Planning commission recommends adoption of Wildland‑Urban Interface boundary map to Town Board, cites fire‑risk mapping

The Orderville Town Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend that the Town Board adopt a Wildland‑Urban Interface (WUI) boundary zone map that follows the Utah version of the Wildland‑Urban Interface Code required under House Bill 48.

Speaker 5, who presented the map and the rationale, told the Commission the WUI delineation follows areas where fuels and trees are present and where development could meet significant vegetation hazards. Speaker 5 described the proposed boundary as starting near Mount Carmel Junction, following the bench and property lines, taking in the Montagnini Annex and higher‑elevation parcels behind town where trees and fuels exist, and excluding federal BLM land where local regulation does not apply. Speaker 5 said, “This is where the wildland meets the structure,” and explained the map is intended to identify areas where building permits will require more stringent construction and vegetation‑management practices.

Commissioners discussed that adopting the map establishes where the municipal code’s WUI provisions will apply, which will affect building permits and may lead to additional requirements or assessments in state‑designated extra‑high‑risk areas. Speaker 5 noted that the state’s final high‑risk designations and related assessment details were not yet finalized and that additional amendments could follow once state determinations are available.

A motion to recommend adoption of the WUI boundary map was moved and seconded; the Commission approved the recommendation by a recorded statement of “5 to nothing.” The recommendation will be sent to the Orderville Town Board for formal adoption. The Commission also noted that it can amend the map later if warranted.