Site plan for new Sunlight FCU building approved

WORLAND — The Worland Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission approved the site plan for the new Sunlight Federal Credit Union facility to be constructed at 1800 Big Horn Avenue.

The current facility is located at 1429 Big Horn Avenue on a 14,517 square foot lot. The facility is 2,484 square feet. The new location has 30,000 square feet with the building set to be 4,785 square feet. According to Julie Dunham, chief operating officer, the facility will have six offices instead of the current three and include a board room.

The current facility was built in 2005 and the corner lot has limited parking availability and with the canal there was also limited growth, Dunham said.

She said the lot, which housed Midway Auto for years, never officially came up for sale but she had been keeping an eye for a lot for a new facility. The owners of the lot were contacted about the possibility of selling and the purchase was made last year.

The contractor on the project, Hughes Truss (Caleb and Jerry Kienlen) have a year to complete the project after the groundbreaking. Dunham said they are hoping the project will be finished much sooner, possibly in nine months.

A groundbreaking ceremony was originally slated for Tuesday but had to be postponed due to conflicting schedules and the potential for inclement weather.

The new facility will also have three drive-thru lanes instead of the current two. There will also be equipment upgrades in the new facility, Dunham said. And there will be a plenty of parking.

During the BAPC meeting Monday, Building Official Randy Adams reported that the site plan met the required setbacks. He said 10 parking spots are required with the square footage and 15 are planned including two American with Disabilities Act spots.

He said they need 3,082 landscaping points and their plan has them meeting 38,500 points.

BAPC member Mike Dykman asked about drainage, and Adams said there would be two retention ponds as part of the landscaping.

The plan was approved unanimously with members Landis Benson and James Donahue absent.