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Texas firm eyes purchase of Sleeping Giant Ski Resort, meets with public
Cody Enterprise
HMH Capital, an asset management company headquartered in Dallas, will meet Feb. 11 with the public about possible plans for the future of a small ski area near Yellowstone National Park’s East Gate. The Sleeping Giant Ski Area, on the Shoshone National Forest, has been closed for three winters. The Forest Service’s Wapiti Ranger District is organizing Wednesday’s meeting at 6 p.m. at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department office in Cody to introduce the potential buyer to the community. HMH manages amusement parks and entertainment venues in Colorado, Missouri and Texas, the Cody Enterprise reports. Read the full story.
Cheyenne removes owner-occupancy rule for accessory dwelling units
Cap City News
In an effort to blunt a local housing shortage, Cheyenne property owners will soon have more freedom to build and rent property without residing on the premises, following a final council vote that scrapped decades-old zoning restrictions. The Cheyenne City Council voted to remove owner-occupancy requirements for accessory dwelling units. The removal of that requirement sparked opposition from one councilor, who worried the policy shift would encourage investors to purchase properties solely for rental income rather than helping homeowners offset mortgages, Cap City News reports. Read the full story.
Community groups spotlight housing shortage, strategies to keep Laramie livable
Laramie Boomerang
Local housing advocates gathered at a “Happy Housing Hour” to discuss housing conditions in Laramie and ongoing efforts to address rising costs and limited supply. The Albany County Housing and Land Trust and Wyoming Neighbors for Housing both formed within the past year and share a mission of expanding affordable housing in Albany County and throughout Wyoming. Data presented at the gathering showed the median home price in Laramie averaging about $395,000 while median household income is just under $60,000, meaning a household would need to earn nearly twice the area’s median income to afford a typical home, the Laramie Boomerang reports. Read the full story.
Rawlins City Council wrestles with ‘affordability crisis’ with rising water rates
Rawlins Times
Decades of deferred maintenance on water lines and the city’s failure to raise rates to match rising costs now has Rawlins in a quandary about residents’ ability to pay high water rates versus its own ability to fund needed repairs. Rawlins City Councilman Derek Elliott asked fellow councilors if there was a way to reduce water rates so residents had an easier time paying the bill. The city raised its rates by 50% in May of 2024. Elliott said the increase has made it hard for some to afford, likening it to an “affordability crisis” with some senior citizens having to choose between paying higher water bills and buying groceries, the Rawlins Times reports. Read the full story.
Rock Springs removes EV station in downtown following new fuel tax mandate
Rocket Miner
The days of free electric charging in downtown Rock Springs are coming to an end. Following new state tax requirements, the city is preparing to remove the public electric vehicle charging station on South Main Street, citing an inability to track and tax the electricity as now required by Wyoming law. Rock Springs officials reviewed the recent guidance and statutory interpretation provided by the Wyoming Department of Transportation and determined the city cannot continue offering free public electric vehicle charging as a result of the Legislature passing House Bill 24 last year, the Rocket Miner reports. Read the full story.