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Bluff Planning & Zoning to map WUI, weigh WUI building codes after state’s HB 48
Summary
Bluff officials discussed House Bill 48’s wildfire-mitigation fund and WUI building-code requirements and asked Planning & Zoning to draft a local Wildland-Urban Interface map, hold a public hearing, and recommend action to Town Council. No vote was taken; staff noted no town parcels are on the state’s 'super' high-risk list.
Mayor Josh Ewing outlined House Bill 48 and its implications for Bluff, asking the Planning & Zoning Commission to consider creating a local Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) map and recommending code changes. Ewing said HB 48 creates a State Wildfire Mitigation Fund financed by fees on properties the state designates as 'super' high-risk and requires communities in the Utah Wildfire Cooperative System to adopt local WUI maps and code for land designated WUI by the local government. He noted Bluff currently has no parcels on the state 'super' high-risk list and that most of town is rated at moderate wildfire exposure on the state map.
Ewing said the mitigation fund recognizes activities such as wildfire mitigation work, training and preparedness, and that adopting WUI construction standards can increase community resilience. He explained that only properties identified by the state as high-risk would be subject to extra state fees, but that the local government may still map WUI areas and require WUI building standards for new construction and major renovations on properties it designates.
Town staff Kristen Bushnell summarized operational impacts: WUI codes focus on fire-resistant construction elements (roofing, siding, detailing) and would generally apply to new builds and major remodels, not existing structures unless they undergo qualifying renovations. Bushnell warned that WUI designation can affect insurance and resale but added that WUI-compliant construction sometimes qualifies for lower insurance rates. Ewing said Bluff’s membership in the Utah Wildfire Cooperative System could be jeopardized if the town fails to meet HB 48 requirements for participating jurisdictions.
Commissioners did not vote. Ewing asked Planning & Zoning to review HB 48, draft a proposed WUI map for Bluff, conduct a public hearing, and forward a recommendation to the Town Council for final consideration. The item will reappear for discussion and possible public hearing as staff and commissioners develop a proposed map and draft ordinance.
