TUESDAY, April 28, 2026 |
Photo – Overhead view of the former Lawrence Salvage Yard – Courtesy City of Rawlins
Rawlins officials received a positive environmental finding for the Lawrence Property.
In December 2024, the City of Rawlins purchased the former Lawrence Salvage Yard after a fire damaged the four‑and‑a‑half‑acre property. Because the land had been used for auto salvage, heavy‑truck repair, and possibly fueling, the city asked the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to assess the site for hazardous materials. A completed environmental site assessment can make the property more appealing to developers by clarifying what hazards, if any, exist and outlining the required cleanup efforts.
During the April 21st Rawlins City Council meeting, Community Development Director Lou Lascano presented the finished environmental site assessment to the governing body. Lascano said the report contained encouraging news.
Wyoming DEQ hired the Cheyenne-based environmental firm Ayres Associates to perform the site assessment. After a brief history of the Lawrence Property, Ayres Associates Senior Engineer Christina Hiegel said field technicians took soil samples from various depths, searching for evidence of fuel spills and heavy metals.
Hiegel said samples taken near the surface showed elevated levels of barium, though she noted the heavy metal remains below the Department of Environmental Quality’s regulatory limit.
Hiegel said deeper testing revealed higher‑than‑average levels of arsenic at 5.68 milligrams per kilogram. A byproduct of the mining industry, the senior engineer said the contaminant is below DEQ’s normal background levels.
Heigle said both contaminates are well below concerning levels, clearing the path for future development.
The Lawrence Property is currently zoned for industrial use. The south side, near East Cedar Street, sits at a higher elevation than the north side along East Spruce Street. Community Development Director Lou Lascano said he would like to rezone the lower section for residential use.
Lascano said he would like to rezone the upper section as commercial.
Councilwoman Tonya Lewman agreed the area should no longer be zoned for industrial use but asked why the entire property shouldn’t be opened to residential development. City Attorney Pinita Maberry‑Nave said homes can be built in the commercial zone.
Councilman Derek Elliot objected to building homes on the north side of the property. Councilman Elliot said East Spruce Street becomes dangerously congested when events are held at the nearby Carbon County Fairgrounds. Instead of housing, Elliot recommended turning the area into a parking lot.
Councilman Elliot said the upper section of the property could be rented to residents for recreational vehicle storage, serving as an additional revenue source for the city.
Councilwoman Tonya Lewman said the governing body agreed to purchase the Lawrence Property with the intent of clearing the debris and offering the land to a private developer.
Councilman Elliot said the city has an obligation to improve safety along East Spruce Street by providing additional parking on the Lawrence Property.
Councilman Terry Patterson said the city is not responsible for building more parking spaces for the fairgrounds, that responsibility lies with the county.
Following the discussion, the Rawlins City Council authorized Community Development Director Lou Lascano to begin the process of rezoning the Lawrence Property. The request must be approved by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission before the governing body can take action. After that, the City Council will determine the best use for the property.
