Castle Valley council advances draft Wildland-Urban Interface map toward public hearing

The Castle Valley Town Council discussed a draft Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) map and agreed to refine it before scheduling a public hearing.

Council members spent extensive time clarifying which parcels would fall inside the WUI, with the Chair explaining the draft would “have all properties within the town boundary … with the exception of Lots 368 through 372” designated as WUI and noting the purpose is to reduce wildfire risk by applying targeted building-code and land-use standards. Members emphasized the map must be clearer about Greenbelt parcels that overlap creek beds and about whether not-yet-platted lots should be included.

Council members and staff debated the legal and procedural steps required to adopt the map. One councilmember described an analogous county ordinance elsewhere that preemptively set zoning for formerly federal lands at "one house for 15 acres,” arguing the town should consider preventative measures while noting local differences in authority. The group agreed the draft language will likely require amending town land-use code section 85-3 and corresponding building-code provisions, and that the process should include public notice and a hearing.

The Council asked staff to clarify whether the planning commission will conduct the formal hearing or whether the council can hold a public hearing directly; staff said they will prepare a clearer map and supporting language for review and public-notice procedures. No final ordinance was adopted at the meeting; members agreed to return the revised draft to an upcoming agenda and to schedule the required public hearing before any adoption vote.

The next procedural step is for staff to produce a clarified map and proposed code amendments to present at the planning commission and/or a public hearing, after which the council will consider formal adoption.