THURSDAY, August 20, 2026|
Photo – Map showing the former Lawrence property – Courtesy City of Rawlins
Rawlins officials voted to divide the former Lawrence Salvage Yard into residential and commercial properties in preparation for a future sale.
During the August 18th Rawlins City Council meeting, the governing body considered a zone‑change request for the Lawrence Property. The land, located in the center of the city, was damaged in a fire in July 2024. Later that year, the council voted to spend $230,000 from the dangerous building fund, a municipal account exclusively used to buy and remediate hazardous properties, to purchase the site.
On July 14th, the Rawlins Planning and Zoning Division created a proposal to change the former salvage yard from its current Industrial zoning to a mix of Residential and Commercial. The matter was discussed during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Mayor Jacquelin Wells opened a public hearing on the matter, but no one spoke in support or opposition.
Later in the meeting, Community Development Director Lou Lascano said the Planning and Zoning Division submitted a proposal to rezone the northern 4.88 acres of the site, along East Spruce Street, as Residential R‑7.5, permitting single‑family homes on 7,500‑square‑foot lots.
Community Development Director Lascano said the southern 9.15 acres, which sit at a higher elevation than the northern side, would be rezoned as Commercial C‑2, allowing light to medium commercial uses including retail.
Councilman Bruce Seilaff asked if the zone change would allow mobile homes to be placed on the site. Lascano said no, explaining the designation calls for traditional houses, though a future buyer could seek changes.
Mobile homes are only permitted on sites designated as R-MH.
Lascano said any future zone‑change requests would have to move through the same steps, starting with Planning and Zoning approval and then a City Council vote.
When the Lawrence Property rezoning was initially considered, Councilman Derek Elliot expressed support for converting the north side into overflow parking for the nearby Carbon County Fairgrounds. He restated that position during Tuesday’s meeting and asked how the upper commercial section would be accessed.
The upper portion of the site sits considerably higher than the northern section. Community Development Director Lou Lascano said the property could be accessed from Rodeo Street but acknowledged that the grading work will be difficult.
Councilman Derek Elliot suggested offering the land to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners instead of a private developer, hoping they will build additional parking for the fairgrounds. For that reason, Councilman Elliot said he couldn’t support the zone‑change request.
Councilwoman Tonya Lewman responded that the city purchased the Lawrence Property with two specific goals in mind. The first, she said, was to prevent further industrial development in the area and lessen the associated fire risk.
The second goal, Councilwoman Lewman said, was to sell the property to a private developer. She acknowledged that the area is very busy during fair week but said converting the land into a parking lot would not be a sensible decision. Instead, the land should be sold and the proceeds used to purchase and revitalize other dangerous properties around the city.
Following the discussion, the Rawlins City Council voted to rezone the former Lawrence Salvage Yard as commercial and residential properties. Councilman Derek Elliot voted against the proposal. In a story posted to Bigfoot99.com earlier this week, Toga Radio incorrectly reported that the zone‑change request required three separate readings. The decision was finalized with a single vote.
With the rezoning approved, Community Development Director Lou Lascano said he will set up a special work session with the City Council in the future to discuss selling the property.
