April 16, 2024 |
Photo – I-80 Fort Steele exit – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Carbon County Board of Commissioners gave their approval to the construction of a large truck stop at the historic Fort Steele exit on Interstate 80 east of Sinclair.
Fort Steele, also known as Fort Fred Steele, was established in 1868 to protect the Union Pacific Railroad crews from attacks by Native American warriors while the transcontinental railroad was under construction. The fort was abandoned in 1886.
In 1969, the U.S. government added the site to its National Register of Historic Places. Over a century of fires and vandalism has left the fort in a state of disrepair.
The area around the historic site is home to a handful of private residences.
During the April 2nd Commissioners meeting Planning and Development Director Kristy Rowan told County Commissioners during their April 2nd meeting that landowner Gerald Dunnegan has asked to vacate the River Bend Estates Mobile Home subdivision at Fort Steele.
Rowan said Dunnegan bought the property in 1994 with the intent of building mobile homes on the site. The planning and development director said the property owner wanted to vacate his subdivision because no lots have been sold.
Rowan said Dunnegan would like to change the zoning of his property from residential to highway business. The board approved the planning and development director’s request.
The next thing on the commissioner’s agenda was a request from developer A to Z Transportation Services Incorporated to turn the site into a large truck stop and convenience store. Rowan said the zone change from residential to highway commercial, or C2, will allow the facility to be constructed on the property.
Rowan said her department asked state and local agencies as well as nearby property owners for comments on the zone change. The planning and development director said Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality wrote that the developer must obtain a DEQ permit to construct a new sewage system for the facility.
Rowan said the Wyoming Department of Transportation also commented on the project. The planning and development director said WYDOT demanded that the developer obtain permits if construction will block the road.
Rowan said the Carbon County Economic Development Corporation also submitted a comment about the proposed truck stop. The planning and development director said CCEDC believes the facility will aid stranded motorists.
Rowan said Fort Steele residents Pat and Kathy Jordon expressed their approval of the project. The Jordon’s said a new truck stop will make the area look better, but they are concerned about the amount of water the facility will use. The Jordon’s also said the truck stop should prevent drivers from trespassing on private property when Interstate 80 is closed.
Rowan said local residents Dawn and Diana Goodspeed also submitted letters of support for the project.
The commissioners expressed their approval of the project as well, pointing out that the area is in need of development. Commissioner Garrett Irene asked about the water situation at the site. WLC Engineering Rawlins Office Project Manager Doug Boyd said his company has been hired by A to Z Transportation Services to study the existing water infrastructure. Boyd said he’ll most likely end up designing an entirely new water and sewer system for the facility.
Boyd said the facility’s proximity to the North Platte River means that Wyoming DEQ will be closely involved.
Commissioner John Johnson asked about the timeline of the project. A to Z Transportation Service’s representative Kuldeep Singh said construction will begin as soon as the engineering is complete, and the permit applications have been approved.
Commissioner Irene asked how the Fort Steele truck stop will attract employees. Singh said his company will bus employees back and forth from Rawlins if necessary. Otherwise, Singh said workers will be compensated for their mileage.
The board unanimously voted to approve the truck stop project.
In an April 3rd Facebook post, Carbon County Economic Development Corporation Director Yvonne Johnson wrote that the original plan was to construct the large truck stop in Albany County.
However, Johnson wrote that she convinced the developer to consider building at the Fort Steele area instead.
