed annexation of about 1,259.9 acres known as Wood Acres, located west of Round Top Road and adjacent to Happytack Road, and that many nearby residents spoke against the proposal because they believed their properties would be affected. He also said the finance committee "approved $5,000,000 of reserves to go toward the Reid Avenue corridor project," but emphasized the money would only be expended "if we reach a final agreement with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad." The representative characterized the annexation debate as focused in areas near the city’s freshwater treatment plant and Rolling Hills neighborhood.
The council also recommended expanding the Downtown Development Authority boundary to include the Snyder Street grocery store; the board’s recommendation passed second reading at the council and will take effect when the tax rules are updated. The representative noted the council handled roughly 20 referrals across public service and finance committees and designated delegates for an upcoming web conference.
Why it matters: the $5 million in reserves signals council-level readiness to advance a multimodal corridor project, but the money is conditioned on a negotiated agreement with the railroad — a constraint that could delay or limit spending. The DDA boundary change shifts which properties may be eligible for downtown improvement tools and tax rules beginning January 1, per the council report.
What’s next: the council’s final agreements with Burlington Northern Santa Fe will determine whether the Reid Avenue funds are released; board members said they would monitor related site plans and any downstream review items that come before the preservation board.
