Cheyenne’s Orchard Hills data center approved on final vote despite persistent resident opposition
The Cheyenne City Council approved the Orchard Hills data center after rejecting an 8-1 motion to delay the decision. The project faced persistent opposition from nearby residents, while supporters argued it would generate less traffic and preserve more rural character than residential development.
The Cheyenne City Council approved four measures for the Orchard Hills data center, including annexation, zoning changes from agricultural to light industrial, and a future land-use map amendment. The site is west of South Greeley Highway near Orchard Valley, and the project will continue through the city’s development process.
Residents expressed concerns about industrial impacts, notification and the loss of the area’s rural character. Trammell Crow Company has proposed a community benefits agreement, including greenway, water-system and road improvements, as well as a vegetated berm separating the campus from nearby homes. Supporters said the two-building data center would generate an estimated 368 daily trips, compared with about 5,400 for a potential 600-unit residential development. A council motion to postpone the vote failed 8-1, and all four items passed on third reading without amendments or delays.