All Carbondale trustees were present for a code-heavy meeting on March 10. Rec Center equipment found temporary storage in the meeting room while the gym is transformed for the Carbondale Arts Fashion Show.

The consent agenda included meeting minutes, an intergovernmental agreement for mosquito control, a resolution affirming the Town’s support for the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act, which would withdraw the Thompson Divide from future oil and gas leasing, accounts payable and a letter of support for Clean Energy Economy for the Region’s grant application to partner with nonprofit Colorado Carshare for a program serving communities in Garfield and Mesa counties. 

Several public comments were heard prior to the agenda items. Jamie LaRue, outgoing Garfield County Public Libraries District (GCPLD) executive director, spoke about GCPLD’s intent to extend a 1-mill property tax approved by voters in 2006 that expires next year. He also mentioned that the town manager of Silt has proposed redirecting $2 million from the libraries toward funding the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority’s western Garfield County Hogback service. Should the former fail and the latter pass, GCPLD stands to lose $3 million annually, LaRue stated, almost 28% of the district’s income. 

Additionally, Susan Rhea requested consistency across boards and commissions when it comes to public comment protocols and Joe Edwards, who helped create Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, requested that Carbondale consider building a bike trail along the Crystal River. 

During trustee comments, Colin Laird voiced support for GCPLD and called the Silt proposal “a bad idea” that “should be killed quickly.” He added, “If it continues, it’s going to create a lot of angst in this region.” Chris Hassig mentioned that the Bike, Pedestrian and Trails Commission will be talking about summer projects at their next meeting, April 6. 

ADUs

The first action item on the agenda involved a public hearing for code amendments to facilitate the creation of more accessory dwelling units (ADUs). As outlined in a staff memo, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) met with the Board of Trustees and Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) in 2023 to begin the process. This was followed by P&Z public hearings on Aug. 28, Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Oct. 23 and Nov. 13, 2025, and Jan. 8, 2026, with public comments heard at four of those meetings. Proposed amendments were published in The Sopris Sun on Feb. 28. 

Recommended changes would simplify the process by creating a three-tier review system whereby: ADUs internal to an existing structure would go straight to the building permit process; lower-impact ADUs external to existing structures would require an administrative site plan review; larger, taller ADUs external to existing structures would undergo the same minor site plan review with a public hearing that all ADUs currently require. Other changes expand where ADUs are allowed, remove Old Town Residential district requirements and allow ADUs to be up to 40% the size of the primary unit but no larger than 1,000 square feet. 

After hearing public comments, the Board of Trustees pushed back on several staff and P&Z recommendations. The trustees supported allowing short-term rentals, whereas the presented proposal prohibited them. Trustees also requested to change the one parking space per bedroom requirement (with a possible reduction if approved by P&Z) to one parking space for a second bedroom. They also nixed a less than 20-foot setback trigger that placed projects in the third tier review process. The requirement for ADUs to have a separate heating system from the primary residence came under scrutiny as well. 

It was decided to exclude allowing duplexes to build ADUs for now. Sans criteria in the code enabling P&Z to deny an ADU based on impacts to neighboring properties, “We’re just inviting neighborly disputes to air out at P&Z,” Mayor Ben Bohmfalk observed. 

The hearing was then continued to March 24. Amendments to rules governing planned unit developments, many of which do not permit ADUs, will be taken up at another time. The public can still comment on proposed changes by emailing trustees@carbondaleco.net 

Other business
Architect Suzannah Reid presented updated guidelines for historic preservation as reviewed by the HPC. A grant from History Colorado funded the work, which included two public open houses. This affects the Old Town Residential and Historic Commercial Core zone districts, which require a courtesy site plan review from the HPC for new construction and property alterations. Although HPC recommendations are non-binding, they inform P&Z’s conditions and approvals for projects. At the trustees’ request, registered structures of merit outside these zone districts will also be included in the process. The updated guidelines were unanimously approved.

The Town then approved amendments to its fire code, last updated in 1988, and enacted the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code as required by the state. The former will next be reviewed and adopted by the Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District board. In addition to technical amendments and regulatory provisions, the new code distinguishes Fire Marshal Karl Oliver with enforcement authority. The state code focuses on wildland-urban interfaces and mostly applies to new construction and certain areas of River Valley Ranch at this time, though the fire risk mapping currently underway could change that.