KEMMERER — The Kemmerer City Council met on Monday, Aug. 26, and discussed a past vote for removing the requirement of natural gas lines for the Gateway PUD Phase 1 subdivision. Kemmerer City Administrator Brian Muir acknowledged the need to move forward with housing but said he is concerned about affordable utilities.

“The idea is to give residents more choice and potential cost savings by utilizing public utilities,” Muir said. “We need to think about the future of the citizens in the area. It’s not just about affordable housing, it’s about affordable utilities and having choices.”

It was recommended, moving forward that all new subdivisions require electric, natural gas, fiber optic, water and sewer, utilities and infrastructure. 

During a special zoning board meeting on April 30, a recommendation was made for the Kemmerer City Council to approve the final plat for the Gateway PUD housing development, with conditions. One condition was to include a notice on the plat informing future buyers that natural gas would not be provided.

Previously, at a March 19 zoning board meeting, developers Sean Coyle, Chris Mooney and Mark Germain of Gateway Development Kemmerer had requested an amendment to the plat to remove the requirement for installing natural gas lines.

The majority of the zoning board recommended denying this request; however, in a close vote on April 22, the city council chose to override the zoning board’s recommendation and approved the amendment, allowing the developer to move forward without running natural gas lines.

Germain, representing the developers, estimated that installing natural gas infrastructure would cost more than $800,000, which would raise lot prices. The developer pitched a partnership with Colorado-based company Fading West to construct all-electric homes.

While removing the gas line requirement could make individual lots more affordable, there have been concerns that it may increase utility costs for homeowners.

The variance request from Gateway PUD argues that removing the requirement for natural gas lines would save the developer money, which could lower the price of the lots for future homeowners. They suggest that homeowners might save on cooling costs during the summer if they use electric HVAC systems. However, some residents don’t have HVAC systems, and costs can vary significantly between natural gas and electricity.

Among the discussions regarding the variance request was how this choice is crucial for those on fixed incomes who need both affordable housing and utilities. While buyers might pay less for the lots upfront, not having the option to choose between gas and electric could lead to higher monthly utility bills, especially during the cold Kemmerer winters.

The recommendation discussed among council members was to deny the developer’s request to skip natural gas installation, which would allow homeowners to have utility options and could help residents manage their energy costs better over time.

Councilmember Robert Bowen said, “It is good for residents to have options.”

While acknowledging that current city code does not reflect those options for homeowners, he said, “This is where our process works. We are amending our code. We are fixing that loophole.”

Bowen added that now, not only will natural gas be required by the developer, but fiber optics will be included as well.

“I love that we are getting that fixed now,” he said. “Next thing we need to address is impact funding for developments within the city.

He said the city is behind on addressing impact funding, and it needs to be resolved before more industry comes to town.

(Correction: There were actually two separate agenda items in the August 26th meeting regarding natural gas:

1) A clarification of a previous city council motion that passed regarding not requiring that there be natural gas in  Gateway PUD Phase 1, with the question being whether or not the intent of the original motion for Gateway PUD Phase 1 also applied to Gateway PUD Phase 2.   The motion was clarified that those council members meant it to be for both phases, 1 and 2, and not just Phase 1.

2) The City Council considered a new ordinance, going forward, requiring that there be natural gas put in such developments in the future.  This was passed by the City Council on the 1st reading and has two more readings before it comes a permanent ordinance.)

In other matters, the council reviewed updates to ordinances following a discussion between Judge Kenneth Roberts and Muir. They focused on chapters 5, 16, 14, and 10 and decided to schedule a separate meeting with Roberts and the council to review comments and suggestions.

The council authorized Mayor Thek to sign a grant agreement with the State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) for a Mineral Royalty Grant up to $423,000 for the Storm Sewers and I&I project.

Thek praised the Golden Rule Community Picnic as a success and thanked Todd Moores, owner of Willow Springs Water, for supplying water and ice for the event. He also commended the staff for their excellent work organizing the event.