CHEYENNE, Wyo. — On Monday, the Cheyenne City Council passed an ordinance that will remove the land use term “work camps” from the city’s Unified Development Code and prohibit their establishment within city limits.
The ordinance was approved on its third and final reading during the council’s meeting.
The move comes after concerns were raised by residents and councilmembers regarding a recent application for a work camp in an Agricultural Zone district near schools and residential neighborhoods. According to a memo from the Planning and Development director Charles Bloom, the proposed amendment addresses public safety, compatibility and quality-of-life issues associated with such facilities.
During the meeting, House District 44 Rep. Lee Filer thanked the council for the ordinance, noting the Harmony Meadows neighborhood’s appreciation for the decision. Filer said that while they are “all pro-development,” they believed the work camp location was not ideal.
“Boy, this thing feels like it’s been lingering for a while,” Filer said of the ordinance. “[Harmony Meadows residents] don’t want to stop anybody from being able to progress. Go forward, do good business and all that, but we do believe there is a place to do certain types of businesses. That was one of those areas that the work camp was definitely probably not the best idea to put in that area.”
Ward II Councilmember Mark Rinne emphasized that only “quality growth is good growth” and considered the ordinance a step in maintaining that principle.
The Planning Commission had previously heard the item at its Feb. 3 meeting and unanimously voted to recommend the City Council approve it. The staff report attached to the ordinance highlighted that work camps are temporary or semi-permanent housing for transient workers and their placement near sensitive areas had become contentious. Concerns were also noted over potential impacts to infrastructure, traffic, noise, property values and neighborhood character.
The ordinance, with the council’s unanimous support, will delete the definition of “work camp” and remove its permissibility from zoning district uses.
The ordinance is attached below:
