Boulder County planning panel approves small equipment shed for Sunshine Fire Protection District

The Boulder County Planning Commission on April 16 unanimously approved docket LE2401, allowing the Sunshine Fire Protection District to build a roughly 336-square-foot storage shed adjacent to its Station 2 at 5880 Sunshine Canyon Drive.

Sam Walker, a county planner who presented the staff report, told the commission staff found the proposal “in conformance with the comprehensive plan” but recommended conditions to address legal access, permitting and drainage. Walker said the access and engineering referral did not find proof of legal access from the station parcel to the county right of way and requested that the applicant provide evidence of legal access as part of the permit submittal.

The shed is intended to store a utility vehicle the district uses for medical calls and firefighting in terrain that conventional vehicles cannot reach, and to mount a plow for winter response. Dan Fisher, treasurer and a board member of the Sunshine Fire Protection District and project manager for the application, said the vehicle allows the district to “get into areas inaccessible with conventional vehicles” and to respond more quickly during heavy snow events. Fisher told commissioners he and the neighboring property owner believe access may have been resolved in the past but said they are willing to secure an easement or deed if required.

Referral responses identified several technical requirements: a building permit from Building Safety and Inspection Services; wildfire mitigation staff recommended increased ignition-resistant exterior materials given proximity to property lines; Xcel Energy asked that its facilities be located and marked prior to construction; and the access and engineering team requested a stamped civil engineering drainage plan at building permit to show the rerouted swale could be constructed in the space available. Walker told the commission the existing permit file for Station 2 includes a site grading/drainage sheet but no engineer's stamp.

Fisher argued the drainage impacts would be small and described the proposed rerouting of a drainage swale around the shed location. He estimated the primary parking-area discharge was on the order of hundreds of square yards and said the structure's gutters would reduce water reaching the side yard. Fisher asked the commission to consider not requiring a certified engineer's drainage plan because of the limited volumes involved; staff and several commissioners instead proposed a compromise.

Commissioner Mark Bloomfield moved to approve the application subject to the staff-recommended conditions while modifying Condition 3 so that grading and drainage are constructed to the submitted drawings/sections (rather than strictly requiring a stamped engineer's drainage plan). Commissioner Gavin McMillan seconded. The commission took a roll-call vote and recorded unanimous "aye" votes; the motion passed.

The approval is subject to showing legal access (survey or easement/deed) as part of permit submittal, obtaining a building permit and complying with staff-recommended requirements for drainage, re-vegetation and ignition-resistant exterior materials. The applicants may submit revised grading and drainage details with the building permit as required by staff.

The commission closed the hearing and adjourned the meeting following the vote.