Planning commission recommends denial of 57‑acre rezoning request for storage development

The Albany County Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend denial of a 57‑acre rezoning application (ZDA‑03‑26) that would change a property on Soldier Springs Road and Rosedale Road from residential/agricultural to commercial.

Planning staff opened the item by describing the parcel (address 147037 Rosedale Road) and summarized outside reviews from the Laramie Rivers Conservation District and Wyoming Game and Fish. Staff told the commission the site has low‑lying areas with shallow groundwater and seasonal surface flow, recommended reclamation with native species where disturbed and—while noting nearby commercial parcels—recommended approval based on access to a paved county road and potential compatibility with surrounding commercial development. "Staff recommends approval of this application, and would be happy to answer any questions," the planner said.

Public commenters raised environmental and operational concerns. Alita Garson, a neighbor, said she feared loss of wildlife habitat and groundwater contamination if septic or other wastewater systems were sited close to nearby wells: "My water comes from a well, and if they're gonna have their sewer right there feeding into my water, that's not ideal for myself or the people living there," she said. Roger Schafer, who said he owns the property that houses KOWB radio, told the commission he was renegotiating a lease with the station and worried that large buildings could interfere with radio transmissions.

Applicant Dr. Kaduri told the commission he bought the property about three months earlier "as an investment" and described his intent as providing primarily dry storage for boats and RVs with possibly one or two indoor storage buildings, not an RV park. "I don't plan on doing, like, an RV park or anything," he said, adding he and his wife are pediatricians and that they would not run day‑to‑day operations on the site.

Commission debate centered on scale and consistency with adopted plans. Commissioner Vern moved to recommend denial, arguing the 57‑acre rezoning is incompatible with the county comprehensive plan and the Laramie area growth plan and risking a step‑by‑step expansion of commercial uses into residential areas. Commissioners who opposed denial cited staff findings and questioned how much weight to give the growth plan where implementation has lagged. One commissioner voiced housing‑supply concerns and urged caution before converting land away from residential designation.

On a roll‑call vote the commission approved the recommendation to deny ZDA‑03‑26 and will forward that recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners. The motion carried and commissioners thanked members of the public for their input.

The county's planning staff noted that specific development details—including wastewater and building placement—would be addressed at future permit and site‑plan stages if zoning were changed, and that land within the commercial district could allow a range of uses by right. The decision the commission forwarded is a recommendation to the county commissioners, who will make any final rezoning decision.