Estes Park Town Board’s June 23 meeting: wildfire code adopted, water and utility actions move ahead

The Estes Park Town Board’s meeting Tuesday, June 23, was dominated by long-range infrastructure and public-safety decisions, with members adopting a new wildfire resiliency code, setting the framework for future water-system upgrades through a new water master plan, and acting on several related contracts, licenses and appointments.

Early in the meeting, the board approved a modified consent agenda after pulling a waterline contract for separate consideration. It then separately approved the Mall Road Waterline Project contract after questions about the size of the contingency. Trustees also approved a 2026 Rooftop Rodeo stock-contractor renewal and heard staff recommend skipping a federal BEAD grant and instead resuming Trailblazer Broadband expansion under town control.

On land use and business licensing, the board approved a rezoning for 440 Valley Road to accommodation use, allowing an existing three-unit lodge to be treated as a resort lodge. Sitting as the Liquor Licensing Authority, members also approved a new liquor license for Historic Craig’s Lodge and a new liquor license for Kissing Moose Cafe and Saloon.

The board paired its wildfire-code adoption with an agreement dividing enforcement duties between the town and the fire district. Members also voted to appoint Trustee Frank Lancaster and Trustee Mark Igel to interview candidates for the Estes Park Housing Authority board, while discussion of the Estes Valley Childcare Facility Master Plan was postponed to July 14 after consultants could not connect to the meeting.