HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board and Estes Valley Fire Protection District Joint Study Session 2026-03-13RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado February 13, 2026
Minutes of a Joint Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD and the
ESTES VALLEY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT of the Town of Estes
Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held virtually via Zoom Webinar
in said Town of Estes Park on the 13th day of February, 2026.
Town Board: Mayor Hall, Mayor Pro Tem Cenac, Trustees Brown,
Hazelton, Igel, Lancaster, and Younglund
EVFPD Board: President Smith, Vice President Dorman, Treasurer Leahy,
and Members Robbins and Smith
Also Attending: Town Administrator Machalek, Town Attorney Kramer,
Director Careccia, Chief Building Official Wester, Interim Fire
Chief Jones, Division Chief of Support Services Landkamer,
Fire Code Inspector Sutherland and Deputy Town Clerk
Beers
Absent: Trustee Lancaster and EVFPD Board Vice President
Dorman
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code Discussion.
Jon Landkamer/Division Chief of Support Services stated the Colorado Wildfire
Resiliency Code (CWRC) program aims to improve structure hardening in addition to
fuel reduction around homes. He stated the importance of structure hardening was a
reflection of recent fire science which identified structure fires are more prone to occur
from embers than direct flame contact. Larimer County adopted the CWRC effective
January 2026 for unincorporated Larimer County areas. He reviewed the significant fire
risk in the area, previous wildfire damage and identified the EVFPD area as a wildland-
urban interface area (WUI). The CWRC safeguards life and property from wildfire and
structure fires and would apply to new construction and alteration of buildings in WUI
areas and would address new and existing buildings, moved structures and appendices.
The CWRC regulations are intended to mitigate the risk to life and structures from
intrusion of fire from wildland fire exposures and fire exposures from adjacent structures
and minimize fires spreading to wildland fuels. A cooperative agreement would be
drafted to clearly establish roles and responsibilities, fees and outline the representation
on a Code Compliance Agency comprised of EVFPD and the Community Development
Department. The CWRC allows local mapping development and as such the EVFPD
Board would be considering adoption of the CWRC with the Colorado Wildfire
Protection Plan mapping as they stated the map accurately depicts the wildfire hazard
areas for the district with all areas at extreme, high or moderate risk. Town Attorney
Kramer clarified the code would need to be ratified in order to be enforced within town
limits. Trustee Igel requested the data utilized to adopt a higher risk map and stated
concern for the impacts to property insurance rates or ability to secure property
insurance. Division Chief Landkamer reviewed highlights of structure hardening for
exterior design, new construction or major alterations including: accessory buildings
must be at least 50 feet from an occupiable or habitable space and storage sheds under
200 square feet must be at least 10 feet; a 500 square foot trigger for additions and
alterations; roof coverings where 25% or more of the surface area of roof replacement;
exterior wall replacement thresholds at 25% or more of the surface area; and
maintenance including buildings, structures, landscape materials and vegetation. He
reviewed building material compliance including noncombustible, fire-retardant-treated
wood, ignition-resistant building material and methods to evaluate building materials. He
stated most of the requirements are already identified in the existing code. Board
comments and questions have been summarized: whether the code would require
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session - February 13, 2026 - Page 2
neighboring businesses to improve a structure where improvements are made to
connecting businesses; the cost difference for structure hardening material versus
standard material and if the use of structure hardening material reduces insurance
rates; how the code would impact projects already under construction; if there have
been discussions with the insurance commissioner on the benefits of fire mitigation
efforts and if structure hardened properties would be more insurable; if current
conditions on a property were unsafe, would it trigger enforcement of the code; how the
District and Town would gain compliance and enforce the fuels accumulation provision
for combustible material storage; the timeline for development of the cooperative
agreement and the importance of community safety. Trustee Igel requested clarification
regarding the appendices and their value in adopting compared to the financial burden
on taxpayers. It was clarified, the appendices provide clear permitting and enforcement
guidelines to compliment the code if adopted. The District stressed the importance of
educating the public regarding the risks and methods to harden structures, mitigation
and reduce exposure to fires. The EVFPD would be considering the adoption of the
code at their meeting on February 23, 2026.
There being no further business, Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 5:57 p.m.
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Burfny Victoria Beers, Deputy Town Clerk