Planning Commission

The Planning Commission consists of seven commissioners as follows: the Mayor, two members of the Board of Trustees and four appointed members. Please send messages for them to Town Hall. We will forward your message.

Chairman: Marvin Fischer
Commissioners: Mayor-Judy Burke, Tom Weydert, Aron Rhone, Dan Schneller, Hayden Southway, Tom Larva

Planning Commission meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 1026 Park Avenue, if there is an agenda. Agendas are posted online and at Town Hall and the Grand Lake Post Office the Friday preceding meetings.

Zoning Board of Adjustment

The Zoning Board of Adjustment has the power to hear and decide on appeals to building permits, and sign code and design review requirements. It also has authority to grant variances to setback, height and lot size restrictions and may authorize expansions of non-conforming uses in certain instances.

Any person may file an application for a variance with the Town Clerk specifying the unnecessary hardship incurred, the grounds of appeal and after paying a non refundable fee of $135.00. Contact the Town Clerk for more information.

The board consists of 5 members and an alternate, appointed by the Board of Trustees. It meets at Town Hall, 1026 Park Avenue, when an appeal is filed with the Town Clerk.

Zoning Board of Adjustment Members:

Chairman: Tom Weydert,

Board Members: Pat Jones, Jane Kemp, Bob Scott,

John Rourke 

Alternate Board Member: Cindy Southway

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Frequently Asked Questions (click on question to go directly to answer)

1. If I want to build a house within the Town limits what do I need to do?
2. If I own two lots, can I build one house over both lots?
3. Who assigns an address for my lot?
4. What are the setbacks on my lot?
5. What colors can I paint my house?
6. How can I find out what my current zoning is?
7. How close can I build to a lake, river, or wetland in the Town limits?
8. I want to subdivide my property, what is required to do this?
9. I want to build a boathouse on the lake; do I need approval from the Town?

1. If I want to build a house within the Town limits what do I need to do?
The first step is to pick up a building permit application at Town Hall. We will need four sets of plans including a site plan showing the location of the proposed house on the property. If this is new construction two of the four plans must have a Three Lakes Water and Sanitation District stamp on the plans showing that a sewer tap has been purchased.
The Town will review your plan normally within a week's time. The Town is responsible for the zoning setbacks and the colors and materials used on the exterior of your house. The Town will also charge a use tax and an affordable housing fee based on the square footage of your house. Both fees are due before the Town will issue the building permit. If a water tap has not been purchased for the property, you must purchase a tap at the same time you pick up your building permit. After the Town has issued the permit you must take it to the County Building Department for their review.

2. If I own two lots, can I build one house over both lots?
Yes, you can build one house over two lots as long as a lot line agreement is signed. The lot line agreement states that the two lots cannot be sold separately unless the structure (house) over the two lots is removed and all current zoning regulations are met. This agreement will be recorded with Grand County. A recording fee of $6 is required. For a copy of the lot line agreement email us at glplanning@townofgrandlake.com

3. Who assigns an address for my lot?
The Town Clerk is responsible for assigning addresses in the Town of Grand Lake. To determine what your address is contact us at glplanning@townofgrandlake.com

4. What are the setbacks on my lot?
Each zoning district has different required setbacks. Here are the setbacks for the most common zones; for all others please review our zoning regulations or contact us at glplanning@townofgrandlake.com

5. What colors can I paint my house?
The Town of Grand Lake has design review standards, which require that any exterior work completed on a structure must first be approved by the Town. Building architecture should be compatible with the location of your home, be rustic in nature, rough textured, and colored to blend in with the surrounding vegetative cover. Dark browns, greens, and rust colors are especially encouraged. All exterior materials should be of the same earth and vegetative tones as the predominant colors of the site.

6. How can I find out what my current zoning is?
Click Here to go to the Grand Lake Zoning Map or contact us at glplanning@townofgrandlake.com for a copy.

7. How close can I build next to a lake, river, or wetland in the Town limits?
To help preserve the environmental quality of our lakes, rivers and wetlands, the Town of Grand Lake requires a 30' setback from the high water mark of a river or lake and 30' from the end of a wetland. A variance to this setback is allowed if a hardship can be proven. To review these regulations go to the Zoning Regulations Section12-2-26-f.

8. I want to subdivide my property, what is required to do this?
The Town of Grand Lake requires that any subdivision of land must conform to the Grand Lake Land Subdivision Regulations. If there are four or fewer lots being created a minor subdivision will be allowed. For larger projects the regular four-step subdivision process is required. The Planning Commission requires a Sketch Plan Review, Preliminary Plat Review (Public Meeting) and a Final Plat Review before moving onto Final Plat Review with the Board of Trustees. This process usually takes a minimum of 6 months to complete. To find out more, go to our Land Subdivision Regulations 12-6.

9. I want to build a boathouse on the lake; do I need approval from the Town?
Yes, in Grand Lake, construction of boathouses and covered boat docks is a special use case and requires a public hearing before issuance of a Building Permit. The public hearing will be held before the Planning Commission and such factors as size, lake bed disturbance, surrounding property owners' concerns and other relevant factors will be considered. A nonrefundable fee of $100.00 is required.

Uncovered boat docks do not require a public hearing before the Planning Commission if the boat dock meets the requirements of the Zoning Regulations Section12-2-26-h. A building permit is required.

Property that is within the Town and which borders Shadow Mountain Lake will be required to comply with the regulations of the United States Forest Service for the construction and installation of boathouses, covered and uncovered boat docks. For additional information refer to our Zoning Regulations Section12-2-26-h.

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Building Permit / Land Use Applications -

Permit Applications - Copies of the permits can be downloaded below or contact Town Hall at 970.627.3435 or Email us for copies of the permits:

Land Use Review Application - Click Here

Building Permit Application - Click Here

       2008-09 Use Tax /Affordable Housing Fee Forms - Click     Here

Encroachment Permit Application (for excavation in Town ROW) - Click Here
Grading Permit Application - Click Here
Sign Permit Application - Click Here
Special Use Permit Application - Click Here

Variance to Town Zoning Regulations - Click Here

Variance to Town Design Standards - Click Here

Variance to Town Stream & Lake Setback - Click Here

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