Cheyenne Council Advances Strict Noise Rules for Industrial Sites

The Cheyenne City Council advanced a new ordinance on Monday that would cap noise from large industrial sites at 40 decibels at night in areas near homes. The proposal sets a maximum of 65 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night for non-residential zones. These limits are stricter than current city standards, which allow industrial noise levels between 65 and 70 decibels.

The ordinance is part of a larger Unified Development Code amendment package. It also includes rules prohibiting city officials from signing nondisclosure agreements and sets standards for nuisances at large construction sites. The council heard the proposal on its second round. The measure must return to the Public Services Committee for further review before a final vote is scheduled in two weeks. The Cheyenne Planning Commission and the Public Services Committee previously voted to support the changes.

Paul Steed, project manager at Mechanical Systems, told the council that the proposed nighttime limit of 40 decibels is too low. He compared that level to the sound produced by a home refrigerator. Steed said the new rules would greatly limit his livelihood and force construction companies to install expensive sound walls to meet the standards. He argued that the limits are harsh for local businesses, especially those building subdivisions next to residential areas.

Representatives from several data centers also spoke against the proposal. Chris Tetlow, Microsoft’s Cheyenne metro director, stated that the World Health Organization guidelines used for the new limits are typically measured from where people listen, not at property lines. He warned that enforcing the new rules at property lines could create severe unintended consequences and enforcement challenges for the city. He noted that some areas currently in compliance might violate the new code.

A spokesperson for Related Digital asked if their data center project would still follow existing standards if they expand their footprint. City staff clarified that the Related Digital project, which is not near any homes, would remain in compliance with the new ordinance. The company’s project was originally approved under current code, which permits higher noise levels.

Wendy Volk, a local real estate professional, supported the stricter limits. She described a property near Campstool Road where a bitcoin mining operation produced constant noise. Sound walls were installed to mitigate the issue but created new concerns about appearance and impacts on neighboring commercial properties. Volk said that addressing noise impacts before construction begins prevents expensive fixes later.

Lori Wayne Chesnut, a Cheyenne resident, urged data center operators to reduce their noise impact on the community. She noted that these companies successfully reduced water consumption using closed-loop cooling systems. She argued that they can use similar methods to lower the noise they produce, stating that public health should be a priority for industry leaders.

The council voted to advance the ordinance. The measure will return to the Public Services Committee, where councilmembers will work with staff to examine the proposed changes in more detail before the final approval process.