Council committee backs Orchard Hills data center, recommends overruling Planning Commission

The Cheyenne City Council Public Services Committee has recommended advancing the 162-acre Orchard Hills data center development, effectively overruling an earlier recommendation for denial from the city's Planning Commission. The committee, in a meeting on Monday, greenlit four items related to the project, including the annexation of the land, an amendment to the city's official zoning map to change the designation from agricultural to light industrial, and a resolution to overrule the Planning Commission's denial of a future land-use map amendment from mixed-use residential to mixed-use employment.

Dallas-based Trammell Crow Company, spearheading the development, argued that the property's proximity to an existing Meta data center campus, railroad tracks, and electrical infrastructure makes it unsuitable for residential development, which the current 12-year-old land-use plan designates. Councilman Tom Segrave echoed this sentiment, questioning the practicality of residential housing in the area. Cindy DeLancey, representing Trammell, noted that the proposed zone change would not significantly impact Cheyenne's future housing supply and highlighted community benefits such as extending the Greater Cheyenne Greenway and improving local infrastructure.

Resident opinions were divided; some supported Trammell Crow Company, citing concerns about increased traffic and crime associated with high-density housing, while others questioned the committee's decision to disregard the Planning Commission's recommendations. The committee did postpone the final consideration of the land-use amendment for two weeks to align with the annexation process. All five items concerning the Orchard Hills data center development are now set to go before the full City Council for final review.