NEDERLAND — The Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) met on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, to take action on different land use concerns, including the potential adoption of 2024 building codes and the permitted uses of the outdoor patio for Nederland’s newest shopping center, The Vault.

Community Planner Britt DeMinck presented the Special Review Use (SRU) application from Snyder Street Commercial, LLC, owner of The Vault at 26 Highway 119, regarding the use of their outdoor area for “food and beverage service, small-scale retail, informational booths, and occasional live acoustic music.” 

The patio is intended to be divided, with the north portion fenced in for food and non-alcoholic beverage service from The Kitchen, and the more open south portion specified for “pop-up retail” and other events. 

According to Town staff, the application meets the requirements for both an SRU and those purposes outlined in Section 16-52 of Nederland Municipal Code, is “generally compatible” with adjacent land uses, minimizes any adverse impacts to the general area, and is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. 

The Planning Commission had reviewed the SRU during their regular meeting on May 20, and had no objections to the application as presented.

Most Trustees did not have any clarifying questions for DeMinck or for the applicant, though Trustee Billy Giblin did want to inquire about noise ordinance concerns. However, as he was attending the meeting virtually, the Board were unable to hear him. 

Resolution 2026-20, regarding the SRU application by Snyder Street Commercial, LLC for The Vault, was approved.  

The 2024 International Code Suite 

The BOT took action on Ordinance 891, concerning the Town’s requirement to update its codes from 2018 standards. These regulate construction, fire and life safety, energy efficiency, and maintenance standards for properties within the Town’s boundaries. 

During previous discussion back on May 5, Trustees agreed to review the 2024 suite of codes from the International Code Council for adoption. Trustees also agreed to consider adoption through an emergency ordinance in order to expedite compliance with Colorado law by adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code before July 1, 2026.

According to the information provided by DeMinck, approval of Ordinance 891 would adopt the 2024 editions of the International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation,  Property Maintenance, Existing Building, and Fire Codes.

Trustees were required to have two full readings of the code suite, with the first taking place on May 19, which resulted in a tentative approval. Town staff, along with SafeBuilt, the Town’s building contractor, the Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD), and Town Attorney Jennifer Madsen, all recommend approval of the ordinance. 

DeMinck stated that there was no pushback from those builders who were approached on the issue. She also mentioned that the City and County of Boulder have followed suit by incorporating the 2024 codes, which are overall considered more efficient than the 2021 suite.

The BOT voted to approve Ordinance 891, with an amendment to remove the term “Emergency” from the ordinance’s official title. 

Mitigation consideration 

The Board also heard from Town Manager Jonathan Cain, who led a discussion on the potential for an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the Town and the NFPD for fire mitigation work. 

The proposal included identifying Town-owned or -managed areas in need of mitigation, noting Moose Meadows, the Wingate property, and Town rights-of-way. It specified that the NFPD and Nederland Town staff would pool their resources for grant pursuits in order to fund the work that can be completely performed or supplemented by District-trained personnel. 

“This may provide a practical way to increase the volume of mitigation work completed without creating a new Town program or staffing structure,” Cain advised. 

Cain also stated that the Town will continue to work with Wildfire Partners and other mitigation groups, and, per Mayor Pro Tem Luke Miller’s request, will confer with NFPD Chief Charlie Schmidtmann regarding whether Boulder County and the US Forest Service should be involved in the IGA.  

The agreement’s openness and flexibility were the main focus for the Town, as it would not only provide them with more grant opportunities, but would also allow for potential collaborations, including discussions with Xcel Energy about the mitigation of their properties. 

Trustee Kristopher Larsen asked for a way to expand mitigation efforts into Nederland’s neighborhoods and to offer services to private properties, though he admitted that such an endeavor could be a “can of worms.”

Trustee Topher Donahue stated that the Town and Board should focus on expedience, due to the need for immediate mitigation measures. Trustee Andrew Joslin added that there was a “laundry list” of high priority areas in need of attention, and that the IGA would present the thinning volunteer pool in Nederland with some much-needed backup. 

The BOT approved Town staff and the NFPD moving forward with drafting an IGA for further review, discussion, and a final vote.  

The Nederland Board of Trustees meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 7 p.m. and can be attended either online or in person at the Nederland Community Center. 

For more information go to: townofnederland.colorado.gov/board-of-trustees.