Cheyenne Council Rejects Gravel Parking Ordinance
Council members voted 6-4 against allowing gravel parking lots, keeping the city's paving requirement in place.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in City Hall
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The Cheyenne City Council narrowly rejected an ordinance that would have allowed gravel or compacted aggregate parking lots, by a 6-4 vote on Monday night. The measure would have amended UDC Section 6.2.8 to create exceptions to the paving requirement for single-family homeowners and owners of event and overflow lots.
Why it matters
The vote leaves the city's universal paving mandate for commercial and urban parking areas intact, a rule Cheyenne residents and businesses must continue to follow. Council members cited runoff and accessibility concerns, and the decision reflects the city's investment in keeping dirt and silt out of its drainage system and Crow Creek.
The measure failed on a 6-4 council roll-call vote, with Tom Segrave, Kathy Emmons, Ken Esquibel, Mark Rinne and Pete Laybourn voting no. The source does not report whether the ordinance will return to the council in revised form.
The players
Cheyenne City Council
The elected legislative body of Cheyenne, Wyoming, which sets local ordinances including the city's Unified Development Code parking and paving rules.
Michelle Aldrich
A Cheyenne city councilor who acknowledged the value of the paved accessible parking requirement during the debate.
The details
The ordinance was proposed alongside other measures meant to support seasonal operations and agricultural businesses. Councilor Michelle Aldrich acknowledged that the rule requiring paved accessible parking is appreciated, while other council members focused on runoff and accessibility concerns.
Timeline
Monday, November 9, 2026: Cheyenne City Council voted on the gravel parking ordinance.
Political Context
The rejected ordinance would have carved exceptions out of Cheyenne's Unified Development Code Section 6.2.8 paving requirement. Opponents prioritized drainage protection for Crow Creek and accessibility for users of paved parking, the same concerns that underpin the existing mandate.
Property owners in Cheyenne who want to replace paved commercial or urban parking with gravel cannot do so under current rules. Single-family homeowners and event or overflow lot operators will still need to meet the paving requirement.
The takeaway
Local zoning votes like this one directly shape what property owners can build and how stormwater is managed, so residents who follow council agendas can weigh in before future ordinances are decided.
Further reading
For more on local government decisions, browse the City Hall section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cap City News.
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Should your city allow gravel parking lots instead of requiring pavement?
