GILLETTE, Wyo. — On Tuesday, the Gillette City Council approved a resolution publicly accepting a Comprehensive Plan which will now serve as a guide for future city development and policy.
The resolution was approved during the council’s regular meeting on April 15, where members voted 6–1 in favor of adopting a Comprehensive Plan that has been in development since 2023 with help from Verdunity, a Texas-based community consulting firm.
According to the city of Gillette, the Comprehensive Plan’s purpose is to provide an overall snapshot of the community as it stands today and a vision for the future to direct policy, budgeting and other decision-making. Since its inception, the plan has been the topic of nearly two years’ worth of public meetings, community outreach events and online outreach initiatives.
Before the council approved the plan, however, a public hearing drew residents from both sides of the aisle, with some raising concerns of the plan turning Gillette into a “smart city” and others speaking in favor of development and additional infrastructure.
From the council, the plan drew a motion to postpone acceptance from Councilmember Chris Smith and outright opposition from Jack Clary, who voiced his opinion that the city was going down the same path as it has several times in the past to no avail.
Smith’s motion was made after he expressed a desire for the council to do more work regarding the Comprehensive Plan in response to public comments.
“I value the comments from the public, both for and against, and both offer relevant questions that bring me to a simple conclusion that we’re not finished with this comprehensive plan,” Smith said. “I think there’s more work that may need to be done.”
Smith said the council needed to get out into the community and communicate with its constituents to resolve questions and address their concerns. In one year, he said, or even in six months, the council should have a better idea regarding the Comprehensive Plan and have a clearer picture of the community’s concerns with it.
The postponement motion, however, failed 5–2 with other councilmembers, including Mayor Shay Lundvall, pointing out that the plan was not set in stone and that there would be plenty of opportunities for discussion should the city proceed with projects and development.
Councilmember Jim west said the plan is simply providing direction on how the city intends to grow while increasing revenues and driving down cost.
“We don’t have to follow it word for word; if the plan doesn’t fit, we can alter it,” West said.
Councilmember Heidi Gross reiterated that the plan provides ways to save money, not spend it, while diversifying the economy, which, in turn, will put the city in a better financial position.
“This plan will help us be smarter in how we develop our community,” Gross said.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. Check back with County 17 on April 16 for additional coverage of Tuesday night’s Comprehensive Plan discussion.
