Planning & Community Development

Overview

The mission of the Planning & Community Development Division is to provide information, guidance, and the highest possible level of customer service to all applicants, citizens, and decision-making bodies and to ensure that Green River's growth and development promotes the community's vision for the future. This is accomplished through the coordination of a variety of planning functions including:

  • Community Development
  • Long-Range Planning
  • Current Planning

Community Development

The Community Development Department provides direct support to the City Administrator, Planning and Zoning Commission, City Council, City departments, and other boards and committees on community development related activities. Other boards and committees include, but is not limited to, the Historic Preservation Commission, Development Review Committee, Urban Renewal Agency, Chamber of Commerce, and the Sweetwater Economic Development Committee (SEDC). The Community Development Department includes the following divisions:

Long-Range Planning

Long-range planning provides vision and guidance for the future development of the City. A key role in long-range planning is the coordination with the community and stakeholders on the development, implementation and maintenance of long-range land use, economic development, neighborhood, and revitalization plans to provide vision and guidance for the future development of the City. These documents include the following:

Current Planning

Current Planning provides for the development and administration of the City's Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance. Planning staff facilitates the Development Review process by working with developers, citizens and the public to ensure that development requests comply with plans, policies, and land use codes. Many current planning decisions are made by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.

Zoning - Zoning authority is granted to cities by the State of Wyoming. This authority allows local jurisdictions to managing different types of land uses as well as the location of structures on a property to help maintain healthy, safe, and livable neighborhoods and commercial areas, and preserving land values.

The City of Green River is divided into zoning districts which can be found on the Zoning Map (PDF). Each zoning district provides for a unique list of land uses, density of development, allowable structure types and sizes, and minimum setbacks which are the required distance from the structure to the property line. These requirements are set forth in the Zoning Ordinance.

Subdivision - The Subdivision Ordinance provides for the review of land divisions to ensure orderly development that is in conformance with adopted municipal long-range plans. Well planned subdivisions provide for safe and adequate streets, utilities, drainage, and other public systems. It is the intent of subdivision regulations to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare of current and future residents of the City through the establishment and administration of subdivision development standards. Subdivision regulations are found in the Subdivision Ordinance. Developers are encouraged to schedule an initial visit with staff to discuss their specific plans to determine the appropriate subdivision process.