Cheyenne Public Services Committee to hear data center land proposals before final vote July 13
The Cheyenne Public Services Committee is reviewing several land proposals for upcoming data center developments, including a large Microsoft project and the Read Land property. These proposals, which involve annexation and zoning changes, are on their third reading and will proceed to the full City Council for a final vote on July 13. Public controversy has surrounded some of these projects, with community members both questioning and defending their feasibility.
The City of Cheyenne's Public Services Committee is set to review multiple proposals concerning upcoming data center development projects before they advance to the full City Council for a final vote on July 13. The committee, meeting at the Municipal Building, will consider proposed ordinances that are currently on their third reading, signifying their readiness for final approval next week.
Four distinct projects are undergoing this review process. Three of these projects are seeking a business park zoning designation, which would enable future data center development. Notably, Microsoft's large data center project, located on land owned by the family of Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis, and the adjacent Read Land property are specifically designated for data center construction.
Both Microsoft's and the Read Land's data center ambitions, projected to unfold over 10 to 20 years, have encountered public controversy. A recent Cheyenne City Council meeting extended for over five hours as residents debated the benefits and feasibility of Microsoft's project. Representatives from Microsoft and the Read Land property articulated their motivations, with Dan Read emphasizing the unsuitability of his family's land for residential development and praising Microsoft's professionalism in negotiations. A Microsoft representative confirmed that the sale of the Lummis family land to Microsoft is nearing completion.
To facilitate these developments, the city will consider several actions. For the 3,500-acre Highlands property, which is part of Microsoft's project, the committee must approve annexation, a zoning change, and amendments to the city's future land use map. The 387-acre Read Land property, already within city limits, requires rezoning from agricultural to business park. Additionally, the Swan Ranch Rail Park is requesting annexation and a business park zoning assignment for a 26-acre plot, which could also host data centers. A separate 2.69-acre lot on Charles Street is slated for residential development and is not related to data centers.