August 22, 2024|
Photo – Map of area for proposed zone change – Courtesy City of Rawlins
The Bureau of Land Management is seeking authorization from the Rawlins governing body to construct a new fire station on the south side of the city.
During Tuesday’s Rawlins city council meeting, Councilman Chris Weisenburg said the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a request to rezone BLM-owned land on Donnel and Jackson Streets from residential to commercial. Weisenburg said the city is also seeking a zone change for a 19-acre parcel of city-owned land in the same area.
Councilman Weisenburg also said the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a special use permit to allow BLM to construct two firefighter barracks on their land.
As for the city-owned property, Councilman Weisenberg said the city is asking to rezone the land for commercial development. The councilman said the area hasn’t undergone any residential growth. A change to commercial zoning may increase the chances of the land being developed.
City Manager Tom Sarvey informed the governing body that a special meeting to decide on the BLM zone change has been scheduled for August 30th. Sarvey said the special meeting was necessary to meet BLM’s deadline.
City Attorney Pinita Maberry-Nave explained why BLM requested the zone change. Maberry-Nave said rezoning the BLM property is necessary for the federal agency to legally construct a new fire station and barracks on the south side of the city.
Maberry-Nave said under a C-2 zone, BLM may request a special use permit to construct worker housing on the property. The city attorney said the planning commission unanimously approved BLM’s zone change and special use permit requests.
Councilwoman Tonya Lewman asked if the proposed barracks will be temporary. Attorney Maberry-Nave said BLM plans to build two permanent structures to allow off duty seasonal firefighters to rest.
Councilwoman Lewman said additional firefighters always welcome.
The city also owns a 19-acre parcel of land in the same area. Maberry-Nave said the city is also asking to rezone its property to C-2 in an effort to attract commercial development. The city attorney said the Planning and Zoning Commission is required to advertise all zone changes for 15 days to give residents within 140 feet of the property a chance to comment. Maberry-Nave said if 20% of residents reject the proposal, three quarters of the governing body must approve the zone change for it to pass.
Maberry-Nave said five of the 20 nearby property owners protested the zone change. Six of the seven Rawlins city council members must vote for the zone change before it can be approved.
The city council will hold a special meeting at 11:00 am on Friday, August 30th to decide on the BLM requested zone changes. The city-owned property zone change will be heard at a future city council meeting.
