Casper could add 25 percent more land to its total size if a proposed 4,550-acre tract is annexed into the city.

The proposal will be the topic of a hearing at tonight's City Council meeting, which is open to the public and starts at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers in City Hall.

Owners of the Brooks Ranch Addition, located about 10 miles north of Casper off Bryan Stock Trail, are proposing to annex the land into the city by rezoning the land to urban agriculture. Brooks Realty and Advisory Group has divided much of the approximately seven square miles of land into 40-acre parcels as well as 2.5- and 5-acre parcels, and has already sold more than 400 of them.

Bryan Stock Trail does not currently extend to the area, and emergency vehicle access will have to be detailed before the city will make any decision, according to City Manager Tom Forslund.

"We won't allow development to occur until the road is built to allow for emergency services," Forslund said.

According to information provided by Brooks Realty, all the main roads will be gravel, and property owners will need to install their own wells and septic tanks if they build on their property.

All land annexed into city limits is typically required to be connected to the city water and sewer system, but the developer will decide whether to establish the connection, Forslund said.

The Casper Planning and Zoning Commission pushed the proposal forward during its Aug. 22 meeting. Several people spoke in opposition to the annexation, citing concerns about providing city services, water and sewer connections, and emergency services including police and fire protection.

Casper resident Keith Rolland has been particularly vocal about the annexation, asking the council how much in the way of emergency personnel and equipment would be required to properly serve the area, as well as the potential cost to city taxpayers. Forslund said the costs and responsibility of building infrastructure including water and sewer lines, streets and sidewalks fall to the developer.

There are now few structures of any kind in the area, which sits north of Soda Lake and east of Bar Nunn and Interstate 25. Most of the property in question is dry grassland, covered with sagebrush and speckled with antelope. It has a view of Casper Mountain, as well as the local landfill and the entire city. The area borders the city's boundary of the Stuckenhoff Sport Shooters Complex.

Another question facing the city is whether structures and buildings would affect the small, private air strip located north of town. John Irwin, owner of the Harford air field, said the air field has hardly any traffic and is privately run, but is open to the public.

Forslund said the council will need to decide how much influence it wants to have on the proposed area. If the land is annexed, the city will be able to influence how the area is developed, as well as see increased revenue over time from property taxes.

"The key to this whole thing is density," Forslund said, noting that smaller properties usually have a higher density. "I have not seen a formal layout yet."

After tonight's public hearing, the council is scheduled to vote on first reading of an ordinance for the annexation.

Reporter John Morgan can be reached at (307) 266-0614 or john.morgan@casperstartribune.net.