During its regular meeting held on Tuesday, Nov. 20, the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) unanimously approved Resolution 2025-66, repealing and reenacting Resolution 2025-19, related to the establishment of the Board of Reviews and Appeals (BoRA).
County Attorney Cathleen Giovannini explained that Resolution 2025-66 repeals Resolution 2025-19, “and it reestablishes the board of review and appeals and it sets out the composition, jurisdiction and procedural rules” of the BoRA.
Giovannini added that the former resolution set out “some” regulation for the BoRA, “but I don’t know that that board has been active for many years, and we are changing the composition a little bit.”
The BoRA will consist of five members, four of whom will be a part of the local building community, and one with an engineering or architectural background.
Giovannini mentioned that the BoRA was initially going to have a Pagosa Fire Protection District (PFPD) representative, but that the fire district already weighs in on these types of projects and that it is not necessary to have a PFPD representative on the BoRA.
According to Resolution 2025-66, the BoRA has the authority and responsibility to “Hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations made by the Chief Building Official relative to the application and interpretation of the adopted Building Codes.”
Giovannini clarified that projects relating to the county’s land use regulations will still go before the county’s planning commission, at which constituents can appeal a decision to go before the BoCC for a final decision.
“This is a little different,” Giovannini said in regard to the BoRA, explaining that if a constituent wants to appeal a BoRA decision, the matter will then go to court.
Commissioner John Ranson asked when members would be appointed to the BoRA, with Giovannini explaining that appointments would be made as soon as possible, but for process purposes she did not want the board to establish the BoRA and make appointments in the same meeting.
“But we know that this has kind of been a long time coming,” Giovannini said, explaining that the appointments would be made on Dec. 9 during a special meeting held by the BoCC at 8:30 a.m.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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