Wyoming simplifies property marking to boost housing development

Wyoming lawmakers have celebrated a new law aimed at easing the state's housing development process. On Wednesday, Governor Mark Gordon signed Senate File 171, which hopes to encourage more affordable housing projects. Though no major legislation was passed to tackle housing shortages directly, this new law makes a small change in how property borders are marked. Currently, municipalities in Wyoming must place physical markers, or "monuments," when they annex new properties. These markers often get removed during site development, and surveyors need to replace them later. The new law allows the markers to be placed only once, which could save developers thousands of dollars. Cheyenne Planning and Development Director Charles Bloom called this change a "baby step" towards reducing development costs. He expressed hope that simple changes like this could help encourage more housing development in the future. Bloom discussed the issue with Renny MacKay, president of the Wyoming Business Alliance. They aimed to identify ways to decrease development costs and improve housing availability. Senator Tara Nethercott, who sponsored the bill, emphasized the importance of celebrating small successes in addressing housing issues. She believes that collaborative efforts are key to making progress in this area. While many support the new law, Bloom and others expressed disappointment that a more comprehensive housing bill, House Bill 68, did not pass. This bill would have expanded tax incentives for affordable housing but failed to move forward in the legislative process. Dan Dorsch from Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County shared similar concerns. He noted the importance of recognizing small victories while emphasizing the need for more direct legislation aimed at addressing the housing supply in Wyoming. Dorsch hopes that housing will be a key topic for lawmakers in the upcoming session, allowing for further discussions on improving affordable housing options.