Board to vote next meeting on state wildfire-resiliency code after hours of staff briefing

Planning staff presented the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (CWRC), adapted from the ICC wildland-urban-interface standards, and explained how adoption would apply in Dolores’ moderate-risk WUI zone. Planner Ryan Green said the code focuses on structure hardening (class A roofing and non-combustible siding in moderate/high zones), defensible-space requirements (0–5 feet immediate noncombustible zone; 5–30 feet intermediate zone with fuel management), and a repair/alteration trigger: "If you replace more than 25% of your roof or siding, the whole structure must be upgraded to WUI standard," Green explained.

Trustees and residents debated trade-offs: proponents noted adoption can strengthen the town’s position with insurers and potentially preserve community access to coverage; critics warned that repair-trigger rules and fire-retardant materials could add roughly 20% to new-construction costs and impose heavy expenses on homeowners doing routine repairs. The county has chosen not to adopt the code so far; staff emphasized there is no statewide enforcement that will physically fine jurisdictions but that insurance-market responses make the choice consequential. The Board scheduled a formal CWRC adoption vote for the next meeting and will accept public comment then.