Planning Commission recommends denial of proposed Orchard Hills data center rezoning

The Cheyenne Planning Commission recently voted to deny rezoning requests for a 162-acre data center development proposed by Dallas-based Trammell Crow Company in the south Cheyenne area known as Orchard Hills. The commission rejected amendments to both the future land-use map and the zoning map, which would have changed the property from Mixed-Use Residential and Agricultural to Mixed-Use Employment and Light Industrial, respectively.

City Planner Connor White recommended denying the requests, emphasizing that the city faces a housing shortage and the proposed industrial development would remove land suitable for residential use. White also noted that a new elementary school, Mountain View Elementary, is being built approximately half a mile from the site. Residents, including Elizabeth Marvin, voiced concerns about potential low-frequency noise from the data center impacting students and staff at nearby schools.

Jeff Nakashima, senior vice president of Trammell Crow, advocated for the project, highlighting Wyoming's energy resources and business climate. He detailed plans for two data center buildings, a 500-foot buffer from residential areas, a closed-loop cooling system for water conservation, and 20 acres of open space for wildlife mitigation. Despite these assurances, commissioners unanimously sided with staff and resident concerns, citing the unsuitability of industrial development in the area and the need to preserve residential land.

While the Planning Commission's denial represents a significant setback, the decision is not final. The land-use and zoning amendment denials will be forwarded to the Cheyenne City Council for an initial introduction, with further discussions slated for the Public Services Committee and a potential final vote by the full council in October.