(Lander, WY) – The Lander City Council approved six amendments to its proposed new zoning ordinance on second reading this week after hearing feedback from the community about the initial proposal.
Councilmember Dan Hahn suggested the first amendment, which increased the number of off-street parking spaces required per residential living unit in the ordinance, from one to two.
He said the increase would “get the parked cars off the street,” making it easier for first responders and firefighters to access residential properties in case of emergencies.
Councilmember John Larsen agreed that the one-space requirement in the original ordinance represented a “big issue” for local residents.
“I’ve had several people approach me (to say) we need to have more parking,” Larsen said, offering the formal motion to increase the parking requirement.
Airport amendment
The other five amendments the council approved this week came from the Lander Planning Commission, largely based on feedback from the community.
But first, the Planning Commission asked the council to amend the airport zoning section of the ordinance, which was “incomplete” on first reading.
“Adopting this amendment will add definitions and regulations for an overlay district titled ‘Airport Protection Zone,’” a memo to the council states.
Side setbacks
The next amendment from the Planning Commission set 10-foot side setback requirements in R-1, R-2, and R-3 residential zones.
The side setback requirement in R-1 is currently 12 feet, and the Planning Commission had originally suggested setting it at 10 feet, while the side setback requirement in R-2 and R-3 is currently 10 feet, and the Planning Commission had originally suggested setting it at 5 feet.
The minimum side setback requirement for the R-5 zone is currently 5 feet, Assistant Mayor RaJean Strube Fossen noted, and the Planning Commission is “suggesting no change in that.”
She also pointed out that the side setback amendment should address some of the concerns about fire safety that members of the public expressed in response to the Planning Commission’s original zoning proposal.
Maximum heights
The Planning Commission also suggested an amendment adjusting the originally proposed maximum structure height in all zones.
For R-1, R-2 and R-Med, the amendment set the maximum height at 35 feet, and for R-3 and R-5, the amendment set the maximum structure height at 40 feet.
The maximum height restrictions are currently set at 30 feet in R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-Med, and “three stories” in R-5, and the Planning Commission had originally recommended setting them at 35 feet in R-1, 40 feet in R-Med, and 45 feet in R-2, R-3, and R-5.
Accessory structures
Another Planning Commission amendment recommended a 20-foot maximum height for accessory structures in all residential zones.
“That essentially reverts back to the current code with no suggested changes, (because) if we’re lowering the maximum heights for residential, it did not make sense to increase the height for accessory structures,” Strube Fossen said.
The Planning Commission had originally suggested increasing the maximum accessory structure height to 30 feet in all zones.
The final Planning Commission amendment also deals with accessory structures, restricting the number allowed in all residential zones to four per lot.
“This is more restrictive, as the current zone does not restrict the number of accessory structures in any zone,” Strube Fossen said.
The Planning Commission had originally recommended allowing no more than two accessory structures in R-1 and R-2.
The council must approve the zoning ordinance one more time before it becomes law, and Mayor Monte Richardson pointed out that it “can be changed again” at that point.
For more information call the City of Lander at (307) 332-2870.