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South Greeley Highway Sweetgrass Annexation

At a glance

  • What: A package for land east of South Greeley Highway and south of the Sweetgrass Subdivision: annexation (ordinance 4687), initial AG Agricultural zoning (4688), rezoning from AG and PUD to BP Business Park (4689), and two PlanCheyenne Future Land Use Map resolutions (6551, 6552) changing the land from Agricultural/Rural and Urban Residential to Mixed-Use Employment and amending the Urban Service Boundary.
  • Where it stands: All adopted on third and final reading on 2026-07-13, at a meeting that ran until 1:41 a.m.
  • Contention: Laybourn, Moody and Wolfe voted no on every ordinance and both resolutions (6-3). More than 50 people spoke.

Details

  • Annexation (4687): Aldrich moved third reading, seconded by Emmons. Moody moved to strike "upon its publication" in Section 5 and replace it with "on January 25, 2027" (seconded by Wolfe); it failed 2-7, with only Laybourn and Moody yes. Moody then moved to recommit to the January 19, 2027 Public Services Committee (seconded by Wolfe); it failed 3-6. The main motion carried 6-3.
  • Wolfe moved to adjourn (seconded by Laybourn) during the debate; it failed 3-6.
  • Public comment began before a recess; Mayor Collins reconvened at 10:10 p.m. and comment continued. Speakers included Brad Emmons (AVI, P.C., agent for the applicant), representatives of Microsoft (Rachel Irwing, Adonis Trujillo, Staci Balcaen, Jeff McPartland and Lance Gold), Daunte Rushton of Cheyenne LEADS, Alex Bowler of the Cheyenne Landowners Coalition, Maren Kallas, Jim Chiro, Kay McAdams, Heather Madrid, Janet Tolman, David Kniseley, Charles Miller and dozens of residents and business people. The minutes do not record positions. Segrave raised a point of order that one speaker was off topic; Mayor Collins ruled Miller out of order for the same reason. All nine members and the Mayor commented.
  • Zoning (4688, AG): Aldrich moved, seconded by Segrave; carried with Laybourn, Moody and Wolfe no. Speakers: Miller, Tolman, Shae Phifer and Jane Lessenger.
  • Rezoning to BP (4689): Aldrich moved, seconded by White; carried with the same three no votes. Speakers: Al Gates and Miller.
  • Resolution 6551 overruled the Planning Commission's disapproval of the Future Land Use Map amendment (Aldrich moved, Segrave seconded; Wolfe commented; speakers Miller and Mandie Shattuck). Resolution 6552 then adopted the amendment (Aldrich moved, Segrave seconded). Both carried with Laybourn, Moody and Wolfe voting no. See also Planning Commission Denial Override for a later override of the same kind.
  • After this vote Council authorized a legal action on annexation and referendum; see Annexation Referendum Declaratory Judgment.
  • Earlier steps, 2026-06-08: public hearing under Wyoming Statute 15-1-402 on about 3,459.99 acres. Speakers: Jim Chiro, Heather Madrid, Brant Miller (Laramie County Groundwater Control Board), Mark Christensen (AVI, P.C., agent for the applicant), Microsoft representatives Rachel Irwing, Lucas Downey and Brian Napier, Betsey Hale (CEO, Cheyenne LEADS), Brandon Swain and Charles Miller. Points of order were raised that Napier's and Miller's comments were off subject, and Mayor Collins responded that they were not germane. All members commented. First readings of the annexation, AG zoning, BP rezoning and the two Future Land Use Map resolutions were referred to the Public Services Committee (sponsor Segrave).
  • 2026-06-22, second readings: the annexation, moved by Aldrich and seconded by Emmons, carried 6-3 (Laybourn, Moody and Wolfe no) after Wolfe's motion to refer it to the Public Services Committee with a report on November 9, 2026 (seconded by Laybourn) failed 3-6. White raised a point of order that Wolfe's comments were off subject. About 25 people spoke, including Jim Chiro, Wendy Volk, Heather Madrid, Kay McAdams, Richard Lysle, Maren Kallas, Janet Tolman, Brad Emmons (agent for the applicant), Microsoft representatives, Daunte Rushton (Cheyenne LEADS), Rob Turse (Local Union 192) and Charles Miller.
  • 2026-06-22: AG zoning carried 7-2 (Laybourn and Moody no); the BP rezoning, after a recess reconvened at 9:35 p.m., carried 6-3 (Laybourn, Moody and Wolfe no).
  • 2026-06-22: both Future Land Use Map resolutions were postponed to July 13, 2026 on Aldrich's motion, seconded by Emmons: the overrule of the Planning Commission's disapproval 8-1 (Laybourn no) and the amendment resolution 7-2 (Laybourn and Moody no).

Sources

Log

2026-07-13 - City Council

Third and final reading of the annexation, AG zoning and BP rezoning; two land use resolutions adopted; amendment and recommit motions failed.

2026-06-22 - City Council

Second readings: annexation 6-3 after a referral motion failed 3-6; AG zoning 7-2; BP rezoning 6-3; land use resolutions postponed to July 13.

2026-06-08 - City Council

Public hearing on about 3,459.99 acres; first readings referred to the Public Services Committee.