Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

All right. Please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Welcome to the July 21st Laramie County Board of Commissioners meeting. If you have a cell phone, if you'd turn it to silent. And if you're going to speak during a public hearing, please come forward and state your name and address for the record. With that, Madam Clerk.

Consideration of the minutes of proceedings for July 1, 2026. Motion to approve.

Second. Motion to second. Any discussion by the commission? Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath. Aye. Commissioner Hollingshead.

Aye.

Commissioner Thompson. Aye. Commissioner Zwanitzer. Aye. Chairman Malm.

Aye. Item passes. Items 2 through 10 are considered routine county business and will be considered as one motion under the consent agenda. Unless a member of the governing body would like to have one removed. Commissioners? Mr. Chair, move to approve consent agenda items 2 through 10. Second. Motion and second. Any discussion? Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath? Aye. Commissioner Hollingshead?

Aye.

Commissioner Thompson?

Aye.

Commissioner Swanitzer?

Aye.

Chairman Malm?

Aye. Next item, please.

Item 11, consideration of acceptance certificate between Laramie County, Wyoming, and the Wyoming Department of Transportation for federal project Stipp Brothers. Aye. CN-02-110, bridge over Union Pacific Railroad, structure number DLM, County Road 210-2, East Pershing Boulevard.

Mr. Pullman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. John Pullman with Laramie County Public Works. This is the final acceptance for the removal of the East Pershing Bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks east of Cheyenne. The bridge was removed through the Wyoming Department of Transportation's Federal Bridge Replacement Off-System Program. And with the completion of this, and it was due to the completion of the Christiansen Bridge overpass, this bridge was shut down and removed. Public Works did walk the site with YDOT's engineering team and find it to be satisfactory. If you have any questions, I will stand for questions.

Any questions for John? Mr. Chair, move to approve.

Second.

Motion and some seconds. Discussion by the Commission? Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath? Aye. Commissioner Hollingshead?

Aye.

Commissioner Thompson? Aye. Commissioners Wanitzer? Aye. Chairman Malm? Aye.

Next item, please.

Item 12, consideration of a resolution imposing Stage 1 fire restrictions for Laramie County as a result of extreme fire danger.

Mr. Butler. Chairman Malm, Commissioners, Matt Butler, Laramie County Fire Warden. Before you is a resolution recommending to impose stage one fire restrictions for Laramie County. This was discussed at our monthly chiefs meeting as it always is during these times of years. And it is the recommendation of both the fire chiefs as well as myself to impose stage one fire restrictions. This time I'd ask, answer any questions that you may have.

Any questions for Matt? Any questions? I appreciate what you and our media specialists were able to put together here that kind of outlines it in a fluffier way, I guess I'll say.

Chairman Malm, through you, to Sarah with IT. She gets the accolades for the flyer. She did an amazing job with it with little direction.

Okay, and if that could go out as a social media post later today?

They take effect tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. should you guys vote to impose them, so we'll get it out tomorrow morning for sure. There is one slight change that we'll make to the flyer. Under these restrictions are in effect, it'll say for unincorporated Laramie County to not confuse any of the city or town rules or regulations that they may impose.

Okay, awesome. Any other questions from that? Nope. Mr. Chair, move to approve.

Second.

Motion and a second. Discussion by the commission? Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath. Aye. Commissioner Hollingshead.

Aye.

Commissioner Thompson. Aye. Commissioner Swannitzer. Aye. Chairman Malm.

Aye. Next item, please.

Item 13, consideration of a resolution giving public notice of Laramie County's intent to amend the 2025 Laramie County land use regulations under Title I, Planning Commission Appeal Processes.

Good afternoon, Commissioners. Kate Cundall, Associate Planner, on behalf of Justin Arnold. Laramie County Planning and Development, in accordance with Wyoming State statute, hereby wishes to amend the 2025 Laramie County Land Use Regulations based upon additional public feedback to add language concerning the Planning Commission appeal processes. Adoption, amendment, or repeal of any regulation that occurs under the rule-making requirements of Wyoming State Statute 16-3-103. A 45-day notice period and opportunity for public input are required prior to any amendment or of rules. The attached resolution shall serve as the public notice of Laramie County's intent to amend the 2025 Laramie County Land Use Regulations Title I Planning Commission appeal processes. And with that, I'd stand for any questions you may have.

Any questions for Ms. Cundall? Questions? Okay.

Mr. Chair, I move to approve the resolution to provide a notice of intent as required under Wyoming State Statute 16-3-103 to amend the 2025 Laramie County Land Use Regulations Title I Planning Commission Appeal Processes and set the Planning Commission public hearing date of September 10, 2026 to recommend adoption of the amendment and the Board of County Commissioners hearing date of September 15, 2026 to consider the adoption of the amendment of the 2025 Laramie County Land Use Regulations.

Motion and a second. Discussion by the Commission? Discussion? I guess I'd just briefly touch on that this was part that we kind of, I don't want to say overlooked, but when we did the overall land use regulation changes, we wanted to ensure that if a citizen had an appeal at the planning commission level, that they didn't have to go to the district court for that, that as a volunteer and recommending body, that it would come before the commission, any appeal that was related to a denial at the planning commission. So this was an effort to kind of fix what we felt was maybe an oversight on our part. All right. Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heaton. Aye. Commissioner Hollingshead.

Aye.

Commissioner Thompson. Aye. Commissioner Zwanitzer. Aye. Chairman Malm. Aye. Next item, please. Item 14, public hearing regarding a vacation of tracks 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, Lucky Star Ranch Subdivision, and approval of a modest subdivision permit at Platt for Lucky Star Ranch Subdivision, second filing, Laramie County, Wyoming. Ms. Kendall.

Good afternoon again. Kate Kendall, Associate Planner. AVIPC, on behalf of Green Acres LLC, has submitted a modest plat application for Lucky Star Ranch subdivision second filing for a replat of tracks 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, Lucky Star Ranch subdivision, situated in the south half of section 32, township 15 north, range 66 west, Laramie County, Wyoming. The subject property is located at Iron Mountain Road, Cheyenne. The purpose of the application is to replat six tracks to include three new 80-foot roadway right-of-ways to be dedicated in this plat for future development to the east. The subject property is currently assessed as agricultural land and located in the LU Land Zone District. The subject parcel is bordered by subdivisions to the east, south, and west, and state lands to the north. The Lucky Star Ranch subdivision plat was approved on March 15, 2022, so the BOCC must approve the vacation of that portion of the plat for this modest plat to be approved. Pertinent statutes in 2025 LCLUR include Wyoming Statutes 18-5-301 through 1-5-306 and 34-12-101 through 34-12-115, Section 4-2-104 governing modest plots with easement modifications within recorded subdivisions, and Section 2-4-104 governing the LU Land Use Zone District. And joining us today is Brad Emmons, the agent for the applicant.

Mr Emmons Chairman Commissioners Brad Emmons AVI agent for the applicant Green Acres LLC. I do believe the staff reports pretty clear that this is a planning purposes for this replat in case the property to the east is to be subdivided in the future. With the new regulations, you're not allowed to use access easements for rights of way anymore, so this had to come before you to create them as rights of way. So happy to answer any questions of the Commission.

Any questions for Brad? Okay, full staff report.

Chairman Malm and Commission members, the Laramie County Comprehensive Plan identifies the area as rural metro, where possible denser residential use should be encouraged. The parcel lies in the Plan Cheyenne Rural Residential District. Individual wells and septic systems provide water and sanitary services to these parcels. Agency comments have been addressed, public notice was provided, and no public comments were received. Based on evidence provided, staff finds that a this application meets the criteria for a modest plat with easement modification within recorded subdivisions pursuant to section 4-2-104 of the 2025 LCLUR and b this application is in conformance with section 2-4-104 governing the LU land use zone district. And the Board of County Commissioners may approve the vacation of Tracks 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, Lucky Star Subdivision, and approve the Modest Subdivision Permit and Plat for Lucky Star Ranch Subdivision, second filing, with one condition, and to adopt the findings of facts A and B of the staff report. The condition being the vacation of tracks 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, Lucky Star Ranch subdivision will become effective upon the recordation of Lucky Star Ranch subdivision's second filing. And with that, I would answer any questions you may have.

Any questions for Ms. Cundall? Questions? Okay, hearing none, this is a public hearing. If you'd like to speak on this item, please come forward. Is there anybody online?

There's nobody online.

Okay, one more time in the room. This is a public hearing. Public hearing. Public hearing having met its purpose. Public hearing is closed. Commissioners?

Mr. Chair, I move to approve the vacation of tracks 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 of Lucky Star Ranch subdivision and approve the modest subdivision permit and plat for Lucky Star Ranch. Second filing with one condition and adopt the findings of fact A and B of the staff report.

Motion and a second. Discussion by the commission? Discussion? I'd just extend my apologies to the applicant, as I know this was delayed. It's your no fault of the applicant, so I just want to apologize for that. And I would also say I can't believe it was four years since we did this initial plat. Time goes way too quick. Okay, with that, roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath. Aye. Commissioner Hollingshead.

Aye.

Commissioner Thompson. Aye. Commissioner Zwanitzer. Aye. Chairman Malm.

Aye. Is there anything else to come before us today, Madam Clerk?

There's no further business.

All right, with that, we are adjourned. Thank you.