Foundation 1 - Growing as a Community of Choice

Cheyenne is a successful and livable community now. Citizen surveys from year to year show that an overwhelming majority of residents think the quality of life in Cheyenne is good or very good (82 percent in 2005). The Cheyenne area provides excellent choices in housing and jobs and is generally a "complete community" now—with a wide range of choices. Cheyenne is a community that is poised to grow.

The focus of Foundation 1 is maintaining "quality of life" and attracting new jobs to compete in the region as our community grows. The community will continue to plan for growth that provides opportunities for people of all generations and retains traits that have made it livable and that will attract businesses and economic development. In addition, the Cheyenne area will be a community that provides a variety of housing (predominantly in attractive hometown neighborhoods), opportunities for employment, and essential retail and other services. Focusing on quality of life factors, including conserving land resources, retaining our western heritage, and planning for distinct urban neighborhoods that are efficiently served, will help our community attract a broader variety of employers to a place with a diverse and multi‐generational workforce. Cheyenne will be a community with a reputation as a great place to live and do business.

Principles and Policies

Principle 1.1: Our community will continue to have a balanced land use pattern—with choices of housing and employment for long-term stability.

Policy 1.1.a: Balanced Mix of Land Uses
The Future Land Use Plan plans for a balanced mix of land uses throughout the entire Cheyenne area, including a balance of residential and non‐residential areas. The city and county should use the Future Land Use Plan and this Plan's policies as the main tools for guiding decisions about development and growth.

Policy 1.1.b: Flexibility to Respond to Market Demands
The Future land Use Plan does not predetermine all land uses on individual parcels and is intended to provide some flexibility for the market to help determine which uses are needed at a given time. However, when the city and county evaluate land uses for a proposed development, the city and county will consider whether a diverse and integrated mix of uses are provided throughout the entire Cheyenne area.

Policy 1.1.c: Regional Coordination on Land Use and Development Issues
The City of Cheyenne and Laramie County should coordinate at the regional level to implement this Plan's proposed land use mix. The city and county will coordinate development policies, and on other issues such as location of growth and development, provision of public facilities and services, and conservation of natural resources. Other agencies should be included in planning as well, including F.E. Warren Air Force Base and utilities (note: Foundation 7 includes a full list of agencies and organizations).


Principle 1.2: The major growth of the Cheyenne area will take place within the Urban Service Boundary to promote efficient long-term use of land.

Policy 1.2.a: Urban Service Boundary
The Future Land Use Plan guides major growth by establishing an Urban Service Boundary and distinguishing between different urban and rural places: agricultural/rural and rural residential uses in the non‐urban areas, and urban residential and other mixed‐use and non‐residential uses in urban areas within the Urban Service Boundary.

Policy 1.2.b: Monitor Plan's Growth Areas
The city and county will monitor the Future Land Use Plan and its growth areas on an ongoing basis to see if changes are needed over time.

Policy 1.2.c: Additional County Enclaves Not Desired
The city and county should address annexation through duly adopted annexation criteria, including measures to prevent future county "islands" within the Urban Service Boundary.


Principle 1.3: Our community will contain a diversity of housing and neighborhoods to accommodate all generations.

Policy 1.3.a: Neighborhoods as Building Blocks

New residential development should be focused into a series of neighborhoods that have a full range of urban services and that contain a variety of housing types to support the housing needs of a diverse population. Where appropriate, neighborhoods should incorporate complementary uses that serve the primary residential uses in the neighborhood (See also Foundation 2: Creating Livable "Hometown" Neighborhoods.)

Policy 1.3.b: Variety of Housing in Neighborhoods
The community will encourage the incorporation of a mixture of housing types with varied price ranges and densities to attempt to meet the needs of all segments of the community.


Principle 1.4: Revitalization and infill in our urban core will provide choices for housing, employment, and services in our older neighborhoods and districts.

Policy 1.4.a: Infill Opportunities
The community will support infill in existing neighborhoods, but ensure that infill is compatible with neighborhoods and districts through design standards (e.g., to address scale, height, and character of infill as it relates to existing development).

Policy 1.4.b: Locations for Future Revitalization

Potential locations for future community revitalization include the following:

• County pockets and underutilized land;


• Lincolnway corridor (from I‐25 to Downtown);


• Western part of Downtown; 􀂃 I‐80 Corridor; and


• Along South Greeley Highway.

Policy 1.4.c: Downtown Revitalization and Mix of Uses
The city will encourage the continued renovation, revitalization, building reuse, restoration, and infill in the downtown core. A mix of retail, restaurants, employment, commercial, office, and civic uses should continue to be encouraged in the downtown. Retail and restaurant uses should occur at the street level to promote pedestrian activity. The city will also encourage residential uses above retail uses to further increase the area's vitality.


Principle 1.5: Our community leaders will act strategically to make Cheyenne a competitive community.

Policy 1.5a: Position in Regional Economy
The community will continue to position the Cheyenne area as a leading place to live and do business in the Northern Front Range region.

Policy 1.5.b: Education Leader
The Cheyenne area will continue to promote better educational facilities and access to education, learning from other communities in the Front Range region, including the following approaches:

• Seek ways to draw University of Wyoming and other schools graduates to Cheyenne.


• Expand educations opportunities, by continuing to work with Laramie County Community College, Laramie School District, and by supporting and promoting private colleges and schools.


• Focus on nightlife and downtown revitalization.


• Focus on cultural enrichment opportunities.

Policy 1.5c: Community Marketing
The Cheyenne area will continue to market itself as a prime community to live and place to do business.