Mixed-Use

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Mixed-Use Categories

‐ Mixed‐Use Residential Emphasis
‐ Mixed‐Use Commercial Emphasis
‐ Mixed‐Use Employment Campus

Cheyenne's Downtown historic core traditionally had mixed‐use development—where offices, homes, and shopping coexisted in one discrete area. However, more recent development trends in the community have shifted away from this pattern of mixed‐use. The automobile as the dominant mode of transportation has led to a more dispersed pattern of land uses, and consumer demand for larger single family homes on larger lots has dispersed the community more over time.

This Plan promotes mixed‐use development patterns in areas designated on the Future Land Use Plan to maintain Cheyenne's identity, to create livable neighborhoods and safe and inviting pedestrian environments, and to stimulate development and revitalization of some areas.

Mixed-Use Design Principles

Generally, mixed‐use development should be designed with the following principles in mind:

1. Develop according to a coherent mixed‐use concept plan that physically integrates different uses, including retail space, residential, hotels, offices, or civic and cultural facilities (for projects greater than five acres).


2. Incorporate a mix of land uses that is either "vertical" (where components are mixed within a single building or block such as homes on top floors with retail on bottom), or "horizontal" (where different activities on the site are in separate buildings, but linked through a cohesive design).


3. Provide internal connected streets and sidewalks that allow safe and direct access between buildings, and accommodate pedestrians in a safe manner. Use blocks that do not exceed 600 feet in length and provide pedestrian pass‐throughs.


4. Locate and orient development around a central public space, such as a plaza or park.


5. Provide transitions so that no building is more than 150% taller than an adjacent building.

The Future Land Use Plan designates several types of mixed‐use development, described in the following sections.

Mixed-Use Residential Emphasis Category

Appropriate Uses

Primary Uses
The Mixed‐Use Residential category promotes self‐supporting neighborhoods that primarily contain housing. A range of residential housing types, such as single‐family residences, duplexes, patio homes, townhomes, apartments, condominiums, and live‐work units, should be built on a majority of any site within this category.

Secondary Uses
These mixed‐use areas should also include a mix of retail, offices, and light trade. A range from 10 percent to 30 percent of the site area should be allocated to business and industry uses that are related to the neighborhood—to provide neighborhood business centers.

Developments within the Mixed‐Use Residential category should also include open space, parks, plazas, and other public or quasipublic uses as appropriate, such as schools, places of worship, libraries, and community centers.

Desired Characteristics and Location
Mixed‐Use Residential is appropriate near activity centers and near or along arterials and collector streets. The intent is to allow for vertical or horizontal mix of uses on sites, including some multi‐family residential.

Residential townhomes and apartments and other more urban development is encouraged as part of a mixed‐use development, and generally should be located in the core (highestintensity area) of the mixed‐use development in combination with some non‐residential uses.

Building heights should be evaluated during the development review process. Where appropriate, building height transitions and step‐downs should be provided to be compatible with adjacent development. Mixeduse residential areas should follow the Mixed‐ Use Design Principles. (See page 3‐15.)

The site should also contain common usable or connected open space or parks or plazas.

Applicable Zoning Districts: MU‐R or PUD

Mixed-Use Commercial Emphasis Category

Appropriate Uses

Primary Uses
The Mixed‐Use Commercial category is intended to promote a range of land uses, with primarily retail, office, light industrial, and livework designed as an "activity center". Parks, plazas and/or open space should also be part of the core of Mixed‐Use Commercial areas.

Secondary Uses
Apartments and townhomes and other residential uses are also encouraged as part of the mix of uses. Places of worship and other public or civic uses are also appropriate.

Desired Characteristics and Location
Mixed‐Use Commercial areas should be located near principal arterial or minor arterial streets or transit facilities and can become larger activity centers if they meet the Mixed‐Use Activity Center criteria. The intent is to create an environment that has employment and shopping opportunities, a range of housing types and parks, open space and civic uses, if appropriate. Uses may be mixed either vertically or horizontally.

Mixed‐Use areas should be developed in an integrated, pedestrian friendly manner and should not be overly dominated by any one land use or housing type. No single land use shall exceed eighty (80) percent of the land area of a project, nor should any single land use exceed eighty (80) percent of total building square footage where a mix of uses are provided within the building.

Higher intensity employment and residential developments are encouraged in the core of Mixed‐Use Commercial areas, or adjacent to principal arterial roadways or at the intersection of a principal arterial or as part of activity centers. Building heights should be evaluated during the development review process. Where appropriate, building height transitions and step‐downs should be provided to be compatible with adjacent development.

Applicable Zoning Districts: MU‐C or PUD. Note: Some MU‐C have an underlying zoning of CB. Will need to develop incentives or an overlay zone to promote more residential and less "strip commercial" in these areas.

Mixed-Use Employment Campus Category

Appropriate Uses

Primary Uses
The Mixed‐Use Employment Campus category is intended to promote a range of land uses, with primarily office and light industry designed in a business campus setting. The campus should include open space, parks and plazas, and pedestrian walkways. Retail and services are an important component to creating a functional business campus.

Secondary Uses
Places of worship and other public or civic uses are also appropriate.

Desired Characteristics and Location
Mixed‐Use Employment Campus areas should be located in areas shown on the Future Land Use Plan. The intent is to create an environment that has employment opportunities integrating buildings and outdoor spaces transportation and parks, open space, civic uses, and other uses as appropriate. Uses may be mixed either vertically or horizontally. Mixed‐Use Employment Campus areas should be developed in an integrated, pedestrian friendly manner and should not be overly dominated by any one land use.

Higher intensity employment is encouraged in the core of Mixed‐Use Employment Campus areas, or adjacent to collector or arterial roadways. Building heights should be evaluated during the development review process. Where appropriate, building height transitions and step‐downs should be provided to be compatible with adjacent development.

Applicable Zoning Districts: LI, MU, PUD.