City Council moves proposed Cox Ranch data center project toward final vote

The Cheyenne City Council has taken another step toward approving the annexation and rezoning of the 1,198-acre Cox Ranch property, intended for a data center campus developed by Skybox Datacenters and ViaWest Group. Three items, including annexation and rezoning to business park use, passed their second reading with a 6-3 vote, moving the project closer to a final vote on Sept. 28.

Much of the discussion centered on strong opposition from Rolling Hills residents, who voiced concerns about noise, lighting, water use, wildlife, and increased traffic, citing negative experiences with an existing Microsoft data center nearby. Resident Rick Kessler criticized the city's annexation process as unfair to county residents, who lack voting power in city government despite being directly affected. Toni McCoy echoed concerns about constant hums and bright lights from the Microsoft facility.

Developers Tom Glissmeyer of ViaWest Group and Jack O’Neill of Skybox Datacenters defended the project, stating they have held multiple community meetings and worked to address concerns. O'Neill highlighted plans to connect to city water and sewer, avoiding groundwater wells, and emphasized the property's natural setback from residential areas. He also cited an existing Skybox data center's low water usage in Austin, Texas. While some council members, like Larry Wolfe and Mark Moody, voted against the measures due to a lack of sufficient agreements and impacts on agriculture, Councilman Tom Segrave supported the project, referencing recent election results as public support for economic development. Councilman Ken Esquibel noted that city oversight through annexation could be beneficial.