What’s New With Zoning & Planning: Laramie Area Growth Plan

One goal of mine is to provide community members quick updates on meeting topics. Last night Zoning and Planning met to discuss the Laramie Area Growth Plan. While most of the impact will fall within the county, the plan does impact Laramie as well.

The Laramie Area Growth Plan is being developed to help ensure that as Laramie grows, we’re doing it as thoughtfully as we can. The city and county have talked with citizens to get feedback and consider state laws in the planning. The majority of folks believe more dense building should be within the core of the city, and more rural growth reserved toward city limits.

Last night’s discussion focused on future growth in the “donut” area where the city and county meet. NO DECISIONS WERE MADE and discussion centered around these items:

Infrastructure: The city is in a pretty good place regarding sewer and water. Over decades, as new growth occurs, utilities will need to be built out as a private/public partnership.

Annexation: Only those areas which are contiguous to the city are eligible for annexation.

Disussion was had regarding the possibility of creating an overlay zone for those folks developing in the county who want to subdivide in the Laramie Area Growth Zone (LAG). This would require an Intergovernmental Agreement between the city and county which says that if someone wants to subdivide an area for new housing in the LAG, they must tie into city utilities.

“Hooking In” Discussion: (Please note this does NOT pertain to existing septic systems). Currently, if you are in the county and want to build and are within 100 ft of a city water line, you must hook in. The proposed changes would require building within 400 ft to hook in.

Streets: Discussion regarding dedicated rights of ways for county roads, subdivision roads, and adjacent roads and paving in the LAG area. These standards would ensure roads align as Laramie grows.

LOTS to think on and discuss still! Stay tuned.