ROCK SPRINGS – A lot split and subdivision variance that would split the lot the new My Place Hotel sits on was approved by the Rock Springs Planning and Zoning Commission. The requests will now go before Rock Springs City Council for final approval.
In 2005, Western Wyoming Community College was given permission to start selling the lots which sit on the Gateway extension. Recently, the planning and zoning commission approved the plans for a new extended stay hotel that is currently being built on one of these lots.
Rock Springs City Planner Jennifer Shields said the owners of the lot recently decided they would like to split the lot in hopes of selling the second lot. The hope is to attract a business or developer who would have interest in placing a business on the second lot which would benefit the hotel such as a restaurant or convenience store. Shields said there is not a specific project at this time.
To do this, the owner of the lot is required to go through the plat process. Both the preliminary plat and final plat went before the commission. Shields said usually they would do these separately but because the scope of the planned split is small, they decided to do both the preliminary and final plat together.
Along with the plats, the commission also looked at a subdivision variance requested on the split. A variance was required because the proposed dividing line of the lots does not run the way the city’s ordinance requires because of the challenges the lot possesses.
Original plans were submitted and had several comments made during a utility review on them. Revised plans were submitted addressing the comments made.
One of these challenges was discovered during the building of the hotel. Shields explained there are two Rocky Mountain Power lines that run right through the lot. The city knew of one and the other was discovered when construction on the hotel started. She told the commission RMP is in the process to abandon the lines.
Neighboring owners of the split were notified and Shields said they did not receive any public comment on the proposal. There were no public comments made during the public hearing at the meeting.
The commission approved the requests and moved them forward for the city council to make the final decision. Staff did have several conditions which would need to be completed before sending it to council. One involved the RMP lines as Shields said they will need to have the abandonments done before it moves forward.
Also, because of the split, the drainage plans would have to be done again. The city requires drainage plans for each lot.
To read about the original approval of the hotel go to http://www.sweetwaternow.com/new-extended-stay-hotel-will-located-gateway-extension-moving-forward/
Minor Site Plans
There were also two minor site plans the commission were informed of. Due to the size of the requests, approval is done at the staff level and does not have to have approval from the commission. However, staff does keep the commission advised of all minor site plans.
The first project is for a wireless telecommunication tower to be placed at 731 C St. The request was from Jim Wamsley representing the Sweetwater Combined Communications Joint Power Board. Shields said they need a taller tower to replace the current one at the courthouse so there is better cell phone reception.
The second request was also for a wireless telecommunications pole-mounted dish to be located at 1515 Ninth St. The request was made by Chevron. Shields said it is basically the same request as the first one but on a smaller scale.
