Dolores plans to annex property on the north side of town into corporate town limits and designate open-space zoning.

The town owns the four tracts and wants them within town boundaries.

The properties include cliff sides and mesa tops, the hillside where County Road 31 crosses, and the area of the new Dolores Trail.

The town has historically owned three of the properties, but they currently are not in town limits.

The fourth tract is the 36-acre Harris property, which the town purchased this year for $40,000, which also is outside town limits. The funding for the Harris property came from the sale of the town shop property to the Dolores School District.

Tuesday, the planning and zoning board recommended the four tracts be zoned as P1 Parks and Open Space.

The designation is intended for open space, parks and trails. It also allows for solar and wind energy systems and minor utility infrastructure. P1 zoning prevents subdivisions and commercial development.

The board recommended adjusting uses in the P1 zoning designation to allow for a future town water tank because that utility not be meet the definition of “minor.”

“The town wants to reserve the right to put infrastructure on these properties if we need to,” said Town Manager Ken Charles.

Town staff will draw up an ordinance to annex the properties and accept the planning board’s P1 zoning recommendation with suggested changes to allow the water tank and piping, Charles said. The Town Board will vote on the ordinance and include public comment.

The Town Board on Monday expressed interest in considering conservation easements on the four tracts to permanently preserve open space and town scenery. Conservation easements allow for some development such as municipal infrastructure, said town attorney Jon Kelly.