Planning commission recommends Ferron City Council adopt state‑mandated wildland‑urban interface code

The Ferron Planning and Zoning Commission on March 3 recommended that the Ferron City Council adopt ordinance 2026‑3.11, which would adopt the Wildland‑Urban Interface (WUI) code the state is requiring under House Bill 48.

Staff explained the change as a state mandate: “The wildland interface code is mandated by the state,” the meeting moderator said, and noted that state maps used to identify WUI areas are available online. Staff also told commissioners that, according to the state map, there appear to be no WUI areas inside the city limits at present.

Commission discussion focused on which edition of the code to adopt and whether the city should adopt the state's overlay map now. Staff pointed to the draft packet and said the city "will not be adopting the WUI overlay map with the code as the map is still in development,” and highlighted the ordinance's practical effects, including construction applicability, access and driveway requirements, water supply standards, special construction regulations, and vegetation controls (including a roughly 30‑foot clearing guideline).

A commissioner moved to forward ordinance 2026‑3.11 to the City Council for approval; the motion was seconded and, after roll call, the chair announced the motion carries and the commission recommended the ordinance to council. The motion to recommend adoption was made on the record without a detailed roll‑call tally in the transcript.

The recommendation now goes to the Ferron City Council for final consideration. The packet and staff notes indicate the city is intentionally not adopting the overlay map at this time because the state mapping is still being completed; adoption of any map would be treated as a separate step once the state's map is finalized.