HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2012-032clean WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. AB2012-193
CLEARANCES Initial Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned to:
Originator: 6/5/2012 Introduction/Planning
Gary Davis . U"'° '57E2/t t and Development
Division Head: �R C E //i F
Roxanne Michael ss ' "� ° �u `J V-( 6/12/2012 S COT[
Dept.Head: 6/19/2012 SCOOTW/,Introduction
Sam Ryan 5.6/g- i A MAY 2 9 2012
Prosecutor: /� 1 7/24/2012 SCOTW
Royce Buckingham / ' �� S 2- WHATCOM COUNTY 7/24/2012 Public Hearing
Purchasing/Budget: / I COUNCIL 8/07/2012 Public Hearing
Executive:
Jack Louws
TITLE OF DO / NT:
Rural Element Upda e
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proposed Ordinance, including draft amendments and Findings of Fact and Reasons for Action
2. Staff Memorandum
SEPA review required? ( X ) Yes ( ) NO Should Clerk schedule a hearing? ( X') Yes ( ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( X ) Yes ( ) NO Requested Date
The Council must hold a hearing if they want to change the Planning Commission's
recommendation/WCC 2.160.100(2)1.
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public
hearing,you must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate. Be
clear in explaining the intent of the action.)
A proposed ordinance to amend the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapters One (Introduction),Two (Land Use),
and Four(Capital Facilities); amendments to Whatcom County Code Title 20(Zoning)Chapters 20.32 Residential Rural
(RR)District, 20.35 Eliza Island (EI)District, 20.36 Rural(R)District,20.37 Point Roberts Transitional Zone(TZ)District,
20.59 Rural General Commercial (RGC)District, 20.60 Neighborhood Commercial Center(NC)District,20.61 Small
Town Commercial (STC)District,20.63 Tourist Commercial(TC)District, 20.64 Resort Commercial (RC)District, 20.67
General Manufacturing(GM)District, 20.69 Rural Industrial Manufacturing(RIM)District, 20.80 Supplementary
Requirements, 20.82 Public Utilities, 20.84 Variances, Conditional Uses,Administrative Approval Uses and Appeals, and
20.97 Definitions; and amending the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Map 8 (Land Use Designations)and the
official zoning map in the areas generally described as Badger& Guide Meridian,Birch Bay-Lynden &Valley View, Cain
Lake, Chuckanut, East Lynden, Eliza Island, Emerald Lake,Fort Bellingham/Marietta,Hinotes Corner, Lake Samish, Lake
Whatcom,North Bellingham,Pole& Guide Meridian, Smith/Axton & Guide Meridian, South Bay,Van Wyck, Welcome,
Wickersham, and Wiser Lake East.
COMMITTEE ACTION: COUNCIL ACTION:
6/5/2012: Committee recommends Council refer this to the 6/05/2012: Introduced
Committee of the Whole. Schedule COTW meeting on this 6/19/2012: Substitute Introduced 6-0
issue on June 12 at 1 p.m.
6/12/2012: Amended and held to June 19, 2012 at 1 p.m. 7/24/2012: Substitute amended and public hearing
6/19/2012• Discussed and Amended. scheduled for August 7. Public hearing testimony will be
7/24/2012 Discussed limited to the amendments approved on July 24, 2012.
7/24/2012: Introduced
8/07/2012: Council Adopted 4-3, Brenner, Knutzen and
Weimer opposed
Ord. 2012-032
Related County Contract#: Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number:
PLN2012-00012 Pcj2010 —r]2d Ord. 2012-032
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing on
the County's website at: www.co.whatcom.wa.us/council.
SPONSORED BY : Consent
PROPOSED BY : PDS
INTRODUCTION DATE : 7 / 24 / 2012
ORDINANCE NO . 2012-032
ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY ZONING CODE TITLE 20, THE
OFFICIAL WHATCOM COUNTY ZONING MAP, AND THE WHATCOM COUNTY
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND MAPS, TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES RELATING TO
RURAL LAND USE PLANNING
WHEREAS, the Washington State Growth Management Act ( GMA) requires
Whatcom County to include a rural element in its Comprehensive Plan that governs
rural development; and .
WHEREAS, time is of the essence to complete the revisions of Whatcom
County's rural element due to an order of the Western Washington Growth
Management Hearings Board in Futurewise v. Whatcom County, Case No . 11 -2 -
0010c and 05- 2-0013 ; and
WHEREAS, the recommended amendments have been considered by the
Whatcom County Planning Commission , the Whatcom County Council Planning and
Development Committee and the Whatcom County Council ; and
WHEREAS, legal notice requirements have been met; and
WHEREAS, the County Council finds the Comprehensive Plan and zoning
amendments in the interest of the public health , safety, and welfare, based on the
following findings and conclusions :
FINDINGS OF FACT:
1 ) Whatcom County proposes amendments to its Comprehensive Plan , Zoning
Code, and Zoning Maps in response to the Washington State Growth
Management Hearings Board's January 12, 2012 Final Decision and Order
. (GMHB No . 11 -2-OO10c) . .
2) An addendum to the May 1 , 2009 determination of non -significance ( DNS) was
issued under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) on April 27, 2012 .
3 ) The proposed amendments were posted on the County website on July 25,
2012 . Previous drafts have been continuously posted on the website since March
6, 2011 .
4) Notice that the proposal had been posted on the County website was sent to
citizens, citizens groups, cities, service providers, media and other groups on the
County's e- mail list on July 25, 2012.
Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
5) Notice of the subject amendment was submitted to the Washington State
Department of Commerce on March 8, 2012.
6) Notices of the Planning Commission hearings for the subject amendment were
published in the Bellingham Herald on March 8, and May 14, 2012.
7) Notice of the Planning Commission hearing for the subject amendment was
posted on the County's website on May 11, 2012.
8) The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the subject amendment on
March 22, and May 24, 2012.
GMA Requirements
9) The Washington Growth Management Act (GMA) requires county comprehensive
plans to include a rural element that protects the county's established rural
character by containing or otherwise controlling rural development.
10) GMA (RCW 36.70A.070(5)(a)) allows counties to consider local circumstances
in its rural element but requires counties to develop a written record explaining
how the rural element harmonizes the planning goals in RCW 36.70A.020 and
meets the requirements of RCW 36.70A. (See Conclusions 2 and 3 below).
11) GMA allows, but does not require, counties to designate "limited areas of
more intensive rural development" (LAMIRDs) (RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)) and
describes three types of development patterns that may be considered
LAMIRDs:
a) Type I: "Rural development consisting of the infill, development, or
redevelopment of existing commercial, industrial, residential, or mixed-use
areas, whether characterized as shoreline development villages, hamlets,
rural activity centers, or crossroads developments...Any development or
redevelopment in terms of building size, scale, use, or intensity shall be
consistent with the character of the existing areas." (RCW
36.70A.070(5)(d)(i)) In RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(iv), GMA states, "Existing
areas are those that are clearly identifiable and contained and where there is
a logical boundary delineated predominately by the built environment, but
that may also include undeveloped lands as provided in this subsection."
GMA requires counties to establish logical outer boundaries for areas of more
intensive rural development and describes considerations that must be
addressed in establishing those boundaries Per RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(v),
existing areas are those that existed on July 1, 1990.
b) Type II: "The intensification of development on lots containing, or new
development of, small-scale recreational or tourist uses, including
commercial facilities to serve those recreational or tourist uses, that rely on a
rural location and setting but that do not include new residential
development..." (RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(ii)
c) Type III: "The intensification of development on lots containing isolated
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Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
nonresidential uses or new development of isolated cottage industries and
isolated small-scale businesses that are not principally designed to serve the
existing and projected rural population and nonresidential uses , but do
provide job opportunities for rural residents..." (RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(iii)
12) GMA requires that the rural element of a county comprehensive plan provide
for a variety of rural densities, uses, essential public facilities, and rural
governmental services needed to serve the permitted densities and uses, and
allows counties to use innovative zoning techniques that will accommodate
appropriate rural densities and uses that are consistent with rural character.
13) GMA requires that the rural element of a county comprehensive plan provide
measures governing rural development that protect the rural character by:
a) Containing or otherwise controlling rural development;
b) Assuring visual compatibility of rural development with the surrounding rural
area;
c) Reducing the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling,
low-density development in the rural area;
d) Protecting critical areas, as provided in RCW 36.70A.060, and surface and
ground water resources; and
e) Protecting against conflicts with the use of agricultural, forest, and mineral
resource lands designated under RCW 36.70A.170.
14) GMA requires local governments that are required or choose to plan under
GMA to utilize a process established by the Washington State Attorney General
to assure that proposed regulatory or administrative actions do not result in an
unconstitutional taking of private property. (RCW 36.70A.370) The Whatcom
County Prosecutor's office informed the Planning Commission and County
Council of this requirement and, in accordance with Attorney General's Advisory
Memorandum, advised the Council regarding the proposed amendments with
respect to avoiding unconstitutional taking of private property.
15) The legislature finds that to retain and enhance the job base in rural areas,
rural counties must have flexibility to create opportunities for business
development. Further, the legislature finds that rural counties must have the
flexibility to retain existing businesses and allow them to expand. (RCW
36.70A.011)
Growth Management Hearings Board Decisions: Futurewise vs. Whatcom
County
16) In Futurewise v. Whatcom County and Gold Star Resorts, Inc. (#05-2-0013
Sept. 20, 2005 Final Decision and Order), the Western Washington Growth
Management Hearings Board (WWGMHB) found Whatcom County out of
compliance on three issues: The policies pertaining to Small Town, Crossroads
Commercial, Resort and Recreational Subdivision, Suburban Enclave, and
Transportation Corridor land use designations allow the creation of more
intensive areas of rural development that do not comply with RCW
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Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
36.70A.070(5)(d); The Rural Residential zones (RR-1, RR-2, RR-3), Eliza Island
(EI) zone, Rural two-acre (R-2A), and Rural Residential Island (RRI) zones allow
residential densities that are not rural in the rural areas and are not in limited
areas of more intensive rural development per RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d); and
Urban Residential three-per-acre (UR-3) zoning in urban growth areas (except
the UR-3 in Lake Whatcom watershed and the airport hazard area) failed to
achieve appropriate urban densities.
17) In June, 2007 Whatcom County rezoned approximately 1,700 acres in the
Ferndale and Everson UGAs to UR-4 in 2007 (Ord. 2007-030 and 2007-045) to
address the urban density noncompliance issue in the September 20, 2005
Futurewise v. Whatcom County and Gold Star Resorts, Inc. decision.
18) The WWGMBH issued a finding of compliance on the urban density issue on
August 30, 2007.
19) The September 20, 2005 Futurewise v. Whatcom County and Gold Star
Resorts, Inc. decision relating to the land use designations and rural density
issues was reversed in Whatcom County Superior Court in 2006. The Superior
Court decision was, in turn, reversed by the Division I Court of Appeals in 2007,
which reinstated the 2005 WWGMHB decision and ordered Whatcom County to
comply with that decision (140 Wn. App. 378). In December, 2009 the
Supreme Court of the State of Washington reversed the Court of Appeals'
holding that the hearings board did not improperly apply a bright line in
addressing the challenge to Whatcom County's rural densities, but affirmed the
Court of Appeals' decision that Whatcom County's comprehensive plan did not
comply with the Growth Management Act's LAMIRD provisions. The Supreme
Court remanded the rural density challenge to the Hearings Board for
reconsideration without applying a bright line rule, and ordered Whatcom
County to "revise its comprehensive plan to conform to the LAMIRD provision of
the Growth Management Act and then apply the statutory criteria to establish
appropriate areas of more intensive rural development." (167 Wn.2d 723, 735,
222 P.3d 791)
20) In August, 2009 Whatcom County amended Whatcom County Code (WCC)
Chapter 20.34 Rural Residential - Island District (one of the zones found to be
out of GMA compliance in the 2005 Futurewise vs. Whatcom County decision) to
change the required minimum lot size from three acres to five acres (Ord. 2009-
062).
21) On May 10, 2011, Whatcom County adopted Ordinance 2011-013, amending
the Comprehensive Plan and zoning code in response to the 2005 Growth
Management Hearings Board (GMHB) decision and the 2009 Supreme Court
decision.
22) In 2011 the Washington Supreme Court issued a ruling in Kittitas County
(172 Wash.2d 144) regarding the GMA requirement that county comprehensive
plans must contain measures that protect the rural character.
23) On September 9, 2011, the GMHB Order Following Remand from the
Supreme Court regarding the remaining rural density from case #05-2-0013
(remanded by the 2009 Supreme Court decision) found Ordinance 2011-013's
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Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
retention of rural zoning with density of one dwelling per two acres was
compliant with the GMA because it was limited to areas in which similar
densities had already been established.
24) On November 9, 2011, Whatcom County adopted Ordinance 2011-043,
making modifications to Ordinance 2011-013, including changing Rural
Residential Density Overlay provisions and restricting location of certain
commercial and industrial zoning districts.
25) The January 9, 2012 GMHB Final Decision and Order (FDO) in Futurewise et
al v. Whatcom County (#11-2-0010c) found the amendments adopted under
Ordinance 2011-013 out of compliance with respect to several issues involving
Comprehensive Plan policies, LAMIRD boundaries and development regulations,
and found invalidity on some of those issues.
Other Relevant Growth Management Hearings Board Decisions
26) Regarding the term "built environment," the built environment includes those
facilities which are manmade, whether they are above or below ground, and the
built environment must predominate within a LAMIRD, though it may include
limited undeveloped lands. (Anacortes vs. Skagit County, Case No. 00-2-0049c,
Final Decision and Order, February 6, 2001)
27) The WWGMHB found that RCW 36.70A.115 does not impose an obligation on
counties to conduct a needs and capacity analysis for areas outside the UGAs
and that provision does not require a rural lands analysis but instead merely
requires the County to ensure sufficient capacity of land for development to
accommodate the growth allocated in the County's countywide planning policies.
(Friends of Skagit County vs. Skagit County, Case No. 07-2-0025c, Final
Decision and Order, pp-43-43, May 12, 2008)
28) The WWGMHB found the uses a county allows within LAMIRDs designated per
RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(i) must be consistent with (though not necessarily the
same as) the uses as of July 1, 1990, and allowance of a broader range of uses
as conditional uses is not compliant with GMA. (Dry Creek Coalition and
Futurewise vs. Clallam County, Case No. 07-2-0018c, Final Decision and Order,
April 23, 2008)
29) The WWGMHB found Clallam County's Rural Neighborhood Conservation (NC)
Overlay (Clallam County Code 33-10-015), which permits rural densities outside
LAMIRDs greater than one dwelling per five acres based on a calculation of the
density of developed lots within 500 feet of a property, to be compliant with the
Growth Management Act. The Board stated, "Because infill allowed by the NC
overlay is limited to neighborhoods that have already been substantially
developed, this will not lead to the 'inappropriate conversion of undeveloped
lands into sprawling, low-density development... ", a reference to Goal 2 of the
GMA. (Dry Creek Coalition and Futurewise v. Clallam County, WWGMHB No. 07-
2-0018c, Compliance Order, November 3, 2009, p.10)
30) The WWGMHB has found LAMIRD boundaries that take into account existing
water lines (on July 1, 1990) capable of serving more intensive rural uses and
densities to be compliant with the Growth Management Act. (1000 Friends of
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Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
Washington vs. Thurston County, WWGMHB No. 05-2-0002, Compliance Order,
November 30, 2007)
31)The Washington State Supreme Court has held that a growth management
hearings board cannot base its evaluation of a county's permitted rural densities
on a "bright line" rural density of one dwelling per five acres. (Thurston County
vs. Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board, 164 Wn.2d 329,
190 P.3d 38, 2008; and Gold Star Resorts vs. Futurewise and Whatcom County,
167 Wn.2d 723, 735, 222 P.3d 791, December 17, 2009)
32) The WWGMHB found Whatcom County used appropriate Type I LAMIRD
criteria to revise its comprehensive plan designation boundary in the Lake
Samish area. (Leenstra vs. Whatcom County, WWGMHB Case No. 03-2-0011,
Final Decision and Order, September 26, 2003)
33) The WWGMHB found Jefferson County was not clearly erroneous when it
designated a LAMIRD adjacent to an urban growth area where the City of Port
Townsend had decided it was inappropriate to expand its urban growth area.
(People for a Liveable Community, Jim Lindsay, et al. vs. Jefferson County,
WWGMHB Case No. 03-2-0009c, Final Decision and Order, August 22, 2003)
34) The WWGMHB found that the use of the term "or" rather than "and" in RCW
36.70A.070(d)(i)(C) "appears to indicate a Legislative determination that the
factors of building size, scale, use, or intensity are ones that may be considered
in determining the character of the existing area, but that development is not
required to meet every one of those parameters. If the Legislature had
intended to use the word 'and' in the statute, they would have done so." (Dry
Creek Coalition vs. Clallam County, WWGMHB Case No. 08-2-0033, Final
Decision and Order, June 12, 2009, p.8)
Whatcom County Policy and Requirements
35) WCC 2.160.080 requires that, in order to approve the proposed
comprehensive plan amendments the Planning Commission and County Council
must find all of the following:
a) The amendment conforms to the requirements of the Growth Management
Act, is internally consistent with the county-wide planning policies and is
consistent with any interlocal planning agreements.
b) Further studies made or accepted by the Department of Planning and
Development Services indicate changed conditions that show need for the
amendment.
c) The public interest will be served by approving the amendment. In
determining whether the public interest will be served, factors including but
not limited to the following shall be considered:
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Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
i) The anticipated effect upon the rate or distribution of population growth,
employment growth, development, and conversion of land as envisioned
in the comprehensive plan.
ii) The anticipated effect on the ability of the county and/or other service
providers, such as cities, schools, water and/or sewer purveyors, fire
districts, and others as applicable, to provide adequate services and public
facilities including transportation facilities.
iii) Anticipated impact upon designated agricultural, forest and mineral
resource lands.
d) The amendment does not include or facilitate spot zoning.
e) Urban growth area amendments that propose the expansion of an urban
growth area boundary are required to acquire development rights from a
designated TDR sending area, with certain exceptions.
36) Whatcom County's County-wide Planning Policies include policies related to
rural lands:
a) County-wide Planning Policy B.1 states, "The county shall work with citizens
to define a variety of types of rural areas based on the characteristics and
needs of different areas."
b) County-wide Planning Policy B.2 states, "The county shall discourage urban
level development outside Urban Growth Areas and outside of areas currently
characterized by a development threshold greater than a rural development
density."
c) County-wide Planning Policy B.3 states, "Whatcom County shall promote
appropriate land uses and allow for infill within rural settlements
characterized by existing commercial industrial, and intensive residential
development greater than a rural development density. These areas should
be clearly delineated and not expanded beyond logical outer boundaries in
accordance with RCW 36.70A.070(5). Impacts on rural character, critical
areas and other economic considerations as well as the availability of capital
facilities and rural levels of service must be considered before allowing infill
in these areas."
d) County-wide Planning Policies P.1 and P.2 reflect GMA Planning Goal (6)
(RCW 36.70A.020(6), which states private property shall not be taken for
public uses without just compensation, and Whatcom County Charter Section
1.11, which states no regulation or ordinance shall be drafted and adopted
without consideration of and provisions for compensation to those unduly
burdened.
Population Projections
37) Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Table 4, adopted in 2009 and
amended in 2010, adopts population estimates and projections for the Urban
Growth Areas and the non-urban areas between 2008 and 2029. The Plan
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projects a total net population growth of 56,755 persons in all of Whatcom
County during that time, and projects the distribution of that growth
"assuming...that the portion of growth to urban areas is approximately 85% of
county-wide growth, with the balance to rural areas." The table estimated the
2008 non-urban population at 59,392 and, adding 8,300 (15% of the projected
county net population growth), projected a 2029 non-urban population of
67,692. These estimates and projections were based on 2009 population
estimates by the Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), which
estimated the 2008 total county population to be 191,000 based on data from
the 2000 census.
38) After the 2010 census was completed, OFM released new estimates revising
the 2008 estimated total county population upward from 191,000 to 197,675.
The 2010 census estimated the total county population at 201,400 in that year
and OFM estimated the total population of the UGAs at 136,359. Subtracting
the urban population from the total population leaves a rural population
estimate of 65,041 in 2010 - nearly 6,000 higher than Whatcom County's
estimated 2008 rural population of 59,392, which was based on pre-2010-
census OFM estimates.
39) Whatcom County PDS has estimated that residential permit activity in the
non-urban area in 2008 and 2009 would account for a population growth of only
671 persons and there is no evidence to support a conclusion that the rural
population actually grew by 6,000 (from 59,392 to 65,041) in two years.
Whatcom County Affected Areas and LAMIRD Designations
40) In determining the areas to be included within Type I LAM:ERD designations,
PDS consulted the best available information to verify the built environment on
July 1, 1990 (the date on which the GMA took effect for Whatcom County -
applied to Type I LAMIRD designations), and other documentation provided by
property owners and public utility providers. Based on this data PDS prepared
analysis maps for each of the affected areas and published them on the county's
internet site.
41) The areas proposed as LAMIRDs described in RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(i) (Type
I LAMIRDs) each are delineated by a logical outer boundary based on criteria in
Policy 2HH-1(C) and RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(iv), generally areas characterized
by the built environment and development more intensive than surrounding
rural areas on July 1, 1990.
42) The areas proposed as LAMIRDs described in RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(iii)
(Type III LAMIRDs) include lots that meet the criteria of Policy 2HH-3 and RCW
36.70A.070(5)(d)(iii), generally lots or small groups of lots that were
characterized by isolated nonresidential development. The county interprets the
term "isolated" to apply to small groups of lots containing uses that are isolated
from other small groups of lots with similar uses, acknowledging historic
development patterns while preventing these uses from expanding beyond the
LAMIRD to create new patterns of sprawl development.
43) In the Rural and Rural Residential zones, the current minimum permitted lot
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size of five acres where public water is not available (WCC 20.32.253 and
20.36.253) is retained.
44) During the most recent ten-year review of Whatcom County's urban growth
areas, neither the City of Ferndale nor the City of Bellingham wished to include
any of the proposed LAM:[RD areas adjacent to their urban growth area
boundaries (including North Bellingham, Fort Bellingham/Marietta, or Emerald
Lake) in their urban growth areas.
Public Participation
45) Whatcom County's County-wide Planning Policies include policies related to
citizen involvement:
a) County-wide Planning Policy A.2 states, "The county and the cities shall
provide opportunities for citizens to become involved in the growth
management planning process through various mechanisms, such as
surveys, public workshops, meetings, hearings, and advisory committees."
b) County-wide Planning Policy A.4 states, "Citizen comments and viewpoints
shall be incorporated into the decision-making process in development of
draft plans and regulations. Consideration of citizen comments shall be
evident in the decision-making process."
46) The Whatcom County Planning Commission held open work sessions on the
proposed amendments on February 23, March 8, April 12, April 19, April 26, and
May 2, 2012 and held public hearings on March 22 and May 24, 2012. Since
publication of the first draft amendments on March 6, 2012, the most current
draft amendments have been continuously posted on the County's web site, as
have all documents presented to the Planning Commission and all written public
comments.
47) The Whatcom County Council held open work sessions on June 5, 2012
(Planning and Development Committee), June 12, June 19 and July 24, 2012
(Special Committee of the Whole) and a public hearing on July 24, 2012. On
July 24, 2012 the County Council introduced an ordinance for consideration at
the public hearing; that introduced ordinance was posted on the County's web
site on July 25, 2012.
CONCLUSIONS:
1) The proposed amendments are consistent with the goals and requirements of
the Washington Growth Management Act (GMA) and are in the public interest,
and the proposed amendments to Whatcom County Code and the Official Zoning
Maps are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
2) The rural element of the Comprehensive Plan, as amended, harmonizes the GMA
planning goals in RCW 36.70A.020.
a) Urban growth. Proposed Comprehensive Plan Policy 2.DD1 encourages
development in urban areas by concentrating growth in urban areas per the
adopted population projections and monitoring rural growth and taking
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actions as necessary to keep rural growth consistent with adopted
projections.
b) Reduce sprawl. Proposed Comprehensive Plan Policy 2.DD-8 and policies
guiding growth within rural land use designations (under Goals 2GG, 233,
2KK, 2LL) reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into
sprawling, low density development in the rural area through use of LAMIRDs
with clearly defined boundaries and criteria for creating or changing those
boundaries consistent with RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d). Policies 2MM-1 and 2
control and contain areas of higher rural densities.
c) Transportation. Comprehensive Plan Policy 2DD-1, which encourages growth
in urban areas and keeps rural growth consistent with adopted projections, is
consistent with effective planning of efficient countywide multimodal
transportation systems. Policies 2FF-1, 2FF-2, 2FF-4 and the text describing
rural character and lifestyle support rural employment opportunities, which
can reduce vehicle trips from rural to urban areas.
d) Housing. Comprehensive Plan Policy 2GG-2, in conjunction with the
development regulations in WCC 20.32 Residential Rural District and 20.36
Rural District, allows for residential development at a variety of densities
appropriate to established rural character and development patterns.
e) Economic development. Comprehensive Plan Policies 2DD-8, 2DD-9, 2EE-8,
2FF-1, 2FF-2, 2FF-3, 2FF-4, and 233-5 support retention and expansion of
existing businesses in rural areas within the capacity of natural resources and
appropriate levels of rural services.
f) Property rights. Neither the rural element nor the process leading to its
adoption has taken private property for public use without just compensation
or involved arbitrary and discriminatory actions. On April 12, 2012 the
Planning Commission was briefed on the Attorney General's Advisory
Memorandum on Avoiding Unconstitutional Takings of Private Property, per
RCW 36.70A.370.
g) Permits. Nothing in the rural element prevents permit applications from
being processed in a timely and fair manner.
h) Natural resource industries. Comprehensive Plan Policy 2FF-2 and
development regulations in WCC 20.69 Rural Industrial/Manufacturing
District support resource-based industries. Policies 2DD-2.D, 2FF-3, 2GG-4
support minimizing conflicts with resource uses.
i) Open space and recreation. Policies 2DD-2.A.2, 2DD-2.A.3, 2DD-2.B, 2DD-
2.C, which adopt by reference various development regulations, provide
measures to assure visual compatibility with surrounding rural areas, reserve
open space through lot clustering, and to protect wildlife habitat and water
resources.
j) Environment. Policy 2DD-2.C, which adopts by reference various
development regulations, provides measures to protect critical areas and
surface and ground water resources.
k) Citizen participation and coordination. Throughout the process to develop
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and adopt amendments to the rural element, citizens and local jurisdictions
have been kept informed and invited to participate through use of e-mail and
Internet.
I) Public facilities and services. Policy 2DD-2.A.4, which adopts by reference
WCC 20.80.212 Concurrency, ensures that no subdivision, commercial
development or conditional uses be approved without a written finding that
service providers have adequate capacity to serve the development and that
no County facilities will be reduced below applicable levels of service as a
result of the development
m) Historic preservation. Policy 2DD-7 supports maintaining the historic
character and cultural roles of each rural area and community.
3) The rural element of the Comprehensive Plan and the county development
regulations, as amended, meet the requirements of the Growth Management
Act, RCW 36.70A.
a) The rural element includes measures that protect the rural character per
RCW 36.70A.070(5)(c) in Policies 2DD-1, 2DD-2, 2GG-2, and 2MM-1-4.
b) The rural element provides for limited areas of more intensive rural
development, limited per the requirements of RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d), in
policies 2HH-1 through 3, 2JJ-1 through 8, 2KK-1 and 2, and 2LL-1-4.
c) The rural element contains a description of rural character and lifestyle that
considers local circumstances as permitted in RCW 36.70A.070(5)(a), and
contains the GMA definition of rural character per RCW 36.70A.030(15).
d) Policies 2DD-8, 2DD-9, 2EE-8, 2FF-1, 2FF-2, 2FF-4, and 2JJ-5 support
retention and expansion of existing businesses in rural areas, as supported
by RCW 36.70A.011.
e) Comprehensive Plan policies describing rural land use designations and rural
services (under Goals 2EE, 2GG, 2JJ, 2KK, 2LL, and 2MM), and the
development regulations that implement those policies, are consistent with
RCW 36.70A.070(5)(b), which requires the rural element to provide for a
variety of rural densities, uses, essential public facilities and rural
governmental services.
f) Policies 2DD-2.A.2, 2DD-2.A.3, 2DD-5, 2DD-6, 2GG-6, and 2MM-2 support
innovative techniques, consistent with RCW 36.70A.070(5)(b).
g) The County has evaluated the Comprehensive Plan and development
regulation amendments to ensure that they do not result in an
unconstitutional taking of private property, per RCW 36.70A.370.
4) The amendments to the rural element of the Comprehensive Plan and the
county development regulation meet the requirements of the January 9, 2012
GMHB Final Decision and Order (FDO) in Future wise et a/ v. Whatcom County
(#11-2-0010c):
a) Policy 2A-11 is amended to eliminate reference to contiguous lands in
establishing LAM:IRD boundaries. (FDO, p. 53)
11
Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
b) Policy 2HH-1 is amended to replace the term "parcel" with the word "area"
when describing areas that were developed and characterized by the built
environment on July 1, 1990. (FDO, p. 56)
c) The reference to past uses in Policy 2HH-2 is removed. (FDO, p. 57)
d) In Policy 2HH-3.B.1, the phrase "should be separated" is replaced with "shall
be separated". (FDO, p. 60)
e) In Policy 2JJ-4 restating the requirement of a Rural Community LAMIRD to be
consistent with the size, scale, use, or intensity of the development that
existed on July 1, 1990 the word "should" is replaced by "shall." (FDO, p. 62)
f) Policy 2B-2 is amended so that it does not exempt established resort areas
from the requirements of RCW 36.70A.362. (FDO, p. 63)
g) Comprehensive Plan Policies 2DD-1, 2DD-2, 2DD-8 are amended to provide
the necessary measures to contain or otherwise control rural development, to
assure visual compatibility of rural development with the surrounding rural
area, reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into
sprawling, low-density development in the rural area, to protect the
Chuckanut Wildlife Corridor, and to protect Lake Whatcom's water resources,
as required by RCW 36.70A.070(5)(c)(i-iv). (FDO, p. 36-44)
h) Comprehensive Plan Policies 2MM-1 and 2 are added to "contain and control"
application of the Residential Rural Density Overlay. (FDO, p. 128)
i) The boundary established for the Birch Bay-Lynden & Valley View LANIIRD
complies with the GMA because there is documentation that the third parcel
that was characterized by the built environment on July 1, 1990. (FDO p.
100)
j) Comprehensive Plan Map 8 is amended to designate Eliza Island as Rural,
and WCC 20.35.250 is amended to establish a minimum lot size of five acres
in the Eliza Island (EI) zone. (FDO, p. 101)
k) Comprehensive Plan Map 8 is amended to omit LAMIRDs in the Fort
Bellingham/Marietta and North Bellingham areas. (FDO, p. 104)
I) Comprehensive Plan Map 8 is amended to exclude from the Smith & Guide
Meridian LAMIRD boundaries areas that were not characterized by the built
environment in 1990. (FDO, p. 111)
m) Comprehensive Plan Map 8 is amended to remove from the Van Wyck
LAMIRD a parcel that was not characterized by the built environment in
1990. (FDO, p. 113)
n) Comprehensive Plan Map 8 is amended to remove from the Emerald Lake
LAMIRD boundary the area south of the lake that was not characterized by
the built environment in 1990. (FDO, p. 115)
o) The Official Whatcom County Zoning Map is amended to eliminate the
application of the Residential Rural Density Overlay to areas in the Lake
Whatcom Watershed. (FDO, p. 155)
12
Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
p) Whatcom County Code 20.82.030(4), is amended to conditionally allow the
expansion of urban governmental services outside LAMIRDs only where
necessary to protect public health and safety, per RCW 36.70A.110(4).
(FDO, p. 75)
q) The definition of the Rural Business designation in WCC 20.97.356 is
amended to be consistent with the County's treatment of Rural Business in
its Comprehensive Plan. (FDO, p. 78)
r) The County's development regulations for its LAMIRDs (WCC 20.80.100, plus
development standards for commercial and industrial districts) are amended
to follow the requirements of RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(i-iii). (FDO, p. 94)
s) Comprehensive Plan Chapter One and Policy 2DD-1 are amended to plan for
rural population growth in a consistent manner, per the requirements of RCW
36.70A.070 (preamble).
5) The subject comprehensive plan amendment complies with the approval criteria
of WCC 2.160.080, which requires that the County must find the following
criteria, are satisfied in order to approve the proposed comprehensive plan
amendment.
a) The amendment conforms to the requirements of Growth Management Act, is
internally consistent with the County-Wide Planning Policies and is consistent
with any interlocal planning agreements.
i) Growth Management Act
The amendments are consistent with the Growth Management Act as
described in Conclusions 3 and 4, above.
ii) County-Wide Planning Policies
County-wide Planning Policy B.1 states, "The county shall work with citizens
to define a variety of types of rural areas based on the characteristics and
needs of different areas." Beginning in November of 2008, Whatcom County
has engaged the public in the development of the rural element amendments
through public meetings, e-mail, and the County's web site.
County-wide Planning Policy B.2 states, "The county shall discourage urban
. level development outside Urban Growth Areas and outside of areas currently
characterized by a development threshold greater than a rural development
density." Comprehensive Plan Policy 2GG-2 states "The Rural designation
includes areas of traditional rural uses and residential densities at or below
one unit per five acres. To reduce the inappropriate conversion of
undeveloped land into sprawling, low density development in the rural area,
more intensive development shall be contained within Rural Community,
Rural Tourism, or Rural Business designations, which are limited areas of
more intensive rural development (LAMIRDs), and predominantly residential
areas with established densities greater than one unit per five acres shall be
13
Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
contained in Rural Neighborhood designations."
County-wide Planning Policy B.3 states, "Whatcom County shall promote
appropriate land uses and allow for infill within rural settlements
characterized by existing commercial industrial, and intensive residential
development greater than a rural development density. These areas should
be clearly delineated and not expanded beyond logical outer boundaries in
accordance with RCW 36.70A.070(5). Impacts on rural character, critical
areas and other economic considerations as well as the availability of capital
facilities and rural levels of service must be considered before allowing infill
in these areas." Comprehensive Plan policies under Goals 2HH, 233, 2KK,
and 2LL provide criteria and policies for limited areas of more intensive rural
development. Policy 2DD-2 contains measures that assure visual
compatibility with the rural area, critical areas, and water resources.
County-wide Planning Policies P.1 and P.2 reflect GMA Planning Goal (6)
(RCW 36.70A.020(6), which states private property shall not be taken for
public uses without just compensation, and Whatcom County Charter Section
1.11, which states no regulation or ordinance shall be drafted and adopted
without consideration of and provisions for compensation to those unduly
burdened. The Comprehensive Plan amendments do not result in a taking of
private property for public use without compensation. On April 12, 2012 the
Planning Commission was briefed on the Attorney General's Advisory
Memorandum on Avoiding Unconstitutional Takings of Private Property, per
RCW 36.70A.370.
Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan
The Comprehensive Plan amendments address internal inconsistency issues
identified by the Growth Management Hearings Board and proposed
amendments to the Zoning Code and Zoning Maps are consistent with
Comprehensive Plan Policies.
iv) Interlocal Agreements
The interlocal agreements between Whatcom County and the cities require
coordination on adopting population projections and reviewing UGAs. The
draft amendments to Comprehensive Plan Chapter One and Policy 2DD-1
(Issue 24) do not adopt new population projections without City-County
coordination and are consistent with the coordination process described in
the agreements.
b) Further studies made or accepted by the department of planning and
development services indicate changed conditions that show need for the
comprehensive plan amendment.
14
Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
The need for this Comprehensive Plan amendment and accompanying Zoning
Code and Zoning Map amendments is generated by the Growth Management
Hearings Board's January 9, 2012 FDO.
c) The public interest will be served by approving the comprehensive plan
amendment. In determining whether the public interest will be served,
factors including but not limited to the following shall be considered:
i) The anticipated effect upon the rate or distribution of population growth,
employment growth, development, and conversion of land as envisioned
in the Comprehensive Plan.
The proposed amendments either retain existing zoning intensities and
densities or reduce them in rural Whatcom County. The amendments
establish a strategy for monitoring and, as necessary, limiting rural
population growth.
ii) The anticipated effect on the ability of the County and/or other service
providers, such as cities, schools, water and/or sewer purveyors, fire
districts, and others as applicable, to provide adequate services and public
facilities including transportation facilities.
No amendments are proposed that increase densities or intensity of uses
or increase the demand for services and facilities beyond levels needed to
serve development under existing zoning.
Anticipated impact upon designated agricultural, forest and mineral
resource lands.
No amendments are proposed that increase adverse impacts on
designated resource lands. Existing measures for minimizing conflict with
resource land uses are retained and incorporated by reference into the
Comprehensive Plan (Policy 2DD-2).
d) The amendment does not include or facilitate spot zoning.
WCC 20.97.186 defines "illegal spot zoning" as "a zoning action by which
a smaller area is singled out of a larger area or district and specially
zoned for a use classification totally different from, and inconsistent with,
the classification of surrounding land and not in accordance with the
Comprehensive Plan. Spot zoning is zoning for private gain designed to
favor of benefit a particular individual or group and not the welfare of the
community as a whole." Rezonings proposed under these amendments
apply to areas, or to lots identified by the Growth Management Hearings
Board as not meeting GMA requirements for inclusion in a LAMIRD, and
therefore none meet this definition of spot zoning.
e) Urban growth area amendments that propose the expansion of an urban
15
Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
growth area boundary shall be required to acquire development rights from a
designated TDR sending area, unless one of the exceptions set forth in WCC
2.160.080(A)(5) applies to the amendment.
No urban growth area amendments are proposed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council
that:
Section 1. The Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan is hereby amended as shown
on Exhibit A.
Section 2. The Whatcom County Official Zoning Code is hereby amended as shown
on Exhibit B.
Section 3. The Whatcom County Official Zoning Map and Comprehensive Plan Map
8 are hereby amended as shown in Exhibit C.
Section 4. Adjudication of invalidity of any of the sections, clauses, or provisions of
this Ordinance shall not affect or impair the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or
any part thereof other than the part so declared to be invalid.
Aip DC17ti 74 day of August 2012.
�•`�J?•y NATCO% C� �'% WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
ATT •O COUNTY � :r WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
. •
Dana irowri-Day.,.Ebuncir`�lerk Kathy Kershner, Council Chair
'���i,, -. * .-`````‘.
APP' •VED Appr• • -:r( ) Denies
i 1_411
ivil Deputy 'rosecutor Jack Lou s, Executive
Date: r� S f • 020ia
16
Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
EXHIBIT A
Comprehensive Plan Amendments
17
Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24, 2012
Chapter One
INTRODUCTION
Population Projections
Projections of future population size are an essential component of land use planning.
As required by RCW 36.70A.110, in 2007, the Washington State Office of Financial
Management developed a 20-year population projection for Whatcom County. The OFM
projections for 2029 are provided in Table 3 below:
Table 3. OFM Population Projections for Whatcom County
-I Average I Average Annual I Total ..
OFM` :.
Population Annual Population Growth Population
Projections for Growth Rate 2009-2029 Growth
2029
2009-2029 2009-2029
Low 216,300 0.66% 1,265 25,300
Medium 258,448 1.77% 3,372 67,448
High 318,832 3.35% 6,392 127,832
Source:Whatcom County Countywide Population and Employment Extrapolations and Scenarios,Memo,Berk and Associates,
February 9,2009
Note:The OFM population estimate of 191,000 in 2008 was utilized as a starting point for calculating the average annual growth
rates and average annual population growth figures in this table.
The Growth Management Act requires that the County plan for a 20-year population
growth that is based upon the growth management population projection by the office of
financial management (OFM). The county and each city must include areas and
densities sufficient to permit the urban growth that is projected to occur for the
succeeding twenty-year period.
The County's 2029 population projection of 247,755 is within OFM's range and therefore
requires no further justification. The rationale for using this figure, which is close to
OFM's medium projection, include: an overall slowing trend for growth in Washington
State and Whatcom County, ensuring an adequate land supply to accommodate
growth, the need to plan for growth and the need to protect the quality of life and natural
resources in Whatcom County. This population projection is selected for planning
purposes only and does not obligate the County to encourage growth. Given past
population trends and the requirements of GMA, planning for population growth, whether
it occurs or not, is critical for the quality of life, protection of natural resources and
economic health of Whatcom County.
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24, 2012
Table 4 shows how the total projected 2029 population would be distributed assuming:
1) that all of the UGAs have been annexed into existing cities; 2) that each urban area
receives a share of the county's overall growth; and 3)that the portion of growth to urban
areas is approximately 85% of county-wide growth, with the balance to unincorporated
rural Whatcom County (areas outside the UGAs, including rural and resource lands).
The 2008 population estimates — and, by extension, the 2029 population projections —
rely on OFM estimates that were based on 2000 census figures. After the 2010 census
data were released, OFM revised its population estimates for the years between 2000
and 2010. As shown in Figure 1, the revised estimate for the total 2008 County
population is more than 6,000 persons higher than the one used to develop the Table 4
population projections. OFIVI did not provide revised estimates for the UGA (or non-
UGA) population in the years between 2000 and 2010, but Figure 1 shows an estimate
of the non-UGA population assuming the proportion of non-UGA population held
constant at about 32% of total County population in those years. The revised OFM
estimates are shown in Figure 1 for illustrative purposes only; neither these estimates
nor any projections based on them are adopted in this plan. The projections used in
Table 4 and elsewhere in this plan will be revised using the most current OFM estimates
and projections during the next UGA review, due in 2016.
Outside the UGAs there is a large number of undeveloped tax parcels. While it is not
clear exactly how many of these tax parcels are legally buildable lots, the total number of
potential new dwelling units could theoretically accommodate population growth in
excess of the rural population projection. However, because adequate land capacity is
available for growth within urban growth areas, growth is not forced into the rural areas.
Through the monitoring process described in Policies 2S-5 and 2DD-1 of this plan, the
County will evaluate development activity in comparison with these urban and rural
growth projections and take action as necessary to address discrepancies if any are
identified.
Table 4. Whatcom County Population Projections and Distribution
2008 Population- Projected 2029 2008-2029
(Cities and Population Net Growth
unincorporated
UGAs)
Bellingham 89,284 111,761 22,477
Birch.Bay 5,290 9,115 3,825
Blaine 4,667 8,916 4,249
Columbia Valley 3,924 5,000 1,076
Everson 2,395 3,623 1,228
Ferndale 12,019 20,707 8,688
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24,2012
11,613 16,788 5,175
..-',:,.:;.:,-..•,:..,. :.: , .. ..,
NOCiktaCK .,.'::',:::?:::-.--= if.: 1,137 2,081 944
..'Sumas' .. . - " 1,279 2,072 793
Subtotal .-1.:;:::,..--,,'-',': .:.-....- 131,608 180,063 48,455
phiocotoorated-
.'.ittirl'
, . ,
.VVhatcom.County-.--,.:::., 59,392 67,692 8,300
. - . . , . : . -. • „2. . . - . . ...... : . . , . . . ..
Total Whatcom
., , ... .
-'-':
County 1 - ' - .--,"; • -i-,,' ' —::,':, :,::.'''' :191,000 ' ' "" . 247,755 56,755'S
Source:Washington Office of Financial Management(Aprill,2009)
Figure 1. Revised OFM Population Estimates and Adopted Population Estimates
.. 247,755
.°' •
. ....
01,140
200,000 "--' 297'G75 ,..*–'' ' — ' C•0100)/19-0-411101141i100.0915.M
, :91000 1 tilnale DOSert 0112010 Ce00
000#0,0•°
. lopeenonefoloily Total(Table 4 kiStitliato i
Daceil On OrM 1009)
:101,826
!.... (090ty Total frable 4 el ukcii0n) [
150,000 - - --:
H.,--1100 1.1.1A OZ.3%of Z011 0 r N1 ',
Co0oty Total) .
.."."140'43J0.{Tabks 4 Eginlate ha Sed:
1 on OF M1009)
...
: , A(7.11.4e 4 Projection) il
100,000 i. ,
(5,O'fl
......0
67.&J2
50,000 l',3,289
svcco(note,one,1•ilrie 4;Mile 5 Denj zoos oak I'I/000 0.:0,,A14;0:,0,,..,no m0.4.birth khr,and lotolobia',Jailer
iiitia,(DM i
What,oin f oinity POS
littoilF,,,ocofin...ia g),Oopinte(eocaDolioaprill_joilercelnal_e,,tooaste,alita)20).0clia
March)111:
hinicro,ro,ofro iva vo,,:000'noialtareal tlatalsIni,"5are 2011 toci30,/,),,
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• .
Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24,2012
Chapter Two
LAND USE
OVERALL LAND USE- INTRODUCTION
ISSUES, GOALS, AND POLICIES
Issues for this section were drawn from those identified in the Whatcom County: Next
Generations Visioning Process and reinforced during the Whatcom 2031 visioning
process. Numerous meetings, surveys/questionnaires and other methods were used to
identify what was important to people in Whatcom County.
Accommodating Growth
Community Value Statements encourage concentrating growth into urban areas. This
allows for efficient provision of services and preservation of rural areas as quiet, open
spaces where development pressures are not such that extraordinary regulations must
be imposed. A distinct boundary is needed between rural and urban areas, discouraging
sprawl, maintaining desired rural lifestyles, and conserving agricultural land.
GOAL 2A: Ensure provision of sufficient land and densities to
accommodate the growth needs of Whatcom County and
protect the qualities that make the county a desirable place to
live.
Policy 2A-1: Concentrate urban levels of development within designated urban
growth areas.
Policy 2A-2: Draw a distinct boundary between urban and rural uses.
Policy 2A-3: Provide a range of land uses which considers locational and
market factors as well as required quantities of land.
Policy 2A-4: Designate land uses that reflect the best use of the land.
Policy 2A-5: Provide predictability to property owners in land use designation.
Policy 2A-6: Allow appropriate development in existing small self-contained
communities through the use of the "Rural Community" land use
designation.
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24,2012
Policy 2A-7: Provide sufficient and appropriately located residential,
commercial, and industrial lands.
Policy 2A-8: Include business/industry parks, tourist/resort areas and
allowance for existing crossroads commercial areas within urban
growth areas or limited areas of more intensive rural development.
Policy 2A-9: Retain existing rural and heavy industrial areas in the
northwestern region of the county within urban growth areas or
limited areas of more intensive rural development.
Policy 2A-10: Recognize the importance of tourism and its influence on the need
for land for various types of development.
Policy 2A-11: Ensure that the development potential of contiguous lands in
common ownership is not compromised when urban growth
boundaries are designated. This should be accomplished without
expanding UGA boundaries beyond that ownership and without
bridging natural divisions of urban/rural land uses such as roads,
rivers, and other natural features.
Policy 2A-12: Adoption of residential, industrial and commercial comprehensive
plan or zoning designations in rural areas must comply with the
criteria for "limited areas of more intensive rural development" in
the Growth Management Act(RCW 36.70A.070(5)).
Policy 2A-13 Allow for adequate economic development to provide economic
sustainability, adequate employment opportunities, and services in
and for the rural areas.
Resort Communities and Master Planned Resorts
The County's resort areas are important to the economic viability of the County's tourist
industry and provide numerous and varied recreational opportunities for county residents
and visitors. Historically important resort areas include Birch Bay, Point Roberts,
Semiahmoo, and the Mount Baker winter recreational area. Resort communities provide
recreational opportunities for residents of the surrounding areas.
GOAL 2B: Encourage the continued viability of existing resort
communities and allow the development of new Master
Planned Resorts in the future.
Policy 2B-1: Permit through the planned unit development process master
planned resorts in settings of significant natural amenities within
urban growth areas .
Policy 2B-2: New large-scale resort development in rural areas outside of
UGAs should only be permitted as Master Planned Resorts and
only when substantially in compliance with these policies and with
RCW 36.70A.360.
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24, 2012
Policy 2B-3: Work with property owners in the resort communities to develop
an understanding of the unique needs of these areas and evaluate
land use regulations for their responsiveness to these needs.
Policy 2B-4: New resort development and Master Planned Resorts should be
developed consistent with the development regulations
established for critical areas.
Policy 2B-5: No new urban land uses should be allowed in the vicinity of
Master Planned Resorts, except in areas otherwise designated as
urban growth areas under the Comprehensive Plan.
GOAL 2S: Ensure adequate land supply is provided to accommodate twenty years
of growth within urban areas.
Policy 2S-5: Annually monitor land capacity by compiling annual reports from
the cities on development activity, and comparing that data with
adopted growth projections for the urban growth areas.
Coordinate with the cities to amend growth projections, or amend
urban growth area densities or boundaries if, over several years,
the data indicate that growth is occurring at a significantly different
rate than adopted projections.
RURAL LANDS— INTRODUCTION
Purpose
The purpose of the Rural Lands section is to provide direction for land use decisions in
the rural areas of Whatcom County.
GMA Requirements
The state Growth Management Act (GMA) requires counties to include a Rural element
in their comprehensive plan in accordance with RCW 36.70A.070. GMA defines rural
lands as those that are located outside urban growth areas and which do not include
designated agriculture, forestry, or mineral resource lands of long-term commercial
significance. Agriculture, forestry and mineral resource lands are addressed separately
in Chapter 8: Resource Lands.
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24,2012
GMA requires counties to provide for a variety of rural densities and uses in its rural
areas, and to adopt measures to protect the rural character of the area, as established
by the county. The GMA (RCW 36.70A.030(15)) defines "rural character" as "patterns of
land use and development established by a county in the rural element of its
comprehensive plan:
(a) In which open space, the natural landscape, and vegetation predominate over the
built environment;
(b) That foster traditional rural lifestyles, rural-based economies, and opportunities to
both live and work in rural areas;
(c) That provide visual landscapes that are traditionally found in rural areas and
communities;
(d) That are compatible with the use of the land by wildlife and for fish and wildlife
habitat;
(e) That reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling,
low-density development;
(f) That generally do not require the extension of urban government services; and
(g) That are consistent with the protection of natural surface water flows and ground
water and surface water recharge and discharge areas."
GMA allows counties to designate "limited areas of more intensive rural development"
(LAMIRDs) where more intensive uses have been established within their rural areas.
Counties making such designations must adopt measures to minimize and contain the
existing areas or uses of more intensive rural development. In its findings preceding the
GMA, the legislature states that rural counties must have flexibility to create
opportunities for business development and must have the flexibility to retain existing
businesses and allow them to expand.
Rural Character and Lifestyle
Rural Whatcom County is the portion of the County not planned for either urban or
resource use and its character differs from that of the County's urban and resource
areas.While agriculture and forestry are practiced in the rural areas, it is generally on a
smaller scale than in the resource areas that are set aside specifically for those
purposes. The rural areas provide an important buffer between urban areas and
resource lands, and the character of the rural areas is differentiated from the urban
areas by less intensive uses and densities, and greater predominance of vegetation,
wildlife habitat, and open space.
Small unincorporated communities have existed in the rural areas for many decades but
have not become urban centers. Land uses in these communities are more intensive
than those in the surrounding rural areas, and provide rural residents places to shop,
eat, play, etc, and access public services such as schools, libraries, and post offices
without having to travel to cities. The businesses in these communities are important
contributors to the economy of Whatcom County. Even outside these settlements,
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24,2012
residents of the rural areas have established home occupations, cottage industries, and
small-scale businesses that are an important part of the County's traditional rural
economy.
Historically, rural Whatcom County has been a place of great variety. Residential
densities vary greatly from homes on 10 or 20 acre lots to lots smaller than one acre in
the rural communities and neighborhoods that have been established over the years.
The scale and intensity of rural businesses varies from the home occupations, cottage
industries, and resource-based industries to the more intensive commercial and
manufacturing uses, though the County's largest commercial and industrial uses have
been established in the urban areas.
Whatcom County's rural lifestyle is one where residents enjoy views of a green
landscape dotted by homes and barns, and have an appreciation for clean water and
air. Residents can work and shop in small rural communities, or earn a living on their
own rural lands, but these enterprises do not detract from the overall sense of openness
and predominance of the landscape in the rural area. Rural Whatcom County has long
been a place to raise children with the values of hard work and responsible stewardship
of the land, and where residents can grow food and livestock for themselves or for
market. While rural property owners do not expect to be provided with urban-level
services, they enjoy a quality of life and sense of self-sufficiency not ordinarily found in
the urban areas.
In the rural element of this chapter, Whatcom County establishes policy consistent with
the findings of the legislature and with the above vision of rural character and lifestyle
that will:
• Help preserve rural-based economies and tradition lifestyles,
• Encourage the economic prosperity of rural residents
• Foster opportunities for small-scale, rural-based employment and self
employment,
• Permit the operation of rural-based agriculture, commercial, recreational, and
tourist businesses that are consistent with existing and planned land use
patterns,
• Be compatible with the use of the land by wildlife and for fish and wildlife habitat,
• Foster the private stewardship of the land and preservation of open space, and
• Enhance the rural sense of community and quality of life.
GOAL 2DD: Retain the character and lifestyle of rural Whatcom County.
Policy 2DD-1: Concentrate growth in urban areas per the population projections
in Chapter 1 of this plan, and recognize rural lands as an
important transition area between urban areas and resource
areas. By February 1 of each year the department will publish a
report that monitors residential development activity outside the
urban growth areas during the previous year and compares that
data with the adopted population growth projection for those
areas. If it is apparent that growth occurring outside the urban
growth areas is inconsistent with adopted projections, the County
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shall take action to address the discrepancy. Actions may include
changing the allocation of the projected population growth during
the comprehensive plan update required per RCW 36.70A.130(1),
or changing development regulations to limit growth outside the
urban growth areas. In addition, as the County and cities review
the capacity for growth in the urban growth areas, the county
should coordinate with the cities to ensure that policies are in
place that are consistent with encouraging growth in the urban
areas and reducing demand for development in rural areas.
Policy 2DD-2: Protect the character of the rural area through the County's
development regulations. In addition to the policies of this plan
that provide measures governing rural development, the following
County's key development regulations are incorporated into this
plan by reference to assure that the plan contains measures to
protect rural character:
A. Measures to contain or otherwise control rural development
and reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land
into sprawling, low-density development:
1. Limit the expansion of areas of more intensive
development and higher rural densities through Policies
2A-8, 2A-9, 2DD-1, 2DD-8, 2GG-2, 2JJ-1 through 8, 2KK 1
and 2, 2LL-1 through 4, and 2MM-1 through 4 of this plan.
2. Provide options to reserve areas of land suitable for
agriculture, forestry, or open space through lots clustering
in the following Zoning Code provisions, adopted herein by
reference:
a. WCC 20.32.305, .310, and .320, Lot clustering,
Residential Rural District;
b. WCC 20.34.305, .310, and .320, Lot clustering, Rural
Residential Island District;
c. WCC 20.36.305, .310, and .320, Lot clustering, Rural
District;
d. WCC 20.71.350, .351, and .352, Lot clustering, Water
Resource Protection Overlay District.
3. Prohibit short subdivisions outside of urban growth areas
and limited areas of more intensive rural development that
would require extension of public sewer except for health
or safety reasons through the following Whatcom County
Land Division regulations adopted herein by reference:
a. WCC 21.04.090, Sewage Disposal, Short Subdivisions
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b. WCC 21.05.090 Sewage Disposal, Preliminary Long
Subdivisions
B. Measures to assure visual compatibility of rural development
with the surrounding rural area:
1. Ensure that the visual landscapes traditionally found in
rural areas and communities are preserved through
limitations on structural coverage of lots in the following
Zoning Code provisions, adopted herein by reference:
a. WCC 20.32.450 Lot coverage, Residential Rural
District;
b. WCC 20.36.450 Lot coverage, Rural District.
2. Require that lots developed under the lot clustering option
be designed and located to be compatible with valuable or
unique natural features as well as physical constraints of
the site through standards provided in the following Zoning
Code provisions, adopted herein by reference:
a. WCC 20.32.310 Lot clustering design standards,
Residential Rural District;
b. WCC 20.34.310 Lot clustering design standards, Rural
Residential-Island District;
c. WCC 20.36.310 Lot clustering design standards, Rural
District;
d. WCC 20.71.351 Lot clustering design standards, Water
Resource Protection Overlay District.
3. Protect the aesthetic assets of the rural areas and soften
the impact of structures through landscape buffers and
setback requirements provided in the following Zoning
Code provisions, adopted herein by reference:
a. WCC 20.80.200 Setback requirements;
b. WCC 20.80.300 Landscaping.
4. In the Point Roberts Rural Community, regulate visual
aspects of development through the standards in the
following Zoning Code provisions, adopted herein by
reference:
a. WCC 20.72.350 Building setbacks/buffer areas, Point
Roberts Special District;
b. WCC 20.72.651 Facility design, Point Roberts Special
District;
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c. WCC 20.72.653 Tree canopy retention, Point Roberts
Special District;
d. WCC 20.72.654 Site design/view corridors, Point
Roberts Special District.
C. Measures to protect critical areas and surface and
groundwater resources:
1. Protect the functions and values of critical areas
(geologically hazardous areas, frequently flooded areas,
critical aquifer recharge areas, wetlands, and habitat
conservation areas) and the ecological processes-that
sustain them, through 'WCC 16.16 Critical Areas
provisions, adopted herein by reference.
2. Minimize the adverse effects of discharges from on-site
sewage systems on ground and surface waters through
WCC 24.05, adopted herein by reference.
3. Preserve and protect unique and important water
resources through development standards in WCC 20.71
Water Resource Protection Overlay District, adopted
herein by reference:
4. Protect surface and ground water resources through
stormwater management standards established in the
County's Development Standards per WCC 20.80.630 and
12.08.035 and referenced in the following Zoning Code
provisions, adopted herein by reference:
a. 20.32.656 Drainage, Residential Rural District;
b. 20.34.659 Drainage, Rural Residential-Island District;
c. 20.36.656 Drainage, Rural District;
d. 20.37.655 Drainage, Point Roberts Transitional District;
e. 20.44.652 Drainage, Recreation and Open Space
District;
f. 20.59.704 Drainage, Rural General Commercial
District;
g. 20.60.655 Drainage, Neighborhood Commercial
District;
h. 20.61.704 Drainage, Small Town Commercial District;
i. 20.63.654 Drainage, Tourist Commercial District;
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j. 20.64.655 Drainage, Resort Commercial District;
k. 20.67.653 Drainage, General Manufacturing District;
I. 20.69.655 Drainage, Rural Industrial and
Manufacturing District.
5. Assure that subdivisions meet requirements for critical
areas, shoreline management, and stormwater
management through the standards in the following
Whatcom County Land Division regulations, adopted
herein by reference:
a. WCC 21.04.034 Application Procedures, Short
Subdivisions
b. WCC 21.05.037 Hearing Examiner Notice Hearing and
Decision, Preliminary Long Subdivisions
6. Limit water withdrawals resulting from land division through
the standards in the following Whatcom County Land
Division regulations, adopted herein by reference:
a. WCC 21.04.090 Water supply, Short Subdivisions
b. WCC 21.05.080 Water supply, Preliminary Long
Subdivisions
7. Regulate groundwater withdrawals by requiring purveyors
of public water systems and private water system
applicants to comply with Washington State Department of
Ecology ground water requirements per WCC 24.11.050,
adopted herein by reference.
8. Limit phosphorus entering Lake Whatcom and Lake
•
Samish due to the application of commercial fertilizers to
residential lawns and public properties through WCC
16.32, adopted herein by reference.
9. Protect vital drinking water, sensitive habitats, and
recreational resources within the Department of Ecology's
designated Western Washington Phase II Municipal
Stormwater Permit area and the Lake Whatcom watershed
by prohibiting illicit discharges to the county's stormwater
collection system through WCC 16.36 Illicit Discharge
Detection and Elimination Program, adopted herein by
reference.
D. Measures to protect against conflicts with the use of
agricultural, forest, and mineral resource lands:
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1. Ensure separation of new residences from agricultural and
forestry uses through setback requirements in the following
Zoning Code provisions, adopted herein by reference:
a. WCC 20.80.255 Agricultural District, Supplementary
Requirements;
b. WCC 20.80.256 Forestry districts, Supplementary
Requirements;
c. WCC 20.80.258 All districts, Supplementary
Requirements.
2. Ensure separation of businesses from agricultural uses
through setback requirements in the following Zoning Code
provisions, adopted herein by reference:
a. WCC 20.59.600 Buffer area, Rural General
Commercial District;
b. WCC 20.60.550 Buffer area, Neighborhood
Commercial District;
c. WCC 20.61.600 Buffer area, Small Town Commercial
District;
d. WCC 20.63.600 Buffer area, Tourist Commercial
District;
e. WCC 20.64.550 Buffer area, Resort Commercial
District;
f. WCC 20.67.550 Buffer area, General Manufacturing
District;
g. WCC 20.69.550 Buffer area, Rural Industrial and
Manufacturing District.
3. Require that all discretionary project permits within one half
mile of areas designated in this plan as Rural, Agriculture,
Commercial Forestry, or Rural Forestry, or within 300 feet
of areas designated as Mineral Resource Lands, be
subject to disclosure practices in the in the following
Whatcom County Code provisions, adopted herein by
reference:
a. WCC 20.40.662 Use of Natural Resources, Agriculture
District;
b. WCC 20.42.652 Use of Natural Resources, Rural
Forestry District;
c. WCC 20.43.662 Use of Natural Resources,
Commercial Forestry District;
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d. WCC 20.14.02 Right to Farm;
e. WCC 20.14.04 Right to Practice Forestry;
f. WCC 20.14.16 Mineral Resource Land Disclosure.
Policy 2DD-3: Encourage property owners to conserve forested areas,
agricultural land, and open space by utilizing current-use taxation
provisions (RCW 84.34).
Policy 2DD-4: Conserve open space, park land, and trails for recreational use,
as well as to protect essential habitat such as riparian areas and
wetlands.
Policy 2DD-5: Use an "Agriculture Protection Overlay Zone" designation in
certain Rural zoned areas as a way to help achieve the goal of
conserving and enhancing Whatcom County's agricultural land
base.
Policy 2DD-6: In the "Agriculture Protection Overlay Zone" on parcels 20 acres
and larger with Rural 5 acre and Rural 10 acre zoning, require
non-agriculturally related development to be clustered where it
would not create more conflicts with accepted agricultural
practices, on a maximum of 25 percent of the available land with
the remainder available for open space and agricultural uses.
•
Development standards shall provide flexibility to achieve
development potential in cases of natural limitations.
Policy 2DD-7: Maintain the historic character and cultural roles of each rural area
and community.
Policy 2DD-8: Allow more intensive uses in limited areas of more intensive rural
development designated consistent with RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d),
which provide public and commercial services and employment
opportunities. Reduce the inappropriate conversion of
undeveloped land into sprawling, low density development in the
rural area by establishing clearly defined boundaries for these
areas as well as criteria for creating or changing those boundaries
consistent with RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d).
Policy 2DD-9: Assure economic prosperity for rural areas and allow rural
property owners reasonable use of their land by continuing to
allow legal nonconforming uses.
Policy 2DD-10: Adopt incentive programs, such as purchase of development
rights, transfer of development rights, and tax deferrals, to achieve
desired land use policies in rural areas and in areas where there
are compelling reasons to do so.
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Rural Services
Development in rural areas should not receive urban levels of service except where
necessary to protect public health, safety, and the environment. Services should be
coordinated to ensure that rural areas receive appropriate services including law
enforcement protection, fire protection, and emergency services. The Whatcom County
Public Works Department maintains county roads. Most of the residential development
in rural areas uses individual on-site septic systems. Some drinking water is provided by
on-site wells and in other cases it is provided by water districts or water associations.
GOAL 2EE: Ensure that rural areas are provided with services consistent
with the rural character and that development patterns do not
encourage an increased service level or degrade water
quality.
Policy 2EE-1: Recognize domestic water systems, volunteer fire protection,
emergency services, law enforcement protection, transportation,
public transit services and public utilities typically associated with
rural development as appropriate services in designated rural
areas. Rural services do not include storm or sanitary sewers.
Policy 2EE-2: Coordinate and plan public facilities, services, roads, and utilities
to ensure that rural areas have appropriate and adequate rural
levels of service necessary to maintain a rural lifestyle.
Coordinate with rural service providers to ensure efficient and
effective service to rural areas.
Policy 2EE-3: Pursue measures through which new development would help pay
for increased demands on critical rural services such as fire and
emergency service.
Policy 2EE-4: Prohibit extension or expansion of municipal public sewer systems
outside urban growth areas or LAMIRDs except where it is
necessary to protect public health, safety and the environment,
and when such services are financially supportable at rural
densities and do not permit urban development.
Policy 2EE-5: Ensure that adequate on-site wells and on-site sewage and septic
systems are properly installed, monitored, and maintained.
Provide technical assistance to property owners, and require
necessary improvements when needed to protect health, safety
and environmental quality.
Policy 2EE-6: Promote better land use practices and protect water quality by
encouraging landowners and developers to investigate and
implement innovative subdivision, septic system designs, and
stormwater management.
Policy 2EE-7: Ensure county coordination with service providers to determine if
new or infill development will have necessary services. Require
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concurrent review of new development to ensure adequate level
of service at rural standards are available at the time of
development.
Policy 2EE-8: Public services and public facilities necessary for rural commercial
and industrial uses shall be provided in a manner that does not
permit low-density sprawl. Uses may utilize urban services that
previously have been made available to the site.
Rural Employment Opportunities
Many residents in rural Whatcom County depend on cottage industries, home
occupations, small businesses, and natural resource-based jobs for their livelihood.
These types of businesses support the local economy and are compatible with the rural
lifestyle desired by county residents.
Commercial and industrial uses located within Rural Communities, Rural Tourism, and
Rural Business areas are also important contributors to the local economy, providing
jobs and services to rural residents.
GOAL 2FF: Provide employment opportunities in the rural parts of
Whatcom County.
Policy 2FF-1: Support small businesses, cottage industries, home occupations,
resource-based, tourist, recreational, and other appropriate
industries in the rural areas of Whatcom County. New rural
commercial and industrial uses that are more intensive than those
permitted within rural zones as home occupations or cottage
industries should be located within designated Rural Communities
and Rural Business areas.
Policy 2FF-2: Support resource-based industries that require only rural services,
conserve the natural resource land base, and help maintain the
rural character and lifestyle of the community. Assure adequate
facilities, mitigation and buffers through development regulations.
Policy 2FF-3: Ensure that business operations do not adversely impact adjacent
residential, agricultural or forest land, or compromise water quality
and quantity.
Policy 2FF-4: Allow home-based occupations, cottage industries and small-
scale tourist and recreational uses throughout the rural area
provided they do not adversely affect the surrounding residential
uses, agricultural uses, forestry uses, or rural character.
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RURAL LANDS— LAND USE
Rural Designation
Lands outside the County's urban and resource areas include a variety of uses and
densities. Traditionally, Whatcom County's rural areas have been characterized by a
spectrum of uses ranging from farms and large-lot residential areas to recreational
communities and small towns. The more intensive uses in that spectrum
(commercial/industrial areas and residential areas with densities greater than one unit
per acre) are contained within the boundaries of Rural Community, Rural Tourism, or
Rural Business designations (LAMIRDs) and Rural Residential Overlays.
The remainder of the rural areas are designated Rural and contain traditional rural
residential and farm uses as well as small home-based and conditionally-permitted
businesses. The rural character of the lands designated as Rural should not be
compromised by the encroachment of more intensive development. Commercial and
industrial uses in the rural areas not contained within a Rural Community designation
must meet GMA criteria for small-scale tourism or isolated business uses (RCW
36.70A.070(5)(d)(ii)and (iii).
Goal 2GG: Designate Rural areas to contain a variety of uses and
densities while retaining their traditional rural character.
Policy 2GG-1: Provide a variety of residential choices at rural densities which are
compatible with the character of each of the rural areas.
Policy 2GG-2: The Rural designation includes areas of traditional rural uses and
gross residential densities at or below one unit per five acres. To
reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into
sprawling, low density development in the rural area, more
intensive development shall be contained within Rural Community,
Rural Tourism, or Rural Business designations, which are limited
areas of more intensive rural development (LAMIRDs), and
predominantly residential areas with established densities greater
than one unit per five acres shall be contained in Rural
Neighborhood designations.
Policy 2GG-3: Uses and densities within the Rural designation should reflect
established rural character. Rezones within the Rural designation
should be consistent with the established rural character and
densities in the general area of the proposed rezone.
Policy 2GG-4: Minimize potential conflicts of rural residential development near
designated natural resource lands to prevent adverse impacts on
resource land uses.
Policy 2GG-5: Provide landowners with incentives and options to develop their
property at densities that may be less than the underlying zone,
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when necessary to protect critical areas and high-value resource
lands.
Policy 2GG-6: Ensure that flexible development patterns such as cluster
subdivisions effectively preserve open space and agricultural land
and do not create the need for more intensive rural services.
Policy 2GG-7: Development within Rural designations shall be consistent with
rural character as described in this chapter.
Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMIRDs)
RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(i) through (iii) allows counties to designate limited areas of more
intensive development (LAMIRDs) for three types of development patterns in the rural
areas:
• Type I: "Rural development consisting of the infill, development, or
redevelopment of existing commercial, industrial, residential, or mixed-use
areas..." Existing development is defined as that which existed on July 1, 1990.
• Type II: "The intensification of development on lots containing, or new
development of, small-scale recreational or tourist uses, including commercial
facilities to serve those...uses, that rely on a rural location and setting..."
• Type III: "The intensification of development on lots containing isolated
nonresidential uses or new development of isolated cottage industries and
isolated small-scale businesses that are not principally designed to serve the
existing and projected rural population and nonresidential uses, but do provide
job opportunities for rural residents..."
Areas designated in this plan as Rural Communities are Type I LAMIRDs. Rural
Tourism designations are Type II LAMIRDs and Rural Business designations are Type
III LAMIRDs.
The purpose of LAMIRDs is to place limits on more intensive development and prevent it
from adversely affecting the character of the surrounding rural areas. Rural
Communities (Type I LAMIRDs) are areas characterized by more intensive uses at the
time Whatcom County began planning under GMA. Rural Tourism designations (Type II
LAMIRDS) apply to lots that contain small-scale tourist uses. Rural Business
designations apply to lots that contain isolated small-scale business. The criteria listed
under Goal 2HH were used to designate Rural Communities and Rural Business areas
(the Type I and Type III LAMIRDS) in 2010 and should be used to establish future Rural
Tourism and Rural Business designations (Type II and III LAMIRDs) and to evaluate
future proposed modifications to Rural Community, Rural Tourism, and Rural Business
designations(Type I, II, and III LAMIRDs).
Goal 2HH: Establish LAMIRD Designation Criteria
Policy 2HH-1: Rural Community(Type I LAMIRD) designation criteria
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A. Location Criteria. Rural Communities may be designated in an
area that:
1. Was characterized by existing development more
intensive than surrounding rural areas (residential or non-
residential) as of July 1, 1990, and
2. Is not currently designated by the Comprehensive Plan as
Urban Growth Areas (UGAs)or Resource Lands, and
B. Additional Location Criteria. The following may serve as
additional criteria for Rural Community designation (relative to
the specific circumstances of the area, and in combination with
each other):
1. The existing (1990) residential built environment was more
intensively developed than surrounding areas;
2. Public services are available to serve potential infill, such
as adequate potable water and fire protection,
transportation facilities, sewage disposal and stormwater
control; or
3. The area is planned for more intensive development in a
post-GMA local subarea plan.
4. Existing zoning prior to designation as a Rural Community,
except existing zoning may not be a sole criterion for
designation.
C. Outer Boundary Criteria. For land meeting the criteria
described in A and B above, Rural Community boundaries
must minimize and contain areas of intensive development
and be delineated predominately by the built environment, and
shall include:
1. Areas that were intensively developed and characterized
by the built environment (including water lines or other
utility lines with capacity to serve areas of more intensive
uses) on July 1, 1990.
2. Areas that on July 1, 1990 were not intensively developed
may be included within Rural Community boundaries if
they meet any of the following conditions:
a. Including the area helps preserve the character of an
existing (built) natural neighborhood;
b. Including the area allows the logical outer boundary to
follow a physical boundary such as bodies of water,
streets and highways, and land forms and contours;
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c. Including the area (or in limited cases, a portion of the
parcel) prevents the logical outer boundary from being
abnormally irregular;
d. Including the area is consistent with efficient provision
of public facilities and services in a manner that does
not permit low-density sprawl;
e. Including the area does not create a new pattern of
low-density sprawl.
Policy 2HH-2: Rural Tourism (Type II LAMIRD) designation criteria
A. Location Criteria. Rural Tourism may be designated on land
that:
1. Consists of one lot, or more than one lot, and
2. Is not currently designated by the Comprehensive Plan as
Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) or Resource Lands, and
3. Is characterized by the intensification of development on
lots containing, or new development of, small-scale
recreational or tourist uses, including commercial facilities
to serve those uses, that rely on a rural location and
setting, but that do not include new residential
development, other than a dwelling unit accessory to the
business for use by the owner-manager or caretaker.
4. Does not exceed 20 acres.
B. Additional Criteria The following serve as additional criteria for
Rural Tourism designation:
1. The area may include pre-existing residential development,
but not new (except for dwelling units accessory to the
business for use by the owner-manager or caretaker), and
2. The area may serve more than the local existing &
projected rural population, and
3. Public services and public facilities shall be limited to those
necessary to serve the recreation or tourist use and shall
be provided in a manner that does not permit low-density
sprawl,
Policy 2HH-3: Rural Business (Type III LAMIRD) designation criteria
A. Location Criteria. Rural Business may be designated on land
that:
1. Is not currently designated by the Comprehensive Plan as
Urban Growth Areas(UGAs) or Resource Lands, and
2. Consists of a lot or small group of lots that either:
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a. Contain nonresidential uses and is located within a
commercial, manufacturing, or industrial zoning district
at the time of original county-initiated designation, or
b. Allow for new development of isolated cottage
industries and isolated small scale businesses that are
not principally designed to serve the existing and
projected rural population and nonresidential uses, but
do provide job opportunities for rural residents.
B. Additional Criteria.
1. A Rural Business designation on a lot or small group of lots
containing nonresidential uses shall be separated from
other LAMIRD designations, regardless of type, by no less
than one-half mile by public road, except where the other
LAMIRD is separated by a major physical feature such as
a water body, freeway, major road, or other physical
feature.
2. In the event that the listed criteria result in the need to
choose one proposed designation over another,
preference is given to a proposed use that:
a. Provides the greatest number of job opportunities for
rural residents.
b. Is located at a controlled public road intersection.
Rural Communities
Rural Communities are areas that have historically served as centers of activity and
services for surrounding rural areas, or have been established as more intensive rural
residential development. In many cases, they are served by public services and
facilities, including schools, libraries, post offices, and/or public transportation.
These areas are Type I LAMIRDs and include small unincorporated towns and other
areas where a concentration of commercial and public uses have been in existence
since before the adoption of the GMA in 1990. Typically, these are mixed-use areas
containing both residential and nonresidential uses developed at a greater intensity than
is generally found in outlying rural areas. This more intensive development is contained
within the boundaries of the Rural Community designations, preventing the expansion of
more intensive uses and densities into the surrounding rural areas. Because
undeveloped lots may be included within Rural Community boundaries, infill
development is possible, but at an intensity consistent with the development that existed
in 1990.
In keeping with the legislature's finding that rural counties must have the flexibility to
retain existing businesses and allow them to expand, Whatcom County strives to keep
Rural Communities vibrant and prevent economic stagnation. On lots where businesses
existed in 1990 in Rural Communities, businesses can expand to sizes greater than
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existed in the area in 1990, provided the expansion is otherwise consistent with the
character of the area in 1990 in terms of uses or intensity.
Areas designated as Rural Communities are: Acme, Axton & Guide Meridian, Birch Bay-
Lynden & Valley View, Cain Lake, Custer, Deming, Diablo, Emerald Lake, Glacier,
Hinotes Corner, Kendall, Lake Samish, Laurel, Lummi Peninsula, Maple Falls,
Newhalem, Nugents Corner, Point Roberts, Pole & Guide Meridian, Sandy Point/Sandy
Point Heights, Smith &Guide Meridian, Sudden Valley, Van Wyck, and Wiser Lake.
GOAL 2JJ: Designate areas of more intensive rural development that
existed on July 1, 1990 as Rural Communities.
Policy 2JJ-1: Areas designated as Rural Communities shall meet the criteria
stated in this chapter and the requirements of RCW
36.70A.070(5)(d)(i), which describes limited areas of more
intensive rural development consisting of the infill, development,
or redevelopment of existing commercial, industrial, residential, or
mixed-use areas, including necessary public facilities and public
services to serve the limited area.
Policy 2JJ-2: Boundaries of Rural Communities shall meet the criteria stated in
this chapter, and the requirements of RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(iv),
which requires limited areas of more intensive rural development
to be clearly identifiable and contained within a logical outer
boundary delineated predominately by the built environment as it
existed on July 1, 1990.
Policy 2JJ-3: Additional Rural Communities shall not be designated, nor shall
boundaries of Rural Communities be changed unless the area of
the proposed addition meets the criteria stated in this chapter, and
requirements of RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d) . Designated Resource
Lands should not be redesignated as Rural Communities.
Policy 2JJ-4 Within the Rural Communities, encourage adequate economic
development to provide current and future residents' employment
needs, and provide rural residents places to shop, eat, and access
to public services.
Policy 2JJ-5: Within Rural Communities development or redevelopment in
terms of size, scale, use, or intensity shall be consistent with the
character of the area on July 1, 1990.
Policy 2JJ-6: On lots in a Rural Community where businesses existed on July 1,
1990, businesses may expand beyond the size or scale of
businesses o a—similar type in t1ie area on that date. The
expansion must be consistent with the character of the Rural
Community in 1990 in terms of use or intensity. The use being
expanded shall be consistent with the general types of uses that
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24,2012
existed in the area on July 1, 1990, and the expansion shall not
cause a need for additional public facilities in the area.
Policy 2JJ-7: Lands inside Rural Community designation boundaries that are
within low-density residential zones (one residence per five acres
or less density) or resource zones, or are federally owned, should
not be re-zoned to allow more intensive uses and densities.
Policy 2JJ-8: Land uses within Rural Communities, except for industrial uses,
should be principally designed to serve the existing and projected
rural population.
Policy 2JJ-9: Encourage future public participation activities to develop
additional planning goals and policies specific to residents' needs
and preferences in individual Rural Communities.
Rural Tourism
Whatcom County's scenic rural areas are enjoyed by residents and tourist alike. Small
scale recreation or tourist uses that rely on a rural setting provide income opportunities
for rural residents and contribute to the local economy. GMA allows counties to
designate new Type II LAMIRDs for new small-scale recreation and tourist uses. The
Rural Tourism designation limits and contains such uses, which can be more intensive
than surrounding rural uses.
GOAL 2KK: Provide opportunities for small-scale recreational or tourist
uses in rural areas.
Policy 2KK-1: Lands designated for Rural Tourism shall meet the criteria stated
in this chapter, and the requirements of RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(ii),
which describes limited areas of more intensive rural development
consisting of the intensification of development on lots containing,
or new development of, small-scale recreational or tourist uses,
including commercial facilities to serve those uses, that rely on a
rural location and setting, but that do not include new residential
development(other than a dwelling unit accessory to the business
for use by the owner-manager or caretaker).
Policy 2KK-2: Designated Resource Lands shall not be redesignated as Rural
Tourism.
Rural Business
Many businesses have been established in commercial and industrial zones outside of
Rural Community areas. These uses, which are more intensive than the found in
surrounding rural areas, provide commercial services and job opportunities for rural
residents. The Rural Business designation permits uses to continue while preventing
the spread of businesses in sprawl development patterns.
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24,2012
GMA allows counties to designate new Type III LAMIRDs for new isolated small-scale
businesses. To ensure that these uses remain isolated and do not lead to strip
development, criteria for Rural Business designation include spacing requirements from
other Rural Business designations as well as Rural Communities.
The areas designated Rural Business under Type III guidelines are: Birch Bay-Lynden &
1-5, Blue Canyon, Guide Meridian Border Crossing, North Lake Samish & 1-5, Slater &
Elder, Van Zandt, and Welcome.
GOAL 2LL: Designate Rural Business areas to limit and contain
nonresidential uses.
Policy 2LL-1: All lands designated Rural Business shall meet the Rural
Business designation criteria stated in this chapter, and the
requirements of RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(iii), which describes
limited areas of more intensive rural development consisting of the
intensification of development on lots containing isolated
nonresidential uses or new development of isolated cottage
industries and isolated small-scale businesses.
Policy 2LL-2: On lots in a Rural Business area where businesses did not exist
on July 1, 2012, the new businesses shall be "small-scale" as
described in the development regulations. On lots where
businesses existed on July 1, 2012, development regulations
should not hold the business to a "small-scale" standard.
Policy 2LL-3: Uses in the Rural Business designation need not be principally
designed to serve the existing and projected rural population and
nonresidential uses, but provide job opportunities for rural
residents.
Policy 2LL-4: Designated Resource Lands shall not be redesignated as Rural
Business.
Rural Neighborhoods
The GMA does not set a maximum allowed residential density for rural areas. A large
majority of the lands designated as Rural are zoned for one residence per five or ten
acres, however, a small proportion has been developed under a zoning that allows lots
smaller than five acres where public water service is available. These areas have their
own unique rural character (as compared with the higher densities contained within
LAMIRDs) and they serve to provide a needed variety of rural densities. However, it is
important to maintain the character of the more traditional rural areas and prevent
expansion of the smaller-lot rural areas beyond their traditional limits.
This plan recognizes the unique qualities of these established Rural Neighborhoods and
contains them within boundaries that reflect the extent of these areas in 2011. Unlike
the Rural Communities, these areas are not LAMIRDs.
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24,2012
GOAL 2MM: Designate Rural Neighborhoods to recognize and contain
rural areas that have been established with predominantly
residential uses with higher densities than surrounding rural
areas.
Policy 2MM-1 Areas zoned for densities greater than one dwelling per five acres
shall be contained within Rural Neighborhood boundaries. Rural
Neighborhood boundaries shall not be expanded beyond those
established in 2012, which were drawn to include areas that were
developed at higher rural densities in 2011.
Policy 2MM-2 In the Whatcom County Code, the Rural and Rural Residential
zoning districts may include Rural Residential Density Overlays
that may be applied to areas within the Rural Neighborhood
designation where smaller-lot rural residential development has
already occurred. The overlay should allow for infill development
with lot sizes consistent with those of surrounding lots, where
public water service is available. The overlay shall limit eligibility
of lots based on the percentage of surrounding lots that were
developed in 2011, and shall establish a maximum density that
may be achieved using the overlay. The Rural Residential
Density Overlays shall not be created or expanded outside of
Rural Neighborhoods or into areas where smaller-lot development
has not occurred; such expansion is not consistent with
maintaining the traditional character of the surrounding rural
areas.
Policy 21VIIVl-3 Rural Neighborhoods are designated adjacent to Urban Growth
Areas only in areas where developed densities exceeded one
dwelling per 2.5 acres in 2011, and there is little potential for
efficient urban development in the future.
Policy 2MM-4 Urban governmental services shall not be extended into a Rural
Neighborhood unless such extensions are shown to be necessary
to protect basic public health and safety and the environment, and
when such services are financially supportable at rural densities
and do not permit urban development.
(Re-number Goals and Policies in the remainder of Chapter Two as needed.]
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATIONS MAP
The Comprehensive Plan designations map (Map 8) is intended to provide direction for future
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24, 2012
land use decisions in Whatcom County. It is officially adopted as part of this document.
Because of the scale of the map, specific boundaries are identified on maps in the County
Planning and Development Services office.
Comprehensive Plan Designation Descriptors
These descriptors are intended to be general in nature. More specific criteria and
explanation will be incorporated into subarea plans.
Title: Urban Growth Areas
Purpose: To denote where future urban growth may occur.
Definition: Areas characterized by urban growth that have adequate existing
public facility and service capacities; areas characterized by urban
growth that can be served adequately by a combination of both
existing public facilities and any additional public facilities and
services that are provided by either public or private sources; and
lands adjacent to areas characterized by urban growth.
Locational Criteria: First urban growth may be located on lands characterized by
urban growth that have adequate existing public facility and
service capacities; next urban growth may be located on lands
characterized by urban growth that can be served adequately by a
combination of both existing public facilities and services and any
additional public facilities and services that are provided by either
public or private sources; and finally urban growth may be located
on lands adjacent to areas characterized by urban growth.
Title: Urban Growth Area Reserve
Purpose: To denote lands which appear to be suitable for future inclusion in
an adjacent and contiguous Urban Growth Area when the need
arises and adequate public facilities and services can be provided,
and other issues identified in the comprehensive plan are
addressed.
Definition: Areas that are not yet suited for urban growth but are logical areas
in which the urban area would likely grow beyond current growth
allocations after being properly designated as an Urban Growth
Area.
Locational Criteria: Areas adjacent and contiguous to Urban Growth Areas in which
urban development would likely occur beyond current growth
allocations.
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24,2012
Title: Major Industrial Area/Port Industrial Urban Growth Areas
Purpose: To reserve appropriate areas to attract heavy industrial
manufacturing uses and provide employment opportunities while
minimizing land use conflicts and off-site impacts.
Definition: Land area for large-scale heavy industry that has a high impact on
the surrounding neighborhood and environment.
Locational Criteria: Industry should be located in areas adequate for its use away
from residential centers, but within reasonable commuting
distance; near transportation facilities and services.
Title: Master Planned Resort
Purpose: To recognize and contain resort areas that existed on July 1,
1990, or permit new master planned resort areas that depend on a
setting of significant natural amenities.
Definition: Historic or new planned unit development that is self-contained
and fully integrated, in a setting of significant natural amenities,
with primary focus on destination resort facilities consisting of
short-term visitor accommodations associated with a range of
developed on-site indoor or outdoor recreational facilities.
Locational Criteria: Resorts may be located in urban or rural areas within a setting of
significant natural amenities.
Title: Rural Community(Type I LAMIRD
Purpose: To recognize rural development consisting of the infill,
development, or redevelopment of commercial, industrial,
residential, or mixed uses areas that existed on July 1, 1990 and
limit and contain more intensive rural land uses within logical outer
boundaries.
Policies on the definition and locational criteria for Rural
Communities are found under Goals 2HH and 2JJ in this chapter.
Title: Rural Tourism (Type II LAMIRD)
Purpose: To recognize small-scale recreational or tourist uses in rural
areas, and to limit and contain more intensive rural development
on those lots.
Policies on the definition and locational criteria for Rural Tourism
designationss are found under Goals 2HH and 2KK in this
chapter.
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24, 2012
Title: Rural Business (Type III LAMIRD)
Purpose: To recognize development on lots containing isolated
nonresidential uses or new development of isolated cottage
industries and isolated small-scale businesses, to limit and contain
more intensive development on those lots.
Policies on the definition and locational criteria for Rural Business
designations are found under Goals 2HH and 2LL in this chapter.
Title: Rural Neighborhood
Purpose: To recognize and contain rural areas that have been established
with predominantly residential uses with higher densities than
surrounding rural areas.
Policies on the definition and locational criteria for Rural
Neighborhood designations are found under Goal 2MM in this
chapter.
Title: Rural
Purpose: To provide opportunity for a variety of low-density residential
development including cluster development with the flexibility to
practice farming or forestry, or operate a home occupation or
cottage industry; to retain a sense of community. Also to
encourage agriculture and forestry activities through the use of
incentives.
Policies on the definition and locational criteria for Rural
designations are found under Goal 2GG in this chapter.
Title: Agriculture- Resource Lands
Purpose: To recognize and promote agriculture in Whatcom County and
protect prime agricultural soils and productive agricultural lands
from conversion to other uses. To prevent conflicts between
residential and agricultural uses.
Definition: Commercial agriculture lands located on parcels 40 acres or
larger, with one dwelling unit per 40 acres allowed.
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24,2012
Locational Criteria: Soils identified as prime agricultural soils; large parcels; existing
commercial agricultural uses.
Title: Rural Forestry- Resource Lands
Purpose: To provide flexibility in use, enabling the landowner to live on the
land and practice forestry and forestry-related industry.
Definition: Lands used primarily for growing trees with some low-density
residential development.
Locational Criteria: Lands useful for growing trees for commercial timber production;
usually located within public service districts; accessed by private
roads built to Whatcom County development standards or public
roads; low-density residential development; land parcels generally
20 acres or greater in size; property often in tax deferred status.
Title: Commercial Forestry-Resource Lands
Purpose: To provide land base for commercial forestry activities and provide
predictability of future land use to forest land owners.
Definition: Land primarily devoted to commercial timber production.
Locational Criteria: Land primarily devoted to growing trees for long-term commercial
timber production; located outside public service districts such as
fire and water; accessed by private or state forest roads; parcels
generally 40 acres or larger in size; land in tax deferred status.
Title: Mineral Resource Lands- Resource Lands
Purpose: To ensure a long-term supply of mineral resources and provide
predictability in land use.
Definition: Lands of long-term commercial significance for the extraction of
minerals.
Locational Criteria: Proven mineral resources of long-term commercial significance,
low density rural areas, designated Agricultural lands generally
with Non-Prime Farmland Soils and when demonstrated to be of
higher value as a mineral resource than as an agricultural
resource; and designated Forestry lands of higher value as a
mineral resource than as forestry resource.
Title: Public Recreation
Purpose: To provide the public with open space and recreational
opportunities; to protect conservation areas.
Definition: Areas with unique scenic or recreational amenities.
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24, 2012
Locational Criteria: Parcels owned or managed by public or private agencies for
recreational or conservation use.
Title: Special Study Areas
Purpose: To indicate areas where regional planning efforts are a high
priority and necessary in order to address important local issues in
greater detail.
Definition: Includes the Lake Whatcom Watershed and certain areas within
the Lummi Reservation.
(Re-number Goals and Policies in the remainder of Chapter Two as needed.]
Chapter Four
CAPITAL FACILITIES
GOAL 4H: Coordinate with non-county facility providers such as cities
and special purpose districts to support the future land use
pattern promoted by this plan.
Policy 4H-1: Establish interagency planning mechanisms to assure coordinated
and mutually supportive capital facility plans from special districts,
cities, and other major non-county facility providers which are
consistent with this and other chapters of the comprehensive plan.
Policy 4H-2: In consultation and coordination with special districts, cities, and
other major non-county facility providers, review and update as
appropriate capital facility plans supporting UGAs in conjunction
with GMA 7-Year Review and 10-Year UGA Review.
Policy 4H-3 The 7-year comprehensive plan review and update process
should demonstrate that the urban growth areas are served by
urban levels of fire protection facilities and service. If the level of
service standard adopted by the County can not be provided over
the 20-year planning period, then re-designation of UGAs to rural
designations should be considered.
Policy 4H-4 Urban levels of service for fire protection shall be a response time
of 8 minutes 80% of the time when the department covering the
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Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Amendments July 24, 2012
urban area has staffed the fire station. When the fire station is not
staffed the response time shall be 10 minutes 80% of the time, or
a WSRB Rating of 6.
Rural levels of service for fire protection shall be a response time
of 12 minutes 80% of the time when the department covering the
rural area has staffed the fire station. When the fire station is not
staffed the response time shall be 14 minutes 80% of the time, or
a WSRB Rating of 8.
Staffed station shall be a fire station that is staffed 24 hours a day
7 days a week 365 days a year. Staff may be paid, volunteer, or
combination of the two.
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Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
EXHIBIT B
Zoning Code Amendments
18
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
DRAFT WCC Title 20 Chapters Affected by GMHB Final Decision and Order
20.32 Residential Rural (RR) District
20.32.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the Residential Rural District is to maintain the low density rural
residential character of the areas designated as Rural Neighborhoods or Rural
Communities on the Comprehensive Plan map and implement the Comprehensive
Plan policies that define the rural character in Whatcom County in accordance with
RCW 36.70A.070(5). In addition, it is the intent of this district to provide the
opportunity for the development of building sites which maximize the efficient use
of both energy and land by allowing an option for clustering of residential lots.
20.32.050 Permitted uses.
Unless otherwise provided herein, permitted and conditional uses shall be
administered pursuant to the applicable provisions of Chapter 20.80 WCC
(Supplementary Requirements) and Chapter 20.84 WCC (Variances, Conditional
Uses and Appeals).
.051 One single-family dwelling per lot.
.052 (1) In short-term planning areas only, single-family attached dwellings;
provided, that not more than two units are attached and the number of dwelling
units conforms to the density requirements of this district.
(2) Outside short-term planning areas, single-family dwellings only.
.053 Public parks and recreation facilities included in an adopted city or county
Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.
.054 Agriculture, including animal husbandry, horticulture, viticulture, floriculture,
silviculture, and beekeeping; and the cultivation of crops.
.055 Private, noncommercial boat docks when located on a manmade canal
designed for boat traffic pursuant to the Whatcom County Shoreline Management
Program.
.056 Trails, traiiheads, restroom facilities and associated parking areas for no more
than 30 vehicles.
.057 One one-story detached accessory storage building per lot; provided, that the
floor area shall not exceed 200 square feet and shall only be used for personal
storage and not for habitation or business; and provided further, that the storage
building shall contain no indoor plumbing but may be served with electrical power
for lighting.
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
.088 Adult family homes as defined in Chapter 70.128 RCW.
.089 Boarding homes that are similar in size, facilities and occupancy to other
residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
.090 Mental health facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in
size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning
district.
.091 Substance abuse facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in
size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning
district.
20.32.100 Accessory uses.
.101 Home occupations pursuant to WCC 20.84.150.
.102 Private noncommercial boat docks, launches, ramps, floats, moorages and
boathouses pursuant to the Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program.
.103 Other accessory uses incidental to the primary permitted use.
.104 Temporary dwelling units which have full living accommodations including
sleeping, self-contained cooking, bathing, and toilet facilities where the plumbing is
connected to permanent site sewage and water systems, including those travel
trailers and recreational vehicles that meet the above description, for use by
owners during the period of construction of a permanent dwelling while building
permit is valid, not to exceed two years.
.105 Family day care homes subject to the requirements of WCC 20.84.150 for
home occupations.
.106 Bed and breakfast establishments.
20.32.130 Administrative approval uses.
The following uses are permitted subject to administrative approval pursuant to
WCC 20.84.235.
.134 One private, noncommercial, recreational vehicle or park model trailer and one
accessory guest RV per lot within designated Rural Communities in the Foothills
Subarea, as listed in WCC 20.97.337; provided, that the following minimum
requirements and standards are met and/or followed:
(1) All recreational vehicles that remain on the site for more than 14 consecutive
days shall be connected to a permitted on-site sewage system or public sewer.
(2) Maximum length of occupation of a recreational vehicle shall not exceed 120
days per calendar year; provided, that no accessory guest recreational vehicle
shall stay on the lot for more than 14 consecutive days nor more than 30 days
total per calendar year.
(3) All recreational vehicles shall be screened from neighboring properties not
using RVs and from public roads. Such screening may consist of landscaped
buffer areas, suitable native vegetation or a fence.
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(4) Lots shall not be leased or rented out on a daily or overnight basis for
recreational use.
(5) Accessory structures shall be limited to storage, shop, garage, carport
and/or similar personal use only and shall not exceed a total of 200 square feet
in floor area per lot; provided, that the 200-square-foot limitation shall not apply
to that portion of a carport covering the RV.
(6) The locations of parked RVs on vacant lots shall observe normal building
setback standards for a single-family residence.
(7) All recreational vehicles shall be supported by their own wheels or camper
jacks, and not be fastened to accessory structures.
20.32.150 Conditional uses.
Items indicated by an "*" are not allowed outside Rural Communities or short-term
planning areas unless the applicant can demonstrate that there is a need to locate
outside those areas in order to comply with legal requirements or standards; or
that the proposed location is the most efficient place for the proposed use with
respect to providing needed services to the public.
.155 Reserved.
20.32.251 Minimum lot size and maximum density.
For the purpose of creating new building lots within the Residential Rural District,
several land use densities are provided. The minimum lot size and maximum
density requirements for new construction vary according to the method of
subdivision and whether or not public water is available, as well as whether
stormwater collection and detention facilities, where identified by the appropriate
Comprehensive Plan policies, serve the project site. Where the conventional
subdivision method is used to create new building lots, if public water is not
provided, the minimum lot size shall be five acres or, if public water and, where
specified in the Comprehensive Plan, stormwater drainage facilities are provided,
the minimum lot size shall be 36,000 square feet for RR-1 or 18,000 square feet for
RR-2 areas or 12,000 square feet for RR-3 areas. The lot cluster subdivision
method only shall be used if public water is provided, and then the minimum lot
size is based on the district's setback requirements (WCC 20.80.200) and the
Whatcom County health department regulations for on-site septic disposal, but shall
not be less than that shown below.
20.32.252 Rural Residential Density Overlay.
In certain areas delineated on the official zoning map in the RR-2A or RR-5A zone,
and designated as a Rural Neighborhood in the Comprehensive Plan, a density
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WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
overlay may be applied in order to permit densities consistent with surrounding
development and the established rural character of the area.
(1) Eligibility. Eligibility for the density overlay is limited to lots that meet the
following:
(a) Public water must be available, and
(b) At least 70% of lots wholly or partially within 500 feet of the subject lot's
outer boundary must have contained a residence and been under five acres in
size on May 22, 2011.
(2) Calculation. Within this overlay the permitted minimum lot size for a lot is
equivalent to the mean lot size of all lots that contained a residence on June 1,
2011 and are wholly or partially within 500 feet of the lot's outer boundaries, or
one acre, whichever is greater. This calculation is subject to the following:
(a) No lots within a city, urban growth area, or LAMIRD (Rural Community,
Rural Tourism, or Rural Business comprehensive plan designation) may be
included in the mean lot size calculation, and
(b) Lot sizes existing on or before May 22, 2011 shall be used in the mean lot
size calculation.
20.32.253 Maximum density and minimum lot size.
The following districts with their associated lot sizes as indicated below, are only
allowed within Rural Neighborhoods and Rural Communities, as outlined in the
Comprehensive Plan: RR-2A, RR-1, RR-2, RR-3. The RR-5A and RR-10A districts are
allowed throughout the rural areas. For boundary line adjustments on lots not
conforming to minimum lot sizes in this zoning district, lot size averaging may be
used by calculating the average lot size of legal lots of record within 500 feet of the
outside perimeter of the lots proposed for boundary line adjustment.
Minimum Lot Size 'Min. Reserve
Area (Cluster
District Gross Density Conventional Cluster Subdivisions)
RR-1, RR-2, RR-3, 1 dwelling unit/5 5 acres N/A N/A
RR-5A: without public acres
water
RR-10A without public 1 dwelling unit/10 10 acres N/A N/A
water acres
With public water, and stormwater detention and collection facilities:
RR-1 1 dwelling unit/1 acre 36,000 sq. 15,000 30%
ft. sq.ft.
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WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
RR-2 2 dwelling units/1 18,000 sq. 15,000 10%
acre ft. sq.ft.
RR-3 3 dwelling units/1 12,000 sq. 8,000 25%
acre ft. sq.ft.
RR-2A 1 dwelling unit/2 2 acres 15,000 30%
acres sq.ft.
RR-5A 1 dwelling unit/5 5 acres 15,000 30%
acres sq.ft.
RR-10A 1 dwelling unit/10 10 acres 15,000 30%
acres sq.ft.
RR-5A and RR-2A Maximum: 1 dwelling see 15,000 30%
subject to Rural unit/ 1 acre per 20.32.252 sq.ft.
Residential Density 20.32.252(2)
Overlay
2032.254 Minimum lot width and depth.
"Width at Street Line I I Minimum
Width at Mean
District Conventional Cluster Bldg. Line Depth
RR: without public water 300' N/A 80' 100'
RR: with public water, and stormwater 30' 30' 70' 80'
collection and detention facilities
20.32.350 Building setbacks.
Building setbacks shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.200 (Setback
requirements)
20.32.400 Height limitations.
Maximum height shall be limited to 35 feet. Height of structures shall also
conform, where applicable, to the general requirements of WCC
20.80.675.20.32.450 Lot coverage.
No structure or combination of structures shall occupy or cover more than 5,000
square feet or 20 percent, whichever is greater of the total area, not to exceed
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WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
25,000 square feet. Buildings used for livestock or agricultural products shall be
exempt from this lot coverage requirement.
20.35 Eliza Island (EI) District
20.35.250 Minimum lot size and density.
.251 For purposes of creating new building lots within the Eliza Island District, the
minimum lot size shall be five acres.
20.36 Rural (R) District
20.36.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the Rural District is to maintain the low density rural residential
character of the areas designated as Rural and Rural Neighborhood on the
Comprehensive Plan map and implement the Comprehensive Plan policies that
define the rural character in Whatcom County in accordance with RCW
36.70A.070(5). In addition, it is the intent of this district to allow a variety of low
intensity uses that are compatible and complementary with the conservation of
agricultural, forestry and related uses.
20.36.252 Rural Residential Density Overlay.
In certain areas delineated on the official zoning map in the R-5A zone, and
designated as a Rural Neighborhood in the Comprehensive Plan, a density overlay
may be applied in order to permit densities consistent with surrounding
development and the established rural character of the area.
(1) Eligibility. Eligibility for the density overlay is limited to lots that meet the
following:
(a) Public water must be available, and
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WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
(b) At least 70% of lots wholly or partially within 500 feet of the subject lot's
outer boundary must have contained a residence and been under five acres in
size on May 22, 2011.
(2) Calculation. Within this overlay the permitted minimum lot size for a lot is
equivalent to the mean lot size of all lots that contained a residence on June 1,
2011 and are wholly or partially within 500 feet of the lot's outer boundaries, or
two acres, whichever is greater. This calculation is subject to the following:
(a) No lots within a city, urban growth area, or LAMIRD (Rural Community,
Rural Tourism, or Rural Business comprehensive plan designation) may be
included in the mean lot size calculation, and
(b) Lot sizes existing on or before May 22, 2011 shall be used in the mean lot
size calculation.
20.36.253 Maximum density and minimum lot size.
For boundary line adjustments on lots not conforming to minimum lot sizes in this
zoning district, lot size averaging may be used by calculating the average lot size of
legal lots of record within 500 feet of the outside perimeter of the lots proposed for
boundary line adjustment.
I I Minimum Lot Size I Min. I Min.
Reserve Reserve
Area Area
(Cluster (Cluster
Subdivisions Subdivisions
Outside of in Urban
Urban Growth
Growth Areas)
District Gross Density Conventional Cluster Areas)
R-2A without 1 dwelling 5 acres 1 acre 20% 80%
public water unit/5 acres
R-2A with 1 dwelling 2 acres 12,500 65% 80%
public water unit/2 acres sq. ft.
R-5A without 1 dwelling 5 acres 1 acre 55% 80%
public water unit/5 acres
R-5A subject 1 dwelling Not 15,000 75% Not
to unit/5 acres applicable sq. ft. applicable
Agricultural
Protection
Overlay
(Chapter
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20.38 WCC)
R-5A with 1 dwelling 5 acres 12,500 75% 80%
public water unit/5 acres sq. ft.
R-5A with Maximum: 1 see 15,000 75% Not
public water dwelling unit/2 20.36.252(2) sq. ft. applicable
subject to acres per
Rural 20.36.252(2)
Residential
Overlay
R-10A 1 dwelling 10 acres 1 acre 70% 80%
without unit/10 acres
public water
R-10A 1 dwelling Not 15,000 75% Not
subject to unit/10 acres applicable sq. ft. applicable
Agricultural
Protection
Overlay
(Chapter
20.38 WCC)
R-10A with 1 dwelling 10 acres 12,500 80% 80%
public water unit/10 acres sq. ft.
Public Not applicable No minimum No Not Not
facilities minimum applicable applicable
approved
under WCC
20.36.151
20.36.350 Building setbacks.
Building setbacks shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.200 (Setback
requirements)
20.36.400 Height limitations.
Maximum height shall be limited to 35 feet. Height of structures shall also
conform, where applicable, to the general requirements of WCC 20.80.675.
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20.36.450 Lot coverage.
No structure or combination of structures shall occupy or cover more than 5,000
square feet or 20 percent, whichever is greater of the total area, not to exceed
25,000 square feet. Buildings used for livestock or agricultural products shall be
exempt from this lot coverage requirement.
20.37 Point Roberts Transitional (TZ) District
20.37.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the Transitional Zone District is to maintain the low density
residential character of the areas designated as transitional on the official Whatcom
County zoning map and to implement the goals and policies of the subarea
Comprehensive Plan. In addition, it is the intent of this district to create and protect
a permanent network of interconnected open space and to provide the opportunity
for development of building sites which maximize the efficient use of both
infrastructure and land by allowing an option for clustering residential lots. (Ord.
2003-048 Exh. A, 2003; Ord. 2002-018 § 1, 2002).
20.37.450 Lot coverage.
No structure or combination of structures shall occupy or cover more than 5,000
square feet or 20 percent, whichever is greater of the total area, not to exceed
25,000 square feet. Buildings used for livestock or agricultural products shall be
exempt from this lot coverage requirement.
20.59 Rural General Commercial (RGC) District
20.59.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the Rural General Commercial District is to provide for limited
commercial activities which serve the surrounding community and provide job
opportunities for residents of the rural area. This district may be located in either a
Rural Community or Rural Business area, which are limited areas of more intensive
rural development per RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d). The district shall comply with the
rural land use policies and criteria set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. New
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development or redevelopment in an RGC district located in a Rural Community
designation is limited to that which is consistent with the character of the area on
July 1, 1990 in terms of building size, scale, use, or intensity. New development in
a Rural Business designation is limited to isolated small scale businesses.
20.59.050 Permitted uses.
Unless otherwise provided herein, permitted and conditional uses shall be
administered pursuant to the applicable provisions of Chapter 20.80 WCC
(Supplementary Requirements) and Chapter 20.84 WCC (Variances, Conditional
Uses and Appeals). In a Rural Community designation, nonresidential uses listed
below are permitted if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural
Community designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural
Business designation all uses are permitted. Residential type uses listed below are
permitted in Rural Community and Rural Business designations.
.051 Retail and office type uses:
(1) Mobile home and recreational vehicle sales.
(2) Indoor commercial recreation facilities such as bowling alleys, skating rinks,
indoor theaters and physical fitness centers.
(3) Service establishment including but not limited to barber and beauty shops,
laundries, dry cleaners, furniture repair, frozen food lockers, funeral parlors, animal
hospitals, auction houses, financial institutions, fraternal organizations and
professional offices.
(4) Retail establishments including but not limited to grocery, liquor, drug,
sundries, variety, building supplies, clothing, florist, nurseries, optical, sporting
goods, appliance, music and pet stores.
(5) Printing and publishing establishments.
(6) Mini-day care centers and day care centers.
.052 Storage and warehousing type uses:
(1) Rental storage establishments
.053 Restaurant type uses:
(1) Eating and drinking establishments.
.054 Automotive and equipment repair type uses:
(1) Automobile, motorcycle, marine and farm implement sales, rental agencies,
repair and service; provided, that all repair services are conducted within an
enclosed building.
(2) Automobile service stations, car washes and public garages.
.055 Residential type uses:
One single-family dwelling or duplex per lot of record subject to:
(1) Health department requirements regarding soil type and water supply.
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(2) A deed restriction recorded with the Whatcom County auditor is attached to
the lot(s) at the time of building permit issuance stating that the dwelling(s) is
located in a Rural General Commercial zone and buyers should be aware that
commercial uses will be allowed on surrounding parcels and owners have no
grounds for protest.
(3) This permitted use is only allowed on lots created as of May 22, 2011, or lots
created according to 20.59.257.
.056 Public and community type uses:
(1) Public utilities, except broadcast towers, which require a conditional use permit
pursuant to WCC 20.82.030(4), and water and sewer treatment plants, which
require a conditional use permit pursuant to WCC 20.82.030(7).
(2) Public community facilities including police and fire stations, libraries,
community centers, recreation facilities, and other similar noncommercial uses.
Reserved(3) Public parks and recreation facilities included in an adopted city or
county Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.
(4) Trails, trailheads, restroom facilities and associated parking areas for no more
than 30 vehicles.
(5) Activity centers.
(6) Adult family homes as defined in Chapter 70.128 RCW.
(7) Boarding homes that are similar in size, facilities and occupancy to other
residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
(8) Mental health facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in size,
facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning
district.
(9) Substance abuse facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in
size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning
district.
(10) Secure community transition facilities for sex offenders.
(a) A secure community transition facility shall not be located adjacent to,
immediately across the street or parking lot from, or within the line of sight of
existing risk potential facilities, which are:
(i) Public schools;
(ii) Private schools;
(iii) School bus stops;
(iv) Licensed day care;
(v) Licensed preschool facilities;
(vi) Public parks;
(vii) Publicly dedicated trails;
(viii) Sports fields;
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(ix) Playgrounds;
(x) Recreational and community centers;
(xi) Churches, synagogues, temples or mosques;
(xii) Public libraries;
(xiii) Public and private youth camps; and
(xiv) Other uses identified by the State Department of Social and Health
Services pursuant to RCW 71.09.020.
"Within the line of sight" shall mean that it is possible to reasonably visually
distinguish and recognize individuals. An unobstructed visual distance of 600
feet shall be considered to be within the line of sight. Line of sight may be
considered to be less than 600 feet if the applicant can demonstrate that visual
barriers exist or would be created that would visually screen the risk potential
facility from the secure community transition facility.
(b) No more than one secure community transition facility, with a maximum of
three people (other than staff), shall be located within Whatcom County.
20.59.100 Accessory uses.
.101 One residential unit for owner-manager or caretaker when part of a building in
which the primary use is located.
.102 Uses incidental to the primary permitted uses.
.103 On-site treatment and storage facilities for hazardous wastes associated with
outright permitted uses or approved conditional uses subject to the most current
siting criteria under Chapter 173-303 WAC.
.104 Family day care homes and mini-day care homes; provided, that such uses
conform to the definition of home occupation, WCC 20.84.150.
.105 Indoor storage of durable and nondurable goods.
.106 One one-story detached accessory storage building per lot; provided, that the
floor area shall not exceed the exempt criteria stated in the adopted edition of the
International Building Code, and shall only be used for personal storage and not for
habitation or business; and provided further, that the storage building shall contain
no indoor plumbing but may be served with electrical power for lighting.
20.59.150 Administrative approval uses.
In a Rural Community designation, uses listed below may be administratively
permitted if the same use existed in that same Rural Community designation on
July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business designation, all uses may
be administratively permitted.
.151 Outdoor storage of durable and nondurable goods; provided neighboring uses
are adequately screened.
.152 Assembly and manufacturing of prefabricated wood building and components.
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20.59.200 Conditional uses.
In a Rural Community designation, uses listed below may be conditionally permitted
if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community designation on July
1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business designation all uses listed
below may be conditionally permitted..201 Retail and office type uses:
(1) Animal kennels.
.202 Restaurant/lodging type uses:
(1) Hotels and motels.
.203 Residential type uses:
(1) Boarding homes that are larger than other residential structures permitted in
the zoning district.
.204 Automotive and equipment repair type uses:
(1) Commercial truck service facilities including truck fueling, repair and storage
operations, overnight accommodations and restaurants.
.205 Recreational type uses:
(1) Amusement parks, outdoor theaters and other outdoor commercial recreation,
including golf courses.
(2) Public campgrounds.
(3) Public or private parks that are not included in an adopted city or county
Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.
(4) Athletic fields.
.206 Public and community type uses:
(1) Churches and cemeteries.
(2) Trailheads with parking areas for more than 30 vehicles.
(3) State education facilities.
(4) Type I solid waste handling facilities.
(5) Type II solid waste handling facilities.
(6) State and local correction facilities.
(7) Mental health facilities that provide residential treatment and are larger than
other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
(8) Substance abuse facilities that provide residential treatment and are larger than
other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
(9) Mental health facilities that provide crisis care.
(10) Substance abuse facilities that provide crisis care.
(11) Outpatient mental health facilities.
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(12) Outpatient substance abuse treatment facilities, including opiate substitution
treatment clinics.
.207 Other Uses
(1) Mitigation banks as a form of compensatory mitigation for wetland and habitat
conservation area impacts when permitted in accordance with the provisions of
Chapter 16.16 WCC; provided, applications for mitigation banks shall be processed
as a major development project pursuant to Chapter 20.88 WCC.
20.59.250 Prohibited uses.
.251 All other uses.
.252 Adult businesses.
20.59.255 Minimum lot size.
.256 For commercial purposes, the minimum lot size shall be consistent with the
area required to meet the building setback, lot coverage and development
standards of this district.
.257 For the purpose of creating new residential lots, the minimum lot size shall be
5 acres.
20.59.300 Minimum lot frontage.
For the purpose of dividing property, minimum lot frontage shall be sufficient to
provide adequate access and utility development, and meet applicable building
setback, buffer, open space and development standards of the district. In no case
shall the frontage be less than 30 feet.
20.59.320 Maximum building size.
.321 In a Rural Community designation, maximum allowable floor area for a
building shall not exceed the floor area of the largest building of a use of the same
type that existed in that same Rural Community designation on July 1, 1990, per
WCC 20.80.100(1) except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(2).
.322 In a Rural Business designation, the maximum allowable floor area for a new
use is 7,000 square feet except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(3) and (4).
20.59.400 Building setbacks.
Building setbacks shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.59.600 and 20.80.200.
20.59.450 Height limitations.
Maximum building height shall not exceed 35 feet. Height of structures shall also
conform, where applicable, to the general requirements of WCC 20.80.675.
20.59.500 Lot coverage.
.501 On a lot in a Rural Community designation, the combined floor area of all
buildings shall not exceed that of a use of the same type that existed on a lot in
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WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24,2012
that same Rural Community designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1)
except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(2).
.502 In a Rural Business designation building or structural coverage of a
lot shall not exceed 50 percent of the total area.20.59.550 Open space.
At least 10 percent of the site shall be kept free of buildings, structures, hard
surfacing, parking areas and other impervious surfaces.
20.59.600 Buffer area.
.601 When a parcel situated within this district adjoins an Agriculture, Rural or
Residential Rural District, or county or state roads designated as or proposed for
improvements to principal arterial status, setbacks from property lines adjoining
these districts shall be increased to 25 feet. Unless adjoining an agriculture zoning
district, said area shall be landscaped consistent with the requirements of WCC
20.80.345.
20.59.650 Sign regulations.
Sign regulations shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.400.
20.59.700 Development criteria.
20.59.702 Landscaping.
Refer to WCC 20.80.300 for landscaping requirements.
20.59.703 Off-street parking and loading.
Off-street parking and loading shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.500.
20.59.704 Drainage.
All development activity within Whatcom County shall be subject to the stormwater
management provisions of the Whatcom County Development Standards unless
specifically exempted.
No project permit shall be issued prior to meeting submittal requirements relating
to stormwater management in the appropriate chapters of the Whatcom County
Development Standards.
20.59.705 Driveways.
Consistent with WCC 20.80.640, driveway plans shall be reviewed by the county
engineer or State Department of Highways, as applicable.
20.59.706 Access.
Access shall conform to the provisions of WCC 20.80.565.
20.59.707 Lighting.
Lighting shall be designed to avoid excessive glare onto neighboring properties, and
to not create safety hazards or unreasonable interference with adjacent uses.
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20.59.708 Binding site plan.
Should the commercial use be developed as part of a binding site plan, it shall be
administered pursuant to WCC Title 21 (Subdivision Regulations) and additional
requirements, as applicable.
20.59.750 Performance standards.
The following provisions shall apply to all uses within this district:
.751 There shall be no storage or handling of hazardous, explosive, highly
flammable materials which would cause fire, explosion or safety hazards, except
the storage and dispensing of motor fuels in service stations and truck stops.
.752 There shall be no production of noise at any property line of any use in this
district in excess of the average intensity of street and traffic noise found in the
district.
.753 There shall be no emission of dust, dirt, odors, smoke, or toxic gases and
fumes.
.754 There shall be no production of heat, glare or vibration perceptible from any
property line of the premises upon which such heat, glare or vibration is being
generated.
20.60 Neighborhood Commercial Center (NC) District
20.60.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the Neighborhood Commercial District is to provide for small,
concentrated land areas intended for retail sales of convenience goods and services
to persons residing within or visiting a neighborhood trade or service area, as well
as to provide job and economic development opportunities for rural residents.
When located outside Urban Growth Areas, the Neighborhood Commercial District
shall comply with the rural land use policies and criteria set forth in the
Comprehensive Plan. An additional purpose of the district is to provide
developmental standards aimed at achieving cohesive, coordinated development
within this district and achieving compatibility between commercial and surrounding
residential uses. This district may be located in an Urban Growth Area, a Rural
Community, or Rural Business area, as designated in the Comprehensive Plan. New
development or redevelopment in an NC district located in a Rural Community
designation is limited to that which is consistent with the character of the area on
July 1, 1990 in terms of building size, scale, use, or intensity. New development in
a Rural Business designation is limited to isolated small scale businesses.
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20.60.050 Permitted uses.
The following permitted uses shall be allowed subject to an evaluation by the
zoning administrator pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 20.80
WCC. In a Rural Community designation, nonresidential uses listed below are
permitted if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community
designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business
designation all uses are permitted. Residential type uses listed below are permitted
in Rural Community and Rural Business designations. In addition, each permitted
use shall be administered pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Whatcom
County SEPA Ordinance, the Whatcom County Subdivision Ordinance and the
Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program.
.051 Retail and office type uses:
(1) Barber and beauty shops.
(2) Baker shops.
(3) Drug stores.
(4) Food markets.
(5) Hardware stores.
(6) Stationery stores.
(7) Other convenience retail shops not greater than 2,500 square feet per shop.
(8) Professional offices not greater than 2,500 square feet per business.
.052 Residential type uses:
(1) Boarding homes that are similar in size, facilities and occupancy to other
residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
.053 Public and community type uses:
(1) Adult care centers, mini-day care centers, and day care centers.
(2) Public and community facilities including police and fire stations, libraries,
community centers, recreation facilities, and other similar noncommercial uses,
excluding correction facilities.
(3) Public parks and recreation facilities included in an adopted city or county
Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.
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(4) Trails, trailheads, restroom facilities and associated parking areas for no more
than 30 vehicles.
(5) Adult family homes as defined in Chapter 70.128 RCW.
(6) Mental health facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in size,
facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning
district.
(7) Substance abuse facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in
size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning
district.
20.60.100 Accessory uses.
.101 One residential unit for owner-manager or caretaker when part of a building in
which the primary use is located.
.102 Uses incidental to the primary permitted uses.
.103 On-site treatment and storage facilities for hazardous wastes associated with
outright permitted uses or approved conditional uses subject to the most current
siting criteria under Chapter 173-303 WAC.
.104 Family day care homes and mini-day care homes; provided, that such uses
conform to the definition of home occupation, WCC 20.84.150; and further
provided, that the single-family residence is a legally nonconforming use.
.105 Electric vehicle rapid charging stations and battery exchange facilities,
accessory to conditionally approved service stations.
.106 One one-story detached accessory storage building per lot; provided, that the
floor area shall not exceed 200 square feet and shall only be used for personal
storage and not for habitation or business; and provided further, that the storage
building shall contain no indoor plumbing but may be served with electrical power
for lighting.
20.60.150 Conditional uses.
In a Rural Community designation, uses listed below may be conditionally permitted
if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community designation on July
1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business designation all uses listed
below may be conditionally permitted. Unless otherwise provided herein, conditional
uses shall be administered pursuant to the applicable provisions of Chapter 20.84
WCC (Variances, Conditional Uses and Appeals), the Whatcom County SEPA
Ordinance, the Official Whatcom County Subdivision Ordinance and the Whatcom
County Shoreline Management Program.
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.151 Retail and office type uses:
.151 Service stations.
.152 Laundry and dry cleaning establishments.
.152 Restaurant/lodging type uses:
.153 Eating and drinking establishments.
.153 Storage and warehousing type uses:
(1) Commercial storage of personal recreational boats and trailers, recreational-
type vehicles and accompanying mini-storage; provided, that:
(A) Security for the site shall be provided by the applicant;
(B) No engine repairs or oil changes shall be made on the subject site;
(C) Adequate water supply and wastewater disposal for washdown facilities shall be
demonstrated by the applicant.
.154 Recreational type uses:
(1) Public or private parks that are not included in an adopted city or county
Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.
(2) Trailheads with parking areas for more than 30 vehicles.
(3) Athletic fields.
.155 Public and community type uses:
(1) Activity centers.
(2) State education facilities.
(3) Type I solid waste handling facilities.
.156 Other uses:
(1) Mitigation banks as a form of compensatory mitigation for wetland and habitat
conservation area impacts when permitted in accordance with the provisions of
Chapter 16.16 WCC; provided, applications for mitigation banks shall be processed
as a major development project pursuant to Chapter 20.88 WCC.
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20.60.200 Prohibited uses.
.201 All other uses.
.202 Adult businesses.
20.60.250 Minimum lot size.
The minimum lot size shall be consistent with the area required to meet the
building setback, lot coverage and development standards of this district.
20.60.255 Minimum lot frontage.
For the purpose of dividing property, minimum lot frontage shall be sufficient to
provide adequate
access and utility development, and meet applicable building setback, buffer, open
space and development standards of the district. In no case shall the frontage be
less than 30 feet.
20.60.300 Maximum building size.
.301 In a Rural Community designation, maximum allowable floor area for a
building shall not exceed the floor area of the largest building of a use of the same
type that existed in that same Rural Community designation on July 1, 1990, per
WCC 20.80.100(1) except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(2)..302 In a Rural
Business designation, the maximum allowable floor area is 7,000 square feet
except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(3) and (4).
20.60.350 Building setbacks.
Building setbacks shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.60.550 and 20.80.200.
20.60.400 Height limitations.
Maximum building height shall not exceed 25 feet.
20.60.450 Lot coverage.
.451 On a lot in a Rural Community designation, combined floor area of all buildings
shall not exceed that of a use of the same type that existed on a lot in that same
Rural Community designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1) except as
provided in WCC 20.80.100(2).
.452 In a Rural Business designation building or structural coverage of a lot shall
not exceed 30 percent of the total area.
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20.60.500 Open space.
At least 15 percent of the site shall be kept free of buildings, structures, hard
surfacing, parking areas and other impervious surfaces.
20.60.550 Buffer area.
.551 When parcels situated within this district adjoin an Agriculture, Urban
Residential, Urban Residential Medium Density, Rural or Residential Rural District,
side and rear yard setbacks shall be increased to 25 feet along the property line(s)
adjacent to the named district. Unless adjoining an Agriculture Zoning District, said
area shall be landscaped consistent with the requirements of WCC 20.80.345.
.552 When parcels situated within this district are between an interstate highway
and a Residential Rural or Rural District, the setback on sides adjoining the
Residential Rural or Rural Districts and paralleling the interstate shall be increased
to 100 feet. This buffer shall not be altered from existing dense natural vegetation
or, where vegetation is lacking, shall be landscaped so as to provide a dense
vegetative screen.
20.60.600 Sign regulations.
Sign regulations shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.400.
20.60.650 Development criteria.
20.60.651 Facility design.
Individual development within a Neighborhood Commercial Zone District shall be
designed to accommodate additional commercial development on adjacent property
in an integrated manner. Consistent architectural treatment among structures is
encouraged. Each development shall screen roof-mounted mechanical equipment so
as not to be visible by surrounding uses or roads.
If located outside an urban growth area, design of the proposed use in the
Neighborhood Commercial Zone District shall be consistent with the scale and
intensity of the existing uses in the area and consistent with the Comprehensive
Plan rural land use chapter.
20.60.652 Landscaping.
Refer to WCC 20.80.300 for landscaping requirements.
20.60.653 Off-street parking and loading.
(1) A bicycle parking area at a rate of one space per 1,000 square feet of floor area
or a minimum of one space, whichever is greater, shall be provided for each use.
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Each bicycle parking space shall consist of a rack or other structure designed for
the lock-up of a bicycle.
(2) If two of more businesses adjoin each other or are otherwise designed and
developed in a coordinated fashion as determined by the zoning administrator in
order to utilize shared parking facilities, then the total number of required parking
spaces for all the uses involved shall be reduced by 30 percent or not less than five
spaces per retail establishment, whichever is greater.
(3) Except as provided in this section, off-street parking and loading shall be
administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.500.
20.60.654 Sidewalks.
Sidewalks shall be installed pursuant to the requirements of the county engineer.
20.60.655 Drainage.
All development activity within Whatcom County shall be subject to the stormwater
management provisions of the Whatcom County Development Standards unless
specifically exempted.
No project permit shall be issued prior to meeting submittal requirements relating
to stormwater management in the appropriate chapters of the Whatcom County
Development Standards.
20.60.656 Driveways.
Consistent with WCC 20.80.640, driveway plans shall be reviewed by the county
engineer or State Department of Highways, as applicable.
20.60.657 Access.
Access shall conform to the provisions of WCC 20.80.565.
20.60.658 Lighting.
Lighting shall be designed to avoid excessive glare onto neighboring properties, and
to create safety hazards or unreasonable interference with adjacent uses.
20.60.659 Binding site plan.
Should the commercial use be developed as part of a binding site plan, it shall be
administered pursuant to Title 21 of the Whatcom County Code (Subdivision
Regulations) and additional requirements, as applicable.
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20.60.700 Performance standards.
The following provisions shall apply to all uses within this district:
.701 There shall be no storage or handling of hazardous, explosive, highly
flammable materials which would cause fire, explosion or safety hazards, except
the storage and dispensing of gasoline in service stations.
.702 There shall be no production of noise at any property line of any use in this
district in excess of the average intensity of street and traffic noise found in the
district.
.703 There shall be no emission of dust, dirt, odors, smoke, or toxic gases and
fumes.
.704 There shall be no production of heat, glare or vibration perceptible from any
property line of the premises upon which such heat, glare or vibration is being
generated.
.705 There shall be no storage or merchandising outdoors, with the exception of
recreational boats, trailers and vehicles in an approved recreational vehicle storage
facility.
20.61 Small Town Commercial (STC) District
20.61.010 Purpose.
The Small Town Commercial Districts are located within Rural Communities and
Rural Business areas identified in the Comprehensive Plan. This zoning district
provides for an activity center where rural residents and others can gather, work,
shop, entertain and reside. This district is to provide for a range of commercial uses
and services to meet the everyday needs of rural residents and natural resource
industries, to provide employment opportunities for residents of the rural area, and
to provide goods, services, and lodging for travelers and tourists to the area. New
development or redevelopment in an STC district located in a Rural Community
designation is limited to that which is consistent with the character of the area on
July 1, 1990 in terms of building size, scale, use, or intensity. New development in
a Rural Business designation is limited to isolated small scale businesses.
20.61.050 Permitted uses.
In a Rural Community designation, nonresidential uses listed below are permitted if
a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community designation on July
1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business designation all uses are
permitted. Residential type uses listed below are permitted in Rural Community
and Rural Business designations.
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.051 Retail and office type uses:
(1) Automobile service stations.
(2) Service establishments with less than 2,500 square feet of floor area per
establishment, including but not limited to barber and beauty shops, laundries, dry
cleaners, printing establishments, furniture repair, frozen food lockers, funeral
parlors, banks and financial institutions, fraternal organizations, neighborhood
churches and professional offices.
(3) Veterinary practices with accessory indoor kennels.
(4) Retail establishments with less than 2,500 square feet of retail floor area per
establishment, including but not limited to liquor, drug, sundries, variety, clothing,
florist, optical, sporting goods, appliance, craft, music and pet stores.
(5) Tool and equipment rental, nurseries, hardware stores and building supplies
with less than 5,000 square feet of retail floor area per establishment. The
utilization of outdoor areas for display and storage purposes is permitted as an
accessory use. Outdoor storage shall be within an enclosed fence.
(6) Grocery stores with less than 10,000 square feet of retail floor area.
(7) Mini-day care centers and day care centers.
(8) Public markets, subject to the following only:
(a) The applicant submits a plan which includes name, address, and phone number
of the contact person; hours of operation; site layout indicating location of vendor
stalls and plans for the stalls including provision for temporary tiedowns, trash
disposal, and restroom facilities.
(b) The use is seasonal, restricted to a maximum of 150 days per calendar year.
(c) Provision is made for one parking space per 100 square feet of merchandise
display area, sized in accordance with WCC 20.80.500.
(d) Perimeter stalls are oriented away from adjacent properties, with any outdoor
equipment or trash receptacle screened from adjacent uses as per WCC 20.80.355.
(e) Hours are limited to 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
(f) Accessible parking and restroom requirements of Chapter 51-30 WAC are
complied with.
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(g) Buffering or screening is provided from residences when a parcel adjoins an
Urban Residential, Urban Residential Medium Density, Rural or Rural Residential
District.
(h) Signage is consistent with WCC 20.80.440, except that, in addition, one placard
not to exceed two feet by two feet shall be allowed for each individual stall.
(i) The use complies with the performance standards of WCC 20.64.700.
(j) No overnight camping or vehicle parking is allowed on site.
(k) Restrooms are adequately set back and buffered from adjacent properties.
.052 Storage and warehousing type uses:
(1) Mini storages totaling less than 2,500 square feet of floor area.
.053 Restaurant/lodging type uses:
(1) Eating and/or drinking establishments including restaurants and taverns, with
or without on-site brewing facilities, and mobile food carts, including establishments
with drive-through facilities.
(2) Hotels, motels and conference centers.
.055 Automotive and equipment repair type uses:
(1) Motorized vehicles and equipment, motorcycle, marine, farm implement, light
and heavy equipment and recreational vehicle service, repair, washing facilities,
commercial storage or sale; provided, that:
(a) All repair services, other than replacement of lights, wiper blades, or other
similar minor repairs or servicing shall be conducted within an enclosed building;
(b) Adequate water supply and wastewater disposal for washing facilities shall be
demonstrated by the applicant;
(c) Security for the site shall be provided by the applicant;
(d) Such a facility, and associated activities, shall not occupy more than four acres
of a parcel;
(e) The maximum permitted sales area for motorized vehicle and equipment sales
shall not exceed one-half acre in size.
.055 Residential type uses:
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(1) One single-family dwelling per lot of record, or duplexes subject to:
(a) Health department requirements regarding soil type and water supply.
(b) A deed restriction recorded with the Whatcom County auditor is attached to the
lot(s) at the time of building permit issuance stating that the dwelling(s) is located
in a Small Town Commercial Zone and buyers should be aware that commercial
uses will be allowed on surrounding parcels and owners have no grounds for
protest.
(c) This permitted use is only allowed on lots created as of the effective date of the
ordinance codified in this section.
(d) Duplexes are subject to the density provisions of WCC 20.61.350.
(2) One residential unit per business establishment in a commercial structure
subject to health department requirements regarding sewage disposal and water
supply.
(3) Boarding homes that are similar in size, facilities and occupancy to other
residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
.056 Public and community type uses:
(1) The operation of facilities intended to provide education related to forestry,
agriculture and mining, including but not limited to demonstration forests and
conservation laboratories.
(2) Public schools, and parochial or private schools; provided such schools shall be
approved by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(3) Public and community facilities including police and fire stations, libraries,
community centers, museums, public parks and recreational facilities identified in
an adopted city or county Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan, activity centers, tourist
information offices and other similar noncommercial uses, excluding correction
facilities.
(4) Post offices.
(5) Multi-use establishments; provided, that no more than 50 percent of the
structure shall be used for residential dwellings.
(6) Trails, trailheads, restroom facilities and associated parking areas for no more
than 30 vehicles.
(7) Adult family homes as defined in Chapter 70.128 RCW.
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(8) Mental health facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in size,
facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning
district.
(9) Substance abuse facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in
size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning
district.
20.61.100 Accessory uses.
.101 Uses incidental to the primary permitted use.
.102 Home occupation pursuant to WCC 20.84.150.
.103 Assembly, crafting, or manufacturing of items of a type related directly to the
character of a permitted use and sold at retail on the premises.
.104 Retail or service establishments accessory to a primary permitted use;
provided, that it does not exceed 2,500 square feet of retail floor area.
.105 On-site treatment and storage facilities for hazardous wastes associated with
outright permitted uses or approved conditional uses subject to the most current
siting criteria under Chapter 173-303 WAC.
.106 Bed and breakfast establishments and bed and breakfast inns.
.107 One residential unit for owner-manager or caretaker when part of a building in
which the primary use is located.
.108 Family day care homes and mini-day care homes; provided, that such uses
conform to the requirements of home occupation, WCC 20.84.150.
.109 Electric vehicle rapid charging stations and battery exchange facilities,
accessory to automobile service stations.
.110 One one-story detached accessory storage building per lot; provided, that the
floor area shall not exceed 200 square feet and shall only be used for personal
storage and not for habitation or business; and provided further, that the storage
building shall contain no indoor plumbing but may be served with electrical power
for lighting.
20.61.150 Administrative approval uses.
In a Rural Community designation, uses listed below may be administratively
permitted if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community
designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business
designation all uses listed below may be administratively permitted.
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.151 Retail and office type uses:
(1) Retail and service establishments with more than 2,500 square feet of retail
floor area per establishment, but less than 5,000 square feet of retail floor area per
establishment.
.152 Light fabrication type uses:
(1) Light fabrication and assembly, provided:
(a) Individual buildings will be limited to a maximum of 10,000 square feet of total
floor area except for existing buildings.
(b) All work is conducted within a building, except for activities complementary to
the intent of the STC District and which is harmonious with adjacent parcels.
(c) In the event materials will be stored outdoors, the administrator may require
adequate landscaping, screening or other devices in order that the material will not
be visible by surrounding uses or roads.
(d) Two signs are permitted. One nonilluminated freestanding and not to exceed six
feet in height. One additional nonilluminated sign may be attached to the building
for a maximum total signage of 16 square feet. No portion of any sign shall extend
above the lowest portion of the roof.
.153 Residential type uses:
(1) Accessory apartments or detached accessory dwelling units to single-family
dwellings; provided, that all of the following requirements are met:
(a) In addition to an existing or permitted dwelling, there shall be no more than one
accessory apartment or detached accessory dwelling unit per lot;
(b) The owner(s) of the single-family lot upon which the accessory apartment or
detached accessory dwelling unit is located shall occupy as their primary domicile at
least one of the dwelling units on that lot;
(c) Proof that adequate provisions have been made for potable water, wastewater
disposal, and stormwater runoff for the additional dwelling unit must be obtained
prior to application for a building permit;
(d) There shall be only one front entrance to the house visible from the front yard
and street for houses with accessory apartments and only one additional entrance
visible from the front yard for detached accessory dwelling units;
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(e) Accessory apartments and detached accessory units shall be clearly a
subordinate part of an existing residence;
(f) In no case shall an accessory apartment or detached dwelling unit be larger than
1,248 square feet in floor area;
(g) Long plats and short plats which are granted after January 25, 1994, shall be
marked, specifically designating lots allowed to be developed with accessory
apartments or detached accessory dwelling units at the option of the developer for
future individual owners. Accessory apartments and detached accessory dwelling
units shall be prohibited on:
(i) All lots in long plats which received preliminary plat approval after January 25,
1994, unless those lots have been specifically marked for such use through the long
plat process;
(ii) All lots within short plats which received approval after January 25, 1994,
unless those lots have been specifically marked for such use through the short plat
process;
(iii) All reserve tracts within long plats and short plats created by the cluster
subdivision method;
(h) A common driveway serving both the existing unit and any accessory unit shall
be used to the greatest extent possible;
(i) A deed restriction is recorded with the Whatcom County auditor prior to building
permit issuance, stating:
(i) Detached accessory dwelling units and associated land cannot be sold separately
from the original dwelling, except in the event the zoning permits such a land
division; and
(ii) One of the dwellings must be the primary domicile of the owner.
20.61.200 Conditional uses.
In a Rural Community designation, uses listed below may be conditionally permitted
if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community designation on July
1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business designation all uses listed
below may be conditionally permitted.
.201 Retail and office type uses:
(1) Retail and service establishments with more than 5,000 square feet of retail
floor area per establishment, but less than 7,500 square feet of retail floor area per
establishment.
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(2) Tool and equipment rental, nurseries, hardware stores and building supplies
with more than 5,000 square feet of retail floor area, but less than 10,000 square
feet of retail floor area per establishment. The utilization of outdoor areas for
display and storage purposes is permitted as an accessory use. Outdoor storage
shall be within an enclosed fence.
(3) Grocery stores with more than 10,000 square feet of retail floor area, but less
than 35,000 square feet of floor area.
(4) Animal kennels not associated with a veterinary practice.
(5) Indoor commercial recreational facilities with less than 5,000 square feet
maximum floor area.
.202 Residential type uses:
(1) Boarding homes that are larger than other residential structures permitted in
the zoning district.
.203 Storage and warehousing type uses:
(1) Mini storage with less than 10,000 square feet of floor area.
.204 Restaurant/lodging type Uses:
(1) Recreational vehicle parks for transient motor homes and tourist trailers.
.205 Recreational type uses:
(1) Outdoor commercial recreation on an area not to exceed three acres in size.
(2) Athletic fields.
(3) Public campgrounds, not to exceed three acres.
(4) Trailheads with parking areas for more than 30 vehicles.
(5) Public or private parks that are not included in an adopted city or county
Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.
.206 Public and community type uses:
(1) Churches, educational and religious training institutions, summer camps and
cemeteries.
(2) State and local correction facilities.
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(3) Type I solid waste handling facilities.
(4) Mental health facilities that provide residential treatment and are larger than
other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
(5) Substance abuse facilities that provide residential treatment and are larger than
other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
(6) Mental health facilities that provide crisis care.
(7) Substance abuse facilities that provide crisis care.
(8) Outpatient mental health facilities.
(9) Outpatient substance abuse treatment facilities, including opiate substitution
treatment clinics.
(10) State education facilities.
(11) Secure community transition facilities for sex offenders.
(a) A secure community transition facility shall not be located adjacent to,
immediately across the street or parking lot from, or within the line of sight of
existing risk potential facilities, which are:
(i) Public schools;
(ii) Private schools;
(iii) School bus stops;
(iv) Licensed day care;
(v) Licensed preschool facilities;
(vi) Public parks;
(vii) Publicly dedicated trails;
(viii) Sports fields;
(ix) Playgrounds;
(x) Recreational and community centers;
(xi) Churches, synagogues, temples or mosques;
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(xii) Public libraries;
(xiii) Public and private youth camps; and
(xiv) Other uses identified by the State Department of Social and Health Services
pursuant to RCW 71.09.020.
"Within the line of sight" shall mean that it is possible to reasonably visually
distinguish and recognize individuals. An unobstructed visual distance of 600 feet
shall be considered to be within the line of sight. Line of sight may be considered to
be less than 600 feet if the applicant can demonstrate that visual barriers exist or
would be created that would visually screen the risk potential facility from the
secure community transition facility.
(b) No more than one secure community transition facility, with a maximum of
three people (other than staff), shall be located within Whatcom County.
.207 Other uses:
(2) Mitigation banks as a form of compensatory mitigation for wetland and habitat
conservation area impacts when permitted in accordance with the provisions of
Chapter 16.16 WCC; provided, applications for mitigation banks shall be processed
as a major development project pursuant to Chapter 20.88 WCC.
20.61.250 Prohibited uses.
.251 All other uses.
.252 Adult businesses.
20.61.255 Minimum lot frontage.
For the purpose of dividing property, minimum lot frontage shall be sufficient to
provide adequate access and utility development, and meet applicable building
setback, buffer, and development standards of the district. In no case shall the
frontage be less than 30 feet.
20.61.300 Minimum lot size.
The minimum lot size shall be consistent with the area required to meet the
building setback, lot coverage and development standards of the district.
20.61.320 Maximum building size.
.321 In a Rural Community designation, maximum allowable floor area for a
building shall not exceed the floor area of the largest building of a use of the same
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type that existed in that same Rural Community designation on July 1, 1990, per
WCC 20.80.100(1) except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(2).
.322 In a rural business designation, the maximum allowable floor area is 7,000
square feet except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(3) and (4).
20.61.350 Maximum density.
.351 Hotels and motels shall not exceed a floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.60.
.352 Duplexes may not exceed a maximum gross density of six dwelling units/acre.
20.61.400 Building setbacks.
Building setbacks shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.61.600 and 20.80.200
except as provided below.
(1) Commercial uses shall be allowed to reduce front yard setback to 10 feet and
the side yard setback to zero feet where the site and landscape plans promote
pedestrian access to the building.
20.61.450 Height limitations.
The maximum building height shall not exceed 45 feet except for spires and
decorative towers on public/community buildings, schools, and churches, which
shall not exceed 70 feet in height. Height of structures shall also conform, where
applicable, to the general requirements of WCC 20.80.675.
20.61.500 Lot coverage.
.501 On a lot in a Rural Community designation, combined floor area of all
buildings shall not exceed that of a use of the same type that existed on a lot in
that same Rural Community designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1)
except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(2).
.502 In a Rural Business designation building or structural coverage of a lot shall
not exceed 70 percent of the total area.
20.61.550 Open space.
At least 10 percent of a noncommercial site shall be kept free of buildings,
structures, hard surfacing, parking areas and other impervious surfaces.
20.61.600 Buffer area.
.601 Where parcels situated within this district adjoin an Agriculture, Urban
Residential, Urban Residential Medium Density, Residential Rural or Rural District,
side and rear yard setbacks shall be increased to 25 feet along the property line(s)
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adjacent to the named districts. Unless adjoining an Agriculture Zoning District,
said area shall be landscaped consistent with the requirements of WCC 20.80.345.
20.61.650 Sign regulations.
Sign regulations shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.410 and 20.80.440,
or as otherwise determined in this chapter.
20.61.700 Development criteria.
20.61.701 Facility design.
Individual developments within a Small Town Commercial Zone District should be
encouraged to accommodate additional commercial development on adjacent
property in an integrated manner. Consistent architectural treatment is
encouraged. Each development shall screen roof-mounted mechanical equipment so
as not to be visible by surrounding uses or roads.
Design of the proposed use in the Small Town Commercial Zone District shall be
consistent with the scale and intensity of the existing uses in the area and
consistent with the Comprehensive Plan rural land use chapter.
20.61.702 Landscaping.
Refer to WCC 20.80.300 for landscaping requirements.
20.61.703 Off-street parking and loading.
Off-street parking and loading shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.500.
20.61.704 Drainage.
All development activity within Whatcom County shall be subject to the stormwater
management provisions of the Whatcom County Development Standards unless
specifically exempted. No project permit shall be issued prior to meeting submittal
requirements relating to stormwater management in the appropriate chapters of
the Whatcom County Development Standards.
20.61.705 Driveways.
Consistent with WCC 20.80.640, driveway plans shall be reviewed by the county
engineer or State Department of Highways, as applicable.
20.61.706 Access.
Access shall conform to the provisions of WCC 20.80.565.
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20.61.707 Lighting.
Lighting shall be designed to avoid excessive glare onto neighboring properties, and
to not create safety hazards or unreasonable interference with adjacent uses.
20.61.708 Binding site plan.
Should the commercial use be developed as part of a binding site plan, it shall be
administered pursuant to WCC Title 21 (Subdivision Regulations) and additional
requirements as applicable.
20.61.709 Plat language for proposed subdivisions.
When a proposed subdivision, binding site plan, short subdivision or exempt land
division will be located adjacent to or across a right-of-way from an existing
Forestry District, the developer and any subsequent purchasers or successors in
interest shall agree to refrain from any legal action to restrain or collect damages
from the owners of such adjacent properties, or from Whatcom County, arising out
of any reasonable and lawful activity on said forestry lands which occurs in the
normal course of their established use. The agreement shall appear as a covenant
or deed restriction upon the plat, tract or instrument of conveyance and shall run
with the land.
20.61.750 Performance standards.
The following provisions shall apply to all uses within this district:
.751 There shall be no commercial storage or handling of hazardous, explosive,
highly flammable materials in quantities which would cause fire, explosion or safety
hazards, except the storage and dispensing of gasoline in service stations.
.752 There shall be no production of noise at any property line of any use in this
district in excess of the average intensity of street and traffic noise found in the
district.
.753 There shall be no emission of significant quantities of dust, dirt, odors, smoke,
or toxic gases and fumes.
.754 There shall be no production of heat, glare or vibration perceptible from any
property line of the premises upon which such heat, glare or vibration is being
generated.
.755 There shall be no off-site release to soil or surface drainage ways of water
borne or liquid pollutants.
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.756 There shall be no polluting or hazardous discharge to a public sewer or septic
system.
20.63 Tourist Commercial (TC) District
20.63.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the Tourist Commercial District is to supply sufficient areas
arranged in a concentrated form that would allow land use activities which serve
the traveling public. The district shall be located and implemented consistent with
the goals, objectives and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. The district should be
located near major transportation corridors in such a fashion as to provide safe and
convenient access that would not impact adjacent noncommercial activities.
Further, the district should be in areas where adequate public services such as
roads, sewer, water and drainage are available. The district should provide for uses
which normally serve the traveling public and encourage a type of development
which occurs in a well-designed pattern considering aesthetics and safety. This
district may be located in an Urban Growth area, Rural Community, Rural Tourism
or Rural Business area as designated in the Comprehensive Plan. If located in a
Rural Tourism area, the uses in the district shall rely on the rural location and
setting, and provide recreation and tourist uses that are small in scale, and
compatible with existing uses and intensities. New development or redevelopment
in a TC district located in a Rural Community designation is limited to that which is
consistent with the character of the area on July 1, 1990 in terms of building size,
scale, use, or intensity. New development in a Rural Tourism designation must be
consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's policies governing uses in Rural Tourism
areas. New development in a Rural Business designation is limited to isolated small
scale businesses.
20.63.050 Permitted uses.
The following permitted and accessory uses shall be allowed subject to an
evaluation by the zoning administrator pursuant to the provisions of this chapter
and Chapter 20.80 WCC. In a Rural Community designation, nonresidential uses
listed below are permitted if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural
Community designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). Residential type
uses listed below are permitted in Rural Community and Rural Business
designations. In a Rural Tourism designation, uses below are permitted provided
they are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's policies governing uses in Rural
Tourism areas. In a Rural Business designation all uses are permitted.
.051 Retail and office type uses:
(1) Retail shops no greater than 2,500 square feet in size per shop.
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(2) Tourist information centers.
(3) Barber and beauty shops.
(4) Professional offices no greater than 2,500 square feet in size per shop.
(5) Service stations and towing services when based at a service station.
(6) Laundromats.
(7) Banks and/or bank machines.
(8) Indoor commercial recreation facilities.
(9) Mini-day care centers and day care centers.
.053 Restaurant/lodging type uses:
(1) Restaurants.
(2) Hotels and motels.
.054 Residential type uses:
(1) Boarding homes that are similar in size, facilities and occupancy to other
residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
.055 Public and community type uses:
(1) Post offices.
(2) Churches.
(3) Public parks and recreation facilities included in an adopted city or county
Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.
(4) Trails, trailheads, restroom facilities and associated parking areas for no more
than 30 vehicles.
(5) Activity centers.
(6) Adult family homes as defined in Chapter 70.128 RCW.
(7) Mental health facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in size,
facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning
district.
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(8) Substance abuse facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in
size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning
district.
20.63.100 Accessory uses.
.101 One residential unit for owner-manager or caretaker when part of a building in
which the primary use is located.
.102 Uses incidental to the primary permitted uses.
.103 On-site treatment and storage facilities for hazardous wastes associated with
outright permitted uses or approved conditional uses subject to the most current
siting criteria under Chapter 173-303 WAC.
.104 Family day care homes and mini-day care homes; provided, that such uses
conform to the definition of home occupation, WCC 20.84.150; and further
provided, that the single-family residence is a legally nonconforming use.
.105 Electric vehicle rapid charging stations and battery exchange facilities,
accessory to service stations.
.106 One one-story detached accessory storage building per lot; provided, that the
floor area shall not exceed 200 square feet and shall only be used for personal
storage and not for habitation or business; and provided further, that the storage
building shall contain no indoor plumbing but may be served with electrical power
for lighting.
20.63.150 Conditional uses.
In a Rural Community designation, uses listed below may be conditionally permitted
if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community designation on July
1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Tourism designation, uses below may
be conditionally permitted provided they are consistent with the Comprehensive
Plan's policies governing uses in Rural Tourism areas. In a Rural Business
designation all uses listed below may be conditionally permitted.
Unless otherwise provided herein, conditional uses shall be administered pursuant
to the applicable provisions of this chapter, Chapter 20.80 WCC (Supplementary
Requirements) and Chapter 20.84 WCC (Variances, Conditional Uses and Appeals).
.201 Retail and office type uses:
(1) Dry cleaners.
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.202 Automotive and equipment repair type uses:
(1) Automobile repair garages.
.203 Restaurant/lodging type uses:
(1) Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks.
Recreational Type uses:
(1) Outdoor recreation facilities, athletic fields and public or private parks not
included in an adopted city or county Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.
(2) Trailheads with parking areas for more than 30 vehicles.
.204 Public and community type uses:
(1) Public uses, which because of locational requirements, are necessary in the
Tourist Commercial District; provided, the uses are consistent with Tourist
Commercial policies, the purpose of the district and its attendant provisions.
(2) Type I solid waste handling facilities.
.205 Other uses
(1) Mitigation banks as a form of compensatory mitigation for wetland and habitat
conservation area impacts when permitted in accordance with the provisions of
Chapter 16.16 WCC; provided, applications for mitigation banks shall be processed
as a major development project pursuant to Chapter 20.88 WCC.
20.63.200 Prohibited uses.
.201 All other uses.
.202 Adult businesses.
20.63.250 Minimum and maximum lot size.
.251 Hotels and motels shall have a minimum net parcel size of 20,000 square feet.
.252 Other uses shall have a minimum lot size consistent with the area required to
meet the building setback, lot coverage and development standards of this district.
.253 Uses in the Rural Tourism designation shall be located on lots not larger than
20 acres.
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20.63.255 Minimum lot frontage.
For the purpose of dividing property, minimum lot frontage shall be sufficient to
provide adequate access and utility development, and meet applicable building
setback, buffer, open space and development standards of the district. In no case
shall the frontage be less than 30 feet.
20.63.300 Maximum density.
.301 Hotels and motels shall not exceed a floor area ratio (FAR) of .60.
.302 Recreational vehicle parks shall not exceed a density of 15 units per acre.
.303 All other uses shall not exceed a floor area ratio (FAR) of .70.
20.63.350 Building setbacks.
Building setbacks shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.63.550 and 20.80.200.
20.63.400 Height limitations.
Maximum building height shall not exceed 40 feet. Height of structures shall also
conform to, where applicable, the general requirements of WCC 20.80.675.
20.63.450 Lot coverage.
.451 On a lot in a Rural Community designation, combined floor area of all
buildings shall not exceed that of a use of the same type that existed on a lot in
that same Rural Community designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1)
except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(2).
.452 In a Rural Business designation building or structural coverage of a
lot shall not exceed 40 percent of the total area.20.63.500 Open space.
.501 Recreational vehicle parks shall keep 35 percent of the site free of buildings,
structures, hard surfacing, parking areas and other impervious surfaces.
.502 All other uses shall keep 10 percent of the site free of buildings, structures,
hard surfacing, parking areas and impervious surfaces.
20.63.550 Buffer area.
.551 When parcels situated within this district adjoin an Agriculture, Urban
Residential, Urban Residential Medium Density, Rural or Residential Rural District,
side and rear yard setbacks shall be increased to 25 feet along the property line(s)
adjacent to the named districts. Unless adjoining an Agriculture Zoning District,
said area shall be landscaped consistent with the requirements of WCC 20.80.345.
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20.63.600 Sign regulations.
Sign regulations shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.400.
20.63.650 Development criteria.
20.63.651 Facility design.
Individual developments within a Tourist Commercial Zone District shall be
designed to accommodate additional commercial development on adjacent property
in an integrated manner. Consistent architectural treatment is encouraged. Each
development shall screen roof-mounted mechanical equipment so as not to be
visible by surrounding uses or roads.
Design of the proposed use in the Tourist Commercial Zone District outside of urban
growth areas shall be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan rural land use
chapter.
20.63.652 Landscaping.
Refer to WCC 20.80.300 for landscaping requirements.
20.63.653 Off-street parking and loading.
Off-street parking and loading shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.500.
20.63.654 Drainage.
All development activity within Whatcom County shall be subject to the stormwater
management provisions of the Whatcom County Development Standards unless
specifically exempted.
No project permit shall be issued prior to meeting submittal requirements relating
to stormwater management in the appropriate chapters of the Whatcom County
Development Standards.
20.63.655 Driveways.
Consistent with WCC 20.80.640, driveway plans shall be reviewed by the county
engineer or State Department of Highways.
20.63.656 Access.
Access shall conform to the provisions of WCC 20.80.565.
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20.63.657 Lighting.
Lighting shall be designed to avoid excessive glare onto neighboring properties, and
to not create safety hazards or unreasonable interference with adjacent uses.
20.63.658 Binding site plan.
Should the commercial use be developed as part of a binding site plan, it shall be
administered pursuant to WCC Title 21 (Subdivision Regulations) and additional
requirements, as applicable.
20.63.700 Performance standards.
The following provisions shall apply to all uses within this district:
.701 There shall be no storage or handling of hazardous, explosive, highly
flammable materials which would cause fire, explosion or safety hazards, except
the storage and dispensing of gasoline in service stations.
.702 There shall be no production of noise at any property line of any use in this
district in excess of the average intensity of street and traffic noise found in the
district.
.703 There shall be no emission of dust, dirt, odors, smoke, or toxic gases and
fumes.
.704 There shall be no production of heat, glare or vibration perceptible from any
property line of the premises upon which such heat, glare or vibration is being
generated.
.705 Proposed development or redevelopment in Tourist Commercial Zone Districts
located within a Rural Community designation will be consistent with the character
of the area on July 1, 1990 in terms of building size, scale, use, or intensity, per
WCC 20.80.100(1), except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(2). In a Rural Tourist
designation, development or redevelopment shall be consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan policies for that designation. In a Rural Business designation,
the maximum allowable floor area is 7,000 square feet except as provided in WCC
20.80.100(3) and (4).
20.64 Resort Commercial (RC) District
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20.64.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the Resort Commercial District is to provide land areas which
through their natural location and setting, and manmade attributes, attract resort
activities. The district shall be located and implemented consistent with the goals,
objectives and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. The district should be located in
such areas where adequate public services such as roads, sewer, water and
drainage are available, and be of such size that a viable resort can be established
and maintained. The district should provide for uses normally found in resort areas
and encourage the type of development which occurs in a cohesive fashion and
which promotes open space and other amenities considered significant for viable
resort areas. This district may be located in an Urban Growth Area, a Rural
Community, or Rural Business area, as designated in the Comprehensive Plan. New
development or redevelopment in an RC district located in a Rural Community
designation is limited to that which is consistent with the character of the area on
July 1, 1990 in terms of building size, scale, use, or intensity. New development in
a Rural Business designation is limited to isolated small scale businesses.
20.64.050 Permitted uses.
The following permitted uses shall be allowed subject to an evaluation by the
zoning administrator pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 20.80
WCC. In a Rural Community designation, nonresidential uses listed below are
permitted if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community
designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business
designation all uses are permitted. Residential type uses listed below are permitted
in Rural Community and Rural Business designations.
.051 Retail and office type uses:
(1) Retail shops and resort related uses with or without drive through service no
greater than 5,000 square feet in area per shop, except as provided by WCC
20.64.193.
(2) Barber and beauty shops.
(3) Laundromats.
(4) Banks no greater than 2,500 square feet in area.
(5) Professional offices.
(6) Public markets, subject to the following, only:
(a) The applicant submits a plan which includes name, address, and phone number
of the contact person; hours of operation; site layout indicating location of vendor
stalls and plans for the stalls including provision for temporary tiedowns, trash
disposal, and restroom facilities.
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(b) The use is seasonal, restricted to a maximum of 150 consecutive days per
calendar year.
(c) Permanent or portable restroom facilities are made available.
(d) Provision is made for one parking space per 100 square feet of merchandise
display area, sized in accordance with WCC 20.80.500.
(e) Perimeter stalls are oriented away from adjacent properties, with any outdoor
equipment, trash receptacle or portable toilets screened from adjacent uses as per
WCC 20.80.355.
(f) Hours are limited to 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
(g) Accessible parking an restroom requirements of Chapter 51-30 WAC are
complied with.
(h) Buffering or screening is provided from residences when a parcel adjoins an
Urban Residential, Urban Residential Medium Density, Rural, or Rural Residential
district.
(i) Signage is consistent with WCC 20.80.440, except that, in addition, one placard
not to exceed two feet by two feet shall be allowed for each individual stall.
(j) The use complies with the performance standards of WCC 20.64.700.
(j) No overnight camping or vehicle parking is allowed on site.
(I) Restrooms are adequately set back and buffered from adjacent properties.
.053 Restaurant/lodging type uses:
(1) Restaurants or coffee shops with or without drive through service; provided,
that a minimum of 50 percent of the seating is inside and any outdoor seating is
screened from adjacent properties and streets, except as provided by WCC
20.64.193.
(2) Taverns; provided further that up to 50 percent of seating may be in an outdoor
area screened from adjacent properties and streets.
(3) Hotels or motels and time share condominiums accommodating 16 or less
sleeping units.
.054 Residential type uses:
(1) One single-family dwelling per lot of record.
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(2) One duplex per lot of record.
(3) Rooming houses accommodating eight or less nonfamily members.
(4) Multifamily dwellings containing eight or less sleeping units.
(5) One private, noncommercial, recreational vehicle and one accessory guest RV
per lot; provided, that the following minimum requirements and standards are met
and/or followed:
(a) All recreational vehicles that remain on the site for more than 14 consecutive
days shall be connected to a permitted on-site sewage system or public sewer.
(b) Maximum length of stay of a recreational vehicle on a lot located outside of a
recreational vehicle park shall not exceed 120 days per calendar year; provided,
that no accessory guest recreational vehicle shall stay on the lot for more than 14
consecutive days nor more than 30 days total per calendar year.
(c) All recreational vehicles shall be screened from neighboring properties not using
RVs and from public roads. Such screening may consist of landscaped buffer areas,
suitable native vegetation or a fence.
(d) Outside of an approved recreational vehicle park, lots shall not be leased or
rented out on a daily or overnight basis for recreational use.
(e) The locations of parked RVs on vacant lots shall observe normal building
setback standards for a single-family residence.
(f) All recreational vehicles shall be supported by their own wheels or camper jacks,
and not be fastened to accessory structures. Placement of a recreational vehicle on
a foundation or removal of the wheels of a recreational vehicle, except for
temporary purposes for repair, is prohibited.
(6) Boarding homes that are similar in size, facilities and occupancy to other
residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
.055 Public and community type uses:
(1) Public parks and recreation facilities included in an adopted city or county
Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.
(2) Parking lots or garages.
(3) Mini-day care centers and day care centers.
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(4) Trails, traiiheads, restroom facilities and associated parking areas for no more
than 30 vehicles.
(5) Adult family homes as defined in Chapter 70.128 RCW.
(6) Mental health facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in size,
facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning
district.
(7) Substance abuse facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in
size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning
district.
20.64.100 Accessory uses.
.101 Docks.
.102 Resort administrative offices.
.103 Uses incidental to the primary permitted uses.
.104 Home occupations pursuant to WCC 20.84.150, except that one person other
than family residing on the premises may be employed.
.105 Any retail or personal service establishment, including self-service laundry,
may be located within a building occupied by a hotel or motel; provided, that such
use shall have no separate outside entrance and no sign visible from outside the
building; and provided further, that the total floor space devoted to such uses shall
not exceed 15 percent of the floor space of the building in which they are located;
and provided further, that such use is not specifically prohibited in WCC 20.64.200.
.106 Assembly or crafting of items of a type related directly to the character of a
permitted use and sold at retail on the premises; provided, that no piece of
machinery used in such work exceeds three horsepower.
.107 Temporary dwelling units which have full living accommodations including
sleeping, self-contained cooking, bathing, and toilet facilities where the plumbing is
connected to permanent site sewage and water systems, including those travel
trailers and recreational vehicles that meet the above description, for use by
owners during the period of construction of a permanent dwelling while the building
permit is valid, not to exceed two years.
.108 One residential unit for owner-manager or caretaker when part of a building in
which the primary use is located.
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.109 On-site treatment and storage facilities for hazardous wastes associated with
outright permitted uses or approved conditional uses subject to the most current
siting criteria under Chapter 173-303 WAC.
.110 Bed and breakfast establishments and bed and breakfast inns.
.111 Other accessory uses and buildings, including dedicated employee housing,
customarily appurtenant to a principally permitted use.
.112 Electric vehicle rapid charging stations and battery exchange facilities,
accessory to conditionally approved service stations.
.120 Family day care homes and mini-day care homes; provided, that such uses
conform to the definition of home occupation, WCC 20.84.150.
.121 One one-story detached accessory storage building per lot; provided, that the
floor area shall not exceed 200 square feet and shall only be used for personal
storage and not for habitation or business; and provided further, that the storage
building shall contain no indoor plumbing but may be served with electrical power
for lighting.
20.64.130 Administrative approval uses.
In a Rural Community designation, uses listed below may be administratively
permitted if the same use existed in that same Rural Community designation on
July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business designation all uses listed
below may be administratively permitted.
The following uses are permitted subject to administrative approval pursuant to
WCC 20.84.235.
.132 Accessory apartments or detached accessory dwelling units to single-family
dwellings; provided, that all of the following requirements are met:
(1) In addition to an existing or permitted dwelling, there shall be no more than
one accessory apartment or detached accessory dwelling unit per lot;
(2) The owner(s) of the single-family lot upon which the accessory apartment or
detached accessory dwelling unit is located shall occupy as their primary domicile at
least one of the dwelling units on that lot;
(3) Proof that adequate provisions have been made for potable water, wastewater
disposal, and stormwater runoff for the additional dwelling unit must be obtained
prior to application for a building permit;
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(4) There shall be only one front entrance to the house visible from the front yard
and street for houses with accessory apartments and only one additional entrance
visible from the front yard for detached accessory dwelling units;
(5) Accessory apartments and detached accessory units shall be clearly a
subordinate part of an existing residence;
(6) In no case shall an accessory apartment or detached dwelling unit be larger
than 1,248 square feet in floor area;
(7) Long plats and short plats which are granted after January 25, 1994, shall be
marked, specifically designating lots allowed to be developed with accessory
apartments or detached accessory dwelling units at the option of the developer for
future individual owners. Accessory apartments and detached accessory dwelling
units shall be prohibited on:
(a) All lots in long plats which received preliminary plat approval after January 25,
1994, unless those lots have been specifically marked for such use through the long
plat process;
(b) All lots within short plats which received approval after January 25, 1994,
unless those lots have been specifically marked for such use through the short plat
process;
(c) All reserve tracts within long plats and short plats created by the cluster
subdivision method;
(8) A common driveway serving both the existing unit and any accessory unit shall
be used to the greatest extent possible;
(9) A deed restriction is recorded with the Whatcom County auditor prior to building
permit issuance, stating:
(a) Detached accessory dwelling units and associated land cannot be sold
separately from the original dwelling, except in the event the zoning permits such a
land division; and
(b) One of the dwellings must be the primary domicile of the owner;
(10) Outside of an urban growth area, the minimum lot size for detached accessory
units shall be on a lot of record no less than 4.5 acres, unless the parcel is large
enough to accommodate two dwelling units consistent with the underlying zoning
density;
(11) Accessory apartments and detached accessory dwelling units to single-family
dwellings are allowed within the Lake Whatcom watershed, only under the following
circumstances:
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(a) Development of the parcel with the primary residence and accessory apartment
or detached accessory dwelling shall conform to the density of the zoning district in
which it is located. Adjacent properties in the same ownership may be bound by
covenant to comply with the underlying zoning density; and
(b) All of the above approval requirements shall be met for so long as the accessory
unit remains;
(12) Detached accessory dwelling units shall be located so as to minimize visual
impact to the public right-of-way and to adjacent properties. Location in immediate
proximity to the primary residence is preferred. Location closer to property lines
than to the primary residence may be considered by the administrator when such
location serves the goal of reducing overall visual impact to public right-of-way and
adjacent properties, and such location still meets the setback requirements as
stated in Chapter 20.80 WCC. To minimize environmental and visual impact the
applicant may be required to provide fencing and/or planting to screen the unit
from public right-of-way and adjacent properties;
(13) All mobile homes must demonstrate compliance with minimum HUD Fire
Safety Standards and compliance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
20.64.150 Conditional uses.
Unless otherwise provided herein, conditional uses shall be administered pursuant
to the applicable provisions of Chapter 20.80 WCC (Supplementary Requirements)
and Chapter 20.84 WCC (Variances, Conditional Uses, Administrative Approval Uses
and Appeals), the Whatcom County SEPA Ordinance, the Official Whatcom County
Subdivision Ordinance and the Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program.
In a Rural Community designation, uses listed below may be conditionally permitted
if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community designation on July
1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business designation all uses listed
below may be conditionally permitted.
.201 Retail and office type uses:
(1) Service stations and automobile repair garages; provided, that:
(a) All storage tanks shall either be aboveground and completely screened from
neighboring uses; or
(b) Shall have a full separate containment structure and shall have monitoring
devices that will indicate any leakage; or
(c) Shall have an independent engineer's certification that the installation meets all
requirements of the federal regulations contained in 40 CFR Part 280 in effect at the
time of application;
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(d) In addition to either (2) or (3) of the above requirements, all underground
storage tanks shall meet the financial responsibility and reporting requirements of
40 CFR Part 2 in effect at the time of application.
(2) Retail shops, resort related uses and restaurants or coffee shops on Birch Bay
Drive with drive through services, with a 5,000-square-foot maximum per shop.
.202 Restaurant/lodging type uses:
(1) Hotels and motels totalling more than 16 sleeping units.
(2) Time share condominiums totalling more than 16 sleeping units.
(3) Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks.
.203 Residential type uses:
(1) Multifamily dwellings including residential condominiums totalling more than
eight sleeping units.
(2) Mobile home parks.
(3) Rooming and boarding houses totalling more than eight sleeping units.
.204 Recreational type uses:
(1) Marinas, public or commercial launching ramps, and docks.
(2) Commercial amusement and recreation establishments and clubs.
(3) Golf courses.
(4) Athletic fields.
(5) Public or private parks not included in an adopted city or county Comprehensive
Plan or Park Plan.
(6) Trailheads with parking areas for more than 30 vehicles.
.205 Public and community type uses:
(1) Public and community facilities including police and fire stations, libraries,
activity centers, community centers, recreation facilities and other similar
noncommercial uses, excluding correction facilities.
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(2) Public schools; and parochial or private schools; provided such schools shall be
approved by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(3) Churches, educational and religious training institutions, summer camps, and
cemeteries.
(4) Retirement and convalescent homes; social and health rehabilitation centers;
and adult care centers in a building not used as a residence; and other health-
related services consistent with the purpose of the district.
(5) State education facilities.
(6) Type I solid waste handling facilities.
(7) Boarding homes that are larger than other residential structures permitted in
the zoning district.
(8) Mental health facilities that provide residential treatment and are larger than
other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
(9) Substance abuse facilities that provide residential treatment and are larger than
other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
.206 Other Uses
(1) Mitigation banks as a form of compensatory mitigation for wetland and habitat
conservation area impacts when permitted in accordance with the provisions of
Chapter 16.16 WCC; provided, applications for mitigation banks shall be processed
as a major development project pursuant to Chapter 20.88 WCC.
(2) Any use which seeks a comparative value exchange for the open space
requirement outlined in WCC 20.64.502 and 20.64.503.
20.64.200 Prohibited uses.
.201 All other uses.
.202 Adult businesses.
.203 Mental health facilities that provide crisis care.
.204 Substance abuse facilities that provide crisis care.
.205 Outpatient mental health facilities.
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.206 Outpatient substance abuse treatment facilities, including opiate substitution
treatment clinics.
.210 Secure community transition facilities for sex offenders.
20.64.250 Minimum lot size.
Minimum lot size varies according to the availability of public water and/or public
sewer. Where public water service is not provided, the minimum parcel size shall be
five acres. Where public water service is provided but public sewer is not provided,
the minimum parcel size shall be 18,000 square feet when the conventional method
is utilized and 15,000 square feet when the cluster method is utilized but may be
greater if the Whatcom County health department finds that conditions require the
larger size. The following lot sizes apply only where both public sewer and public
water serve the project:
.251 Single-family dwellings and duplexes shall have a minimum net parcel size of
6,000 square feet per dwelling.
.252 Multifamily dwellings including all condominiums except time share
condominiums shall have a minimum net parcel size of 8,000 square feet and shall
have a site of at least 2,000 square feet for each dwelling unit.
.253 Mobile home and recreational vehicle parks shall have a minimum net parcel
size of at least 8,000 square feet.
.254 Hotels and motels and time share condominiums shall have a minimum net
parcel size of 8,000 square feet and shall have a site of at least 1,600 square feet
for each sleeping unit.
.255 Nonhabitation commercial uses shall have a minimum lot size consistent with
the area required to meet the building setback, lot coverage and development
standards of this district.
20.64.256 Minimum lot frontage.
For the purpose of dividing property, minimum lot frontage shall be sufficient to
provide adequate access and utility development, and meet applicable building
setback, buffer, open space and development standards of the district. In no case
shall the frontage be less than 30 feet.
20.64.260 Maximum density.
Maximum density varies according to the availability of public water and/or public
sewer. Where public water service is not provided, the maximum density for
dwelling units, or dwelling unit equivalent as determined by the Whatcom County
health department, shall be one dwelling/five acres. Where public water service is
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provided but public sewer is not provided, the maximum density for dwelling units,
or dwelling unit equivalent as determined by the Whatcom County health
department, shall be two per acre unless the health department finds that
conditions require a lower density. The following densities apply only where both
public sewer and public water serve the project:
.261 Single-family dwellings and duplexes shall not exceed a density of seven units
per acre.
.262 Multifamily dwellings including all condominiums except time share
condominiums shall not exceed a density of 22 units per acre.
.263 Mobile home parks shall not exceed a density of seven units per acre.
.264 Recreational vehicle parks shall not exceed a density of 15 units per acre.
.265 Nonresort-oriented hotels and motels shall not exceed a floor area ratio (FAR)
of .60.
.266 Resort-oriented hotels and motels including time share condominiums shall
not exceed a floor area ratio (FAR) of .56.
.267 Nonhabitation commercial uses shall not exceed a floor area ratio (FAR) of
.70.
20.64.270 Density, lot size and lot configuration by method of subdivision.
20.64.271 Maximum density and minimum lot size.
Minimum Lot Size Min. Reserve
Gross Area (Cluster
Maximum
District Density Conventional Cluster Subdivisions)
RC: without public water 1 dwelling 5 acres Not Not
unit/5 acres applicable applicable
RC: with public water but 2 dwelling 18,000 sq. ft. 15,000 sq. 10%
without public sewer units/1 acre ft.
RC: with both public 7 to 22 6,000 sq. ft. Not Not
sewer and water and dwelling applicable applicable
stormwater collection and units/acre as
detention facilities given
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20.64.300 Lot clustering, and reserve tract.
20.64.305 Lot clustering.
(1) The purpose of lot clustering is to provide an alternative method of creating
economical building lots with spatially efficient sizes. Clustering is intended to
reduce development cost, increase energy efficiency and reserve areas of land
which are suitable for agriculture, forestry, open space or possible future
development.
(2) The clustering option is also intended to help preserve open space and the
character of areas and reduce total impervious surface area thereby reducing runoff
while assuring continued viable undeveloped natural vegetated corridors for wildlife
habitat, protection of watersheds, preservation of wetlands, preservation of
aesthetic values including view corridors, and preservation of potential trail and
recreation areas.
20.64.310 Design standards.
The creation of new building lots, pursuant to this section, shall be governed by the
following recommended design standards:
(1) Clustered building lots shall be created only through the subdivision or short
subdivision process.
(2) Building lots should be designed and located to the fullest extent possible to be
compatible with valuable or unique natural features, as well as physical constraints
of the site.
(3) Where practical, the majority of building sites should be arranged in a cluster or
concentrated pattern to be compatible with physical site features, allow for the
efficient conversion of the "reserve tract" to other uses in the future, and have no
more than two common encroachments on existing county roads. The arrangement
of clustered building lots is intended to discourage development forms commonly
known as linear, straight-line or highway strip patterns.
(4) Common access to clustered building lots should be provided by short length
roads or loop roads. In addition, interior streets shall be designed to allow access to
the "reserve tract" for the purpose of future approved development.
20.64.320 Reserve tract.
For the purposes of this section, "reserve tract" is defined as that portion of a
proposed subdivision or short subdivision which is intended for agricultural,
forestry, open space or future development purposes. All "reserve tracts" created
through the subdivision process shall be subject to the following provisions:
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(1) After a site is initially subdivided pursuant to this chapter, the "reserve tract"
may be retained by the subdivider, conveyed to residents of the subdivision or
conveyed to a third party.
(2) The "reserve tract" may be considered as a building lot; provided, that such lot
is included in the overall density calculation of the original parcel of record. If the
"reserve tract" is not included in the overall density calculation, it can only be
developed with an open space use allowed by WCC 20.22.053.
(3) The "reserve tract" may be further subdivided only through the long subdivision
process and only under the following circumstances:
(a) The county finds that in developing adjacent tracts it would help to further the
objectives listed in WCC 20.20.305(2) above by dividing the reserve tract and
increasing the area of reserve proportionately on the adjacent land being
subdivided so that there is no net reduction in reserve area; and when the reserve
tract is owned by the original developer or a third party, no property owner within
the original subdivision will be significantly adversely affected or suffer a substantial
decrease of property value as a result of dividing the reserve tract.
(b) When the Comprehensive Plan and zoning have been updated as part of the
normal process (other than a revision initiated by the private sector or done for a
specific project) and the public process has been gone through, subject to findings
that there is no adverse impact to critical areas and when the reserve tract is
owned by the original developer or a third party, no property owner within the
original subdivision will be significantly adversely affected or suffer a substantial
decrease of property value as a result of dividing the reserve tract.
(4) The purpose of the reserve tract as stated in WCC 20.64.320, paragraphs (1),
(2) and (3) shall be communicated in writing on the face of the plat or short plat.
The number of developable building sites remaining (if any) with the original parcel
of record, based on the assigned density, shall also be prominently displayed on the
plat or short plat. Whatcom County shall make every effort to assist all agents in
communicating clearly such information to all purchasers and prospective
purchasers of building lots or "reserve tracts."
(5) At the time of filing of any final plat or short plat containing a "reserve tract,"
the subdivider shall execute a covenant limiting the use of said "reserve tract"
consistent with the requirement of paragraphs (2) through (4) above. This
covenant shall be enforceable by Whatcom County and be recorded at the time of
final plat approval as a covenant running with the land; provided, that it may be
later amended by mutual agreement between said parties after review for
consistency and compliance with the Official Whatcom County Zoning Ordinance,
the Whatcom County Subdivision Ordinance and the Whatcom County
Comprehensive Plan.
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20.64.350 Building setbacks.
Building setbacks shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.64.550 and 20.80.200
except as provided below.
.351 Commercial uses shall be allowed to reduce the front yard setback to 15 feet
and the side yard setback to zero feet where the site and landscape plans promote
pedestrian access to the building.
.352 Any single-family development, for internal lots, may use a side yard setback
of zero feet where the lot line setback on the opposite side yard is 10 feet;
however, side yard setbacks adjacent to parcels not being developed under this
exception shall be those provided in WCC 20.80.200.
.353 An additional five feet shall be added to each side yard and rear yard for each
10 feet of building height, or fraction thereof, in excess of 15 feet.
20.64.400 Height limitations.
.401 Building height shall not exceed 35 feet.
.402 Under a conditional use permit, building height may reach 75 feet.
20.64.450 Lot coverage.
.451 Buildings or structures for single-family dwellings and duplexes uses shall not
occupy more than 35 percent of a parcel.
.452 Buildings or structures for multifamily dwellings including all condominiums
except time share condominiums shall not occupy more than 35 percent of a parcel.
20.64.500 Open space.
.501 For uses other than single-family dwellings or duplexes, a minimum of 40
percent of the site shall be reserved as open space, unless otherwise provided in
WCC 20.64.502.
.502 The 40 percent requirement in WCC 20.64.501 may be reduced to as little as
10 percent when the applicant agrees to and performs a comparative value
exchange in open space or recreational amenities and when the exchange fosters
the open space and recreation goals of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan,
relative subarea plans, the Natural Heritage plan and other related county plans.
The exchange can be achieved in two ways:
(1) An exchange of land though acquisition or dedication of a public access
easement; provided, the exchange results in land or amenities that equal or exceed
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the recreational and/or open space value of the replaced on-site open space. The
following criteria shall be considered in assessing recreation and open space value:
(a) Utility of land for recreation/open space purposes;
(b) Unique or culturally significant natural habitat;
(c) Wildlife habitat;
(d) Views;
(e) Shoreline access;
(f) Integration with existing recreation/open space areas;
(g) High value natural resource areas using the criteria established in the Whatcom
County critical areas regulations (Chapter 16.16 WCC).
(2) Provision of recreational amenities; provided, the exchange results in land or
amenities that equal or exceed the recreational and/or open space value of the
replaced on-site open space. Acceptable amenities may include, but not be limited
to:
(a) Public access to shorelines;
(b) Pedestrian or bicycle paths;
(c) Bicycle lanes;
(d) Enhancement of existing park facilities;
(e) Trails.
.503 Criteria for Approval of a Comparative Value Exchange.
(1) The exchange will meet applicable conditional use criteria in WCC 20.84.220.
(2) The exchange will provide open space or recreational amenities within the same
subarea in which the proposed project lies.
(3) In addition to meeting the goals and recreation values set forth in WCC
20.64.502, the economic value of exchanged property or the cost of constructed
amenities must exceed 50 percent of the value of the land being exchanged to
meet the 40 percent requirement of WCC 20.64.501.
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(4) When an amenity is proposed on-site in exchange for a reduction in open space,
the value considered must be above and beyond the minimum requirements
contained in subsection (3) of this section.
(5) The applicant has demonstrated that a neighborhood meeting has been held or
other method used to inform affected neighbors prior to the formal notification
process.
(6) There shall be a mechanism in place to ensure that a permanent exchange
takes place, including such items as maintenance agreements, dedications,
easements, conservation easements, or other appropriate tools acceptable to both
the applicant and the county which shall be filed with the county auditor's office.
(7) In addition to information provided by the applicant, staff and the public, the
hearing examiner may also consider a recommendation from the Whatcom County
parks commission, when appropriate, or regionally specific recreational
organizations when arriving at a design regarding comparative value.
20.64.550 Buffer area.
.551 Except for single-family residences, when a parcel situated within this district
adjoins an Urban Residential, Urban Residential Medium Density, Residential Rural
or Rural District, side and rear yard setbacks shall be increased to 25 feet along the
property line(s) adjacent to the named district. Said area shall be landscaped
consistent with the requirements of WCC 20.80.345.
20.64.600 Sign regulations.
Sign regulations shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.400 except that no
off-premises advertising signs are allowed other than those specified in WCC
20.80.470.
20.64.650 Development criteria.
The requirements of WCC 20.64.651, 20.64.652, 20.64.653 and 20.64.654 do not
apply to single-family or duplex residences.
20.64.651 Facility design.
Individual developments within a Resort Commercial Zone District should be
encouraged to accommodate additional commercial development on adjacent
property in an integrated manner. Consistent architectural treatment is
encouraged. Each development shall screen roof-mounted mechanical equipment so
as not to be visible by surrounding uses or roads.
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Design of a proposed use in the Resort Commercial Zone District outside of urban
growth areas shall be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan rural land use
chapter.
20.64.652 Landscaping.
Refer to WCC 20.80.300 for landscaping requirements.
20.64.653 Off-street parking and loading.
(1) For interior lots, no vehicular parking or driveways shall be allowed between a
commercial use and public right-of-way; and for corner lots, no parking or driveway
shall be allowed between a commercial use and the right-of-way the use fronts.
(2) A bicycle parking area at a rate of one space per 1,000 square feet of floor area
or a minimum of one space, whichever is greater, shall be provided for each use.
Each bicycle parking space shall consist of a rack or other structure designed for
the lock-up of a bicycle.
(3) If two or more developments adjoin each other or otherwise are designed and
developed in a coordinated fashion as determined by the zoning administrator in
order to utilize shared parking facilities, the total number of required parking
spaces for all the uses involved shall be reduced by 30 percent or no less than five
spaces per retail establishment, whichever is greater.
(4) Except as provided in this section, off-street parking and loading shall be
administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.500.
20.64.654 Sidewalks.
Sidewalks shall be installed pursuant to the requirements of the county engineer.
20.64.655 Drainage.
All development activity within Whatcom County shall be subject to the stormwater
management provisions of the Whatcom County Development Standards unless
specifically exempted.
No project permit shall be issued prior to meeting submittal requirements relating
to stormwater management in the appropriate chapters of the Whatcom County
Development Standards.
20.64.656 Driveways.
Consistent with WCC 20.80.640, driveway plans shall be reviewed by the county
engineer or State Department of Highways, as applicable.
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20.64.657 Access.
Access shall conform to the provisions of WCC 20.80.565.
20.64.658 Lighting.
Lighting shall be designed to avoid excessive glare onto neighboring properties, and
to not create safety hazards or unreasonable interference with adjacent uses.
20.64.659 Binding site plan.
Should the use be developed as part of a binding site plan, it shall be administered
pursuant to Title 21 of the Whatcom County Code (Subdivision Regulations) and
additional requirements, as applicable.
20.64.660 Site design.
Any two adjacent buildings on the same site shall be separated from each other by
a distance not less than one-half the height of the taller building. Building
configuration may be staggered as well as angled to follow contours and street
alignment. This spacing requirement does not preclude the possibility of ground
level connection between neighboring structures.
20.64.700 Performance standards.
The following provisions shall apply to all uses within this district:
.701 There shall be no storage or handling of hazardous, explosive, highly
flammable materials which would cause fire, explosion or safety hazards, except
the storage and dispensing of gasoline in service stations.
.702 There shall be no production of noise at any property line of any use in this
district in excess of the average intensity of street and traffic noise found in the
district.
.703 There shall be no emission of dust, dirt, odors, smoke or toxic gases and
fumes.
.704 There shall be no production of heat, glare or vibration perceptible from any
property line of the premises upon which such heat, glare or vibration is being
generated.
.705 There shall be no storage outdoors.
.706 There shall be no off-site release to soil or surface drainageways of water
borne or liquid pollutants.
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.707 Applicable health department permits must be secured before permit is issued.
.708 Proposed development or redevelopment in Resort Commercial Zone Districts
located within a Rural Community designation will be consistent with the character
of the area in July 1, 1990 in terms of building size, scale, use, or intensity of
existing uses, per WCC 20.80.100(1) except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(2).
302 In a Rural Business designation, the maximum allowable floor area is 7,000
square feet except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(3) and (4)..
20.67 General Manufacturing (GM) District
20.67.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this district is to provide for rural general manufacturing activities
which by their nature are less intensive uses than those of heavy industry but of
greater intensity than uses associated with the Rural Industrial - Manufacturing
district, and to provide employment opportunities for residents of the rural area.
General manufacturing uses are primarily related to fabrication, manufacture,
storage and distribution of products which have minimal off-site impacts on
adjacent nonindustrial zone districts. It is a further purpose of this district to
encourage proper design of developments in order to minimize use conflicts within
and beyond the district's boundaries as enabled through the district's performance
and development standards, as well as buffer and setback requirements. This
district shall comply with the rural land use policies and criteria set forth in the
Comprehensive Plan. This district may be located in an Urban Growth Area, a Rural
Community, or Rural Business area, as designated in the Comprehensive Plan. New
development or redevelopment in a GM district located in a Rural Community
designation is limited to that which is consistent with the character of the area on
July 1, 1990 in terms of building size, scale, use, or intensity. New development in
a Rural Business designation is limited to isolated small scale businesses.
20.67.050 Permitted uses.
Unless otherwise provided herein, permitted, accessory and conditional uses shall
be administered pursuant to the applicable provisions of Chapter 20.80 WCC
(Supplementary Requirements) and Chapter 20.84 WCC (Variances, Conditional
Uses and Appeals), the Whatcom County SEPA Ordinance, the Whatcom County
Subdivision Ordinance and the Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program.
In a Rural Community designation, nonresidential uses listed below are permitted if
a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community designation on July
1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business designation all uses are
permitted.
.051 Manufacturing/Fabrication type uses
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(1) The manufacture and processing of food including meat, dairy, fruit, vegetable,
seafood, bakery and beverage products.
(2) Fabrication of apparel including clothing, hats, caps, millinery, fur products; and
miscellaneous fabricated textile products.
(3) Fabrication of furniture and fixtures including household, office and public
building furniture; and partitions, shelving and lockers.
(4) Fabrication of paper products including paperboard containers, boxes, carrion
boxes and paper containers.
(5) Printing and publishing newspapers, periodicals and books; commercial
printing; book binding; and manufacture of manifold business forms and greeting
cards.
(6) Fabrication of leather products including belting; packing; cut stock and findings
for shoes and boots; shoes; footwear; gloves and mittens; luggage; personal
leather goods and handbags.
(7) Fabrication of stone, clay and glass products including glassware; glass
products from prepared materials; pottery and related products; stone cutting;
monuments; and manufacture of fiberglass products.
(8) The manufacture of transportation equipment including boat building; and
bicycle and motorcycles, and related parts.
(9) Processing and packaging of drugs, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, cosmetics,
supplements, remedies, or similar types of products.
(10) Fabrication of electrical equipment including radio and television sets;
communications equipment; electronic components and accessories; and electric
lighting equipment and lamps.
(11) Fabrication of instruments, photographic goods, optical goods, watches and
clocks, and including engineering, scientific, surgical, medical, dental and
ophthalmic products.
(12) Manufacture and fabrication of jewelry, silverware, plated ware, musical
instruments and parts, toys, sporting and athletic goods; pens, pencils and other
office and artistic supplies; novelties, buttons and notions; and miscellaneous
manufacture.
(13) Manufacture of office, computing and accounting machines.
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(14) Retail automobile wrecking yards where determined by the zoning
administrator to be adequately screened from adjacent properties and streets.
(15) The fabrication of metal products including metal cans, hardware, hand tools,
cutlery, heating apparatus, plumbing fixtures, structural metals, screws and bolts,
and stamping.
(16) The manufacture of machinery including engines; turbines, farm machinery
and equipment; construction, mining and materials handling equipment; machine
tools and dies; and special and general industrial equipment.
(17) The manufacture of electrical machinery including transmission and
distribution equipment, and industrial apparatus.
(18) Manufacture of millwork and structural wood members; wood containers;
wood buildings and mobile homes; resawed cants and lumbers; dressed ceiling
lumber; lath; snow fence lath; cut stock; dressed lumber flooring and dressed
lumber siding; and sawmill activities including sawmills; and independent planing
mills.
.052 Storage/Warehousing/Transfer type uses
(1) Rail, truck and freight terminals, warehousing and storage; parcel delivery
service, freight forwarding; inspection and weighing service; and packing and
crating.
.053 Construction type uses:
(1) Construction contractors including general building, heavy construction and
special trade.
.054 Wholesaling type uses:
(1) Wholesale trade of durable and nondurable goods including automotive parts
and supplies; tire and tubes; furniture and home furnishings; lumber and other
construction materials; sporting goods, toys and hobby goods; metal service
centers and offices; electrical goods; hardware, plumbing and heating equipment;
machinery, equipment and supplies; jewelry, watches and precious stones; other
durable goods; paper and paper products; drugs, proprietaries and sundries;
apparel, piece goods and notions; groceries and related products; beer, wine and
distilled beverages; and miscellaneous nondurable goods; automotive wrecking
scraps; bag reclaiming; waste bottles; waste boxes; fur cuttings and scraps; iron
and steel scrap; general line of junk scrap; nonferrous metals scrap; rags; and
waste paper.
.055 Public type uses:
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(1) Public uses and community facilities including police and fire stations, libraries,
activity centers, community centers, park and recreation facilities identified in an
adopted city or county Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan, and other similar
noncommercial uses, excluding state education facilities and correction facilities.
(2) Other uses similar in nature to the uses listed above which are consistent with
the purpose and the intent of the district, have similar effects on surrounding land
uses, and can meet the performance standards for this district.
(3) Trails, trailheads, restroom facilities and associated parking areas for no more
than 30 vehicles.
.056 Commercial type uses
(1) Eating establishments, convenience grocery stores, vehicle washes and
facilities, and gas stations operating primarily for the convenience of employees,
clients and customers of the district; providing the following criteria are met:
(a) Maximum floor area is 2,500 square feet per use;
(b) No more than two pump islands for each gas station;
(c) Centrally located within the district to primarily serve the uses of this district
and not to primarily serve the uses in adjacent residential, rural, or commercial
zone districts.
20.67.100 Accessory uses.
.101 Employee recreation facilities and play areas.
.102 Deleted by Ord. 95-009.
.103 Temporary buildings for construction purposes for a period not to exceed the
duration of such construction.
.104 Testing and experimentation in connection with a principally permitted use.
.105 Other accessory uses and buildings, including security services, customarily
appurtenant to a principally permitted use.
.106 On-site treatment and storage facilities for hazardous wastes associated with
outright permitted uses or approved conditional uses subject to the most current
siting criteria under Chapter 173-303 WAC.
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.107 Mini-day care centers, and day care centers operated by, maintained by or
funded by business in the district for the purpose of serving the child care needs of
employees whose place of employment lies within this zone district.
.108 Retail trade of merchandise manufactured, assembled or stored on site within
the definition of accessory uses as defined in Chapter 20.97 WCC; provided retail
facilities do not exceed 15 percent of the total floor area of all buildings located on
site.
.109 Electric vehicle rapid charging stations and battery exchange facilities,
accessory to gas stations.
.110 One storage building per lot; provided, that the storage building shall not
exceed the exempt criteria stated in the adopted edition of the International
Building Code, and shall only be used for personal storage and not for habitation or
business; and provided further, that the storage building shall contain no indoor
plumbing but may be served with electrical power for lighting.
20.67.150 Conditional uses.
In a Rural Community designation, uses listed below may be conditionally permitted
if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community designation on July
1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business designation all uses listed
below may be conditionally permitted.
.151 Recreational type uses:
(1) Public and private parks facilities not included in an adopted city or county
Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.
(2) Trailheads with parking areas for more than 30 vehicles.
(3) Athletic fields.
.152 Public type uses:
(1) State education facilities.
(2) Type I solid waste handling facilities.
(3) Type II solid waste handling facilities.
(4) Type III solid waste handling facilities; provided, that:
(a) The facility or site will not be located within the 100-year floodplain or the Lake
Whatcom watershed. The facility or site will not be located within any area
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identified in an adopted critical areas ordinance unless outside of the floodplain and
at least three feet in elevation higher than the floodway elevation;
(b) Solid waste handling facilities shall be located at least 1,500 feet from the
following:
(1) All zoning district boundaries, except Commercial Forestry and Industrial Zones;
(2) Public parks, public recreation areas,or publicly-owned wildlife areas;
(3) Archaeological and historical sites that are registered with the State Office of
Archaeology and Historic Preservation;
(4) Shorelines that are within the jurisdiction of the Shoreline Management
Program;
(5) Rivers, streams or creeks that contain documented threatened or endangered
fish species;
(6) This 1,500-foot buffer does not apply to:
(i) Structures used for offices, storage areas for equipment, and weigh scales.
These facilities shall be set back from the property line 100 feet or the standard
zoning district setback, whichever is greater;
(ii) Inert landfills;
(c) Inert landfills shall be located at least 500 feet from the following:
(1) All zoning district boundaries, except Commercial Forestry and Industrial Zones;
(2) Public parks, public recreation areas, or publicly-owned wildlife areas;
(3) Archaeological and historical sites that are registered with the State Office of
Archaeology and Historic Preservation;
(4) Shorelines that are within the jurisdiction of the Shoreline Management
Program;
(5) Rivers, streams or creeks that contain documented threatened or endangered
fish species;
(6) This 500-foot buffer does not apply to:
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(i) Structures used for offices, storage areas for equipment, and weigh scales.
These facilities shall be set back from the property line 100 feet or the standard
zoning district setback, whichever is greater;
(d) The facility or site will not result in filling or excavation, location of structures or
buildings, driveways or machinery use except for vegetation maintenance within
100 feet of any property line and except for driveways within 150 feet of any
county or state road right-of-way;
(e) The facility or site will have vehicular approaches designed to minimize conflict
between automobile and truck traffic, will maintain the carrying capacity of county
roads, and will be located on a road classified as all weather, except where use is
shown to be intermittent and easily delayed until emergency conditions have
passed;
(f) The facility or site has complied with the provisions of WCC 20.84.200 and all
other ordinances and laws regulating solid waste facilities and sites, such as but not
limited to WCC Title 24, the Whatcom County SEPA Ordinance, as well as state and
federal regulations concerning solid waste facilities and sites; and
(g) All landfills have a final closure plan meeting the requirements of WCC Title 24
and of Chapter 173-350 WAC, and the closure plan includes:
(1) Reclamation in two- to 10-acre increments, as appropriately responsive to the
size and intensity of the particular activity, with seeding to be accomplished
annually but no later than September 30th; and
(2) Permanent vegetative cover that will maintain in healthy growing condition with
the level of maintenance that is covered through the financial assurance for post-
closure activities;
(h) The buffer areas and visual screening shall include a minimum of 50 feet wide
of landscaping meeting the requirements of WCC 20.80.300 (Landscaping);
(i) Solid waste facilities or sites shall be located outside the 10-year time of travel
boundary of a public water system's delineated wellhead protection area;
(j) Solid waste facilities or sites that handle putrescible waste will be located at
least 10,000 feet from airports serving turbine-powered aircraft and at least 5,000
feet from airports serving piston-powered aircraft. These buffers shall be measured
from the boundary of the Airport Operations Zone or, if the airport is not within an
Airport Operations Zone, from the boundary of the airport property;
(k) In addition, the Whatcom County hearing examiner may impose conditions of
approval which may be necessary to protect the value and enjoyment of existing
adjacent uses.
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.153 Other uses
(1) Mitigation banks as a form of compensatory mitigation for wetland and habitat
conservation area impacts when permitted in accordance with the provisions of
Chapter 16.16 WCC; provided, applications for mitigation banks shall be processed
as a major development project pursuant to Chapter 20.88 WCC.
20.67.200 Prohibited uses.
.201 All other uses.
.202 Adult businesses.
20.67.250 Minimum lot size.
The minimum lot size shall be consistent with the area required to meet the
building setback, lot coverage, buffer and development standards of the district.
20.67.251 Large commercial retail.
Repealed by Ord. 2011-013.
20.67.255 Minimum lot frontage.
For the purpose of dividing property, minimum lot frontage shall be sufficient to
provide adequate access and utility development, and meet applicable building
setback, buffer, and development standards of the district. In no case shall the
frontage be less than 30 feet.
20.67.300 Maximum building size.
.301 In a Rural Community designation, maximum allowable floor area for a
building shall not exceed the floor area of the largest building of a use of the same
type that existed in that same Rural Community designation on July 1, 1990, per
WCC 20.80.100(1) except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(2).
.302 In a rural business designation, the maximum allowable floor area is 7,000
square feet except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(3) and (4).
20.67.350 Building setbacks.
Building setbacks shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.200.
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20.67.400 Height limitations.
No maximum height is established; however, when building height exceeds 35 feet,
the setback requirements of WCC 20.80.200 shall be increased by one foot for each
foot of building height in excess of 35 feet, as applicable to all setbacks. Height of
structures shall also conform, where applicable, to the general requirements of
WCC 20.80.675.
20.67.450 Lot coverage.
.451 On a lot in a Rural Community designation, combined floor area of all
buildings shall not exceed that of a use of the same type that existed on a lot in
that same Rural Community designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1)
except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(2).
.452 In a Rural Business designation building or structural coverage of a lot shall
not exceed 50 percent of the total area.
20.67.500 Open space.
At least 10 percent of the site shall be kept free of buildings, structures, stored
materials, hard surfacing, parking areas and other impervious surfaces.
20.67.550 Buffer area.
.551 When a parcel situated within this district adjoins an Agriculture, Urban
Residential, Urban Residential Medium Density, Rural or Residential Rural District,
or county or state roads designated as or proposed for improvements to principal
arterial status, setbacks shall be increased to 25 feet. Unless adjoining an
Agriculture Zoning District, said area shall be landscaped consistent with the
requirements of WCC 20.80.345.
.552 If any part of the buffer area is separated from, or sold to any contiguous or
adjacent owner, lessee or user, the parcel so separated or sold shall be used only
as a buffer area in accordance with the above requirements.
20.67.600 Sign regulations.
Sign regulations shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.400.
20.67.650 Development criteria.
20.67.651 Landscaping.
Refer to WCC 20.80.300 for landscaping requirements.
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20.67.652 Off-street parking and loading.
Off-street parking and loading provisions shall be administered pursuant to WCC
20.80.500. In addition, loading areas must be located in such a manner that no
loading, unloading and/or maneuvering of trucks associated therewith takes place
on public rights-of-way.
20.67.653 Drainage.
All development activity within Whatcom County shall be subject to the stormwater
management provisions of the Whatcom County Development Standards unless
specifically exempted.
No project permit shall be issued prior to meeting submittal requirements relating
to stormwater management in the appropriate chapters of the Whatcom County
Development Standards.
20.67.654 Driveways.
Pursuant to WCC 20.80.640, driveway plans shall be reviewed by the county
engineer or State Department of Highways, as applicable.
20.67.655 Access.
Access shall conform to the provisions of WCC 20.80.565 and 20.80.660.
20.67.656 Maintenance.
The owner, lessee or user shall be responsible for maintaining an orderly
appearance of all properties, and shall be responsible for assuring the care and
maintenance of any natural growth where appropriate. All required yards, parking
areas, storage areas, operation yards and other open uses on the site which are
adjacent to a public right-of-way shall be maintained in a neat and orderly manner
appropriate for the district at all times.
20.67.657 Enclosure.
All manufacturing or fabrication processes which produce physical off-site impacts
of a detrimental nature shall be sufficiently enclosed to mitigate the impact.
20.67.700 Performance standards.
20.67.701 Pollution control and nuisance abatement.
Each industry is required to continuously employ the best pollution control and
nuisance abatement technology when reasonable and practicably available for each
particular industry; provided, that where federal, state, or regional laws or
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regulations provide for the level of technology to be employed, the appropriate
standards shall apply.
20.67.702 Heat, light and glare.
All operations and facilities producing heat, light or glare, including exterior lighting,
shall be so constructed, screened or used as to not unreasonably infringe upon the
use and enjoyment of property beyond the boundaries of the district.
20.67.703 Ground vibrations.
No ground vibration other than that caused by highway vehicles, trains or
construction activity shall be permitted which is discernible, without instruments, at
or beyond the property line for the use concerned.
20.67.704 Odor, dust, dirt, and smoke.
No odor, dust, dirt, or smoke shall be emitted that is detectable at or beyond the
property line, for the use concerned, in such a concentration or of such duration as
to cause a public nuisance, or threaten health or safety, or to unreasonably infringe
upon the use and enjoyment of property beyond the boundaries of the district.
20.67.705 Noise.
No use in this district shall exceed the maximum environmental noise level
established by Chapter 173-60 WAC.
20.67.706 Toxic gases and fumes.
There shall be no emission of toxic gases or fumes.
20.67.707 Liquid pollutants.
There shall be no off-site release to soil or surface drainage ways of water borne or
liquid pollutants.
20.69 Rural Industrial - Manufacturing (RIM) District
20.69.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the Rural Industrial - Manufacturing District is to provide for
industrial and manufacturing uses that are commonly accepted in the rural area,
with preference to those uses which facilitate the production of agricultural, forest,
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and aquatic products; and to provide employment opportunities for residents of the
rural area. This zoning designation allows related processing facilities, limited direct
resource sales and limited support services that are not detrimental to the natural
resource base in the long term. The district shall comply with the rural land use
policies and criteria set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. This district may be
located in either a Rural Community or Rural Business area. New development or
redevelopment in a RIM district located in a Rural Community designation is limited
to that which is consistent with the character of the area on July 1, 1990 in terms of
building size, scale, use, or intensity. New development in a Rural Business
designation is limited to isolated small scale businesses.
20.69.050 Permitted uses.
The following permitted uses shall be allowed subject to an evaluation by the
zoning administrator pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 20.80
WCC. In a Rural Community designation, nonresidential uses listed below are
permitted if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community
designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business
designation all uses are permitted.
.051 Manufacturing/Fabrication type uses
(1) Manufacture of miscellaneous textile goods and fabrication of apparel including
clothing, hats, caps, millinery fur products; and miscellaneous fabricated textile
products.
(2) Fabrication of furniture and fixtures including household, office and public
building furniture; and partitions, shelving and lockers.
(3) Fabrication of paper products including paperboard containers, boxes, carrion
boxes and paper containers.
(4) Printing and publishing newspapers, periodicals anti books; commercial
printing; book binding; and manufacture of manifold business forms and greeting
cards.
(5) Fabrication of leather products including belting; packing; cut stock and findings
for shoes and boots; shoes; footwear; gloves and mittens; luggage; personal
leather goods and handbags.
(6) Fabrication of glass products including glass products from prepared materials;
stone cutting; and monuments.
(7) Processing and packaging of drug, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, cosmetics,
supplements and remedies, when associated with derivatives from local agriculture
or other local resources.
(8) Fabrication of electrical equipment including industrial apparatus and household
appliances, radio and television sets; communications equipment; electrical
components and accessories; and electric lighting equipment and lamps.
(9) Fabrication of instruments, photographic goods, optical goods, watches and
clocks, and including engineering, scientific, surgical, medical, dental and
ophthalmic products.
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(10) Manufacture and fabrication of jewelry, silverware, plated ware, musical
instruments and parts, toys, sporting and athletic goods; pens, pencils and other
office and artistic supplies; novelties, buttons and notions; and miscellaneous
manufacture.
(11) Manufacture, processing, treatment or fabrication of metal products and
machinery; provided, that smelters and remelting mills, and the manufacturing of
turbines, oil machinery, mining machinery, industrial process ovens, paper, and
textile or rolling mill machinery shall be prohibited.
(12) Fabrication of rubber products from finished rubber only and manufacture of
miscellaneous plastic products from purchased resins only.
(13) Manufacture of glass, glass products, pottery and related products, and cu tting
and shaping of stone products.
.052 Storage/Warehousing/Transfer type uses
(1) Rail, truck and freight terminals; warehousing and storage; parcel delivery
service; freight forwarding; inspection weighing services; and packaging and
crating.
(2) Wholesale trade or storage of durable and nondurable goods; provided trade,
storage or processing of sulphur shall be prohibited.
.053 Agriculture type uses:
Uses related to agriculture including, but not limited to:
(1) Commercial operations, except for commercial mushroom substrate
production facilities as provided for in WCC 20.15, that directly provide
agricultural goods or services to farmers. Examples of agricultural commercial
operations include, but are not limited to: agricultural parts and implement
sales, farm management services, livestock auction facilities, hay sales and
storage, sawdust sales and storage, and farm chemical applicator
establishments. These operations must abide by the limitations of 20.69.108,
and otherwise as outlined in this chapter.
(2) The processing of agricultural products that originate from the permitted
uses in WCC 20.40.050, provided that the facility is not mushroom substrate
production facility and the facility processes at least 50 percent agricultural
goods produced in Whatcom County.
(3) Animal hospital and accessory kennels and stables.
(4) Commercial composting and mulching facilities other than commercial
mushroom substrate production facilities as provided for in WCC 20.15.
(5) Fabrication, maintenance, repair, storage, service and accessory sales of
agricultural implements and farm equipment.
(6) Metal agricultural implement and farm equipment recovery and recycling.
(7) Confined feeding operations less than 40 acres.
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(8) Storage and distribution of animal feeds, fertilizers, pesticides and seed.
(9) Plant nurseries and greenhouses for storage, propagation and culture of
plants, including sales as an accessory use.
.054 Forestry type uses:
Uses related to forestry including, but not limited to:
(1) Fabrication, maintenance, repair, service and accessory sales of forestry
related items, within the limitations of 20.69.108 and elsewhere as outlined in
this chapter.
(2) Forest industry storage and maintenance facility.
(3) Forestry management services and forest industry support services.
(4) Log scaling station.
(5) Manufacturing wood products and containers.
(6) Operation of sawmills, chippers, shake and shingle mills, scaling stations, log
dumps, sorting and storage areas; forest industry equipment maintenance and
storage yards, and forest industry residue dumps and other uses involved in the
harvesting and primary processing of timber; provided:
(a) The intent of processing is initial reduction in bulk and/or to facilitate
transport to secondary processing centers; and
(b) All uses within 1,000 feet of a park, recreation area or zone district other
than Rural, Agriculture or Industrial shall be temporary and of less than 12
months' duration.
(7) Wood waste recycling.
.055 Aquatic resources type uses:
Uses related to aquatic resources including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Fabrication, maintenance, service, storage, repair and accessory sales of
equipment, vessels, and structures associated with aquatic natural resource
industries, within the limitations of 20.69.108 and elsewhere as outlined in this
chapter.
(2) Aquaculture, including but not limited to management and propagation of
fish and wildlife, upland fish farming, seafood and shellfish processing and
accessory on-site sales.
.056 Construction type uses
(1) .054 Construction contractors' business offices and storage and equipment
yards, including the assembly and manufacturing of prefabricated wood building
and components.
.057 Commercial type uses
Page 74 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
(1)Eating establishments, convenience grocery stores, cafes and gas stations
operating primarily for the convenience of employees, clients and customers of the
district; providing the following criteria are met:
(a) Maximum floor area of building is 3,000 square feet;
(b) No more than two pump islands for each gas station;
(c) Centrally located within the district to primarily serve the industrial uses of
this district and not to primarily serve adjacent nonindustrial uses.
(2) Communications including telephone exchanges, and radio and television
stations. Broadcast towers require a conditional use permit pursuant to WCC
20.82.030(4).
.058 Public type uses
(1) Secure community transition facilities for sex offenders, when located outside of
the Cherry Point Major Port Industrial Urban Growth Area.
(a) A secure community transition facility shall not be located adjacent to,
immediately across the street or parking lot from, or within the line of sight of
existing risk potential facilities, which are:
(1) Public schools;
(2) Private schools;
(3) School bus stops;
(4) Licensed day care;
(5) Licensed preschool facilities;
(6) Public parks;
(7) Publicly dedicated trails;
(8) Sports fields;
(9) Playgrounds;
(10) Recreational and community centers;
(11) Churches, synagogues, temples or mosques;
(12) Public libraries;
(13) Public and private youth camps; and
(14) Other uses identified by the State Department of Social and Health
Services pursuant to RCW 71.09.020.
"Within the line of sight" shall mean that it is possible to reasonably visually
distinguish and recognize individuals. An unobstructed visual distance of 600
feet shall be considered to be within the line of sight. Line of sight may be
considered to be less than 600 feet if the applicant can demonstrate that visual
barriers exist or would be created that would visually screen the risk potential
facility from the secure community transition facility.
Page 75 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
(b) No more than one secure community transition facility, with a maximum of
three people (other than staff), shall be located within Whatcom County.
(2) Historic sites open to the public, including natural systems education and/or
interpretive areas, and trails, trailheads, restroom facilities and associated parking
areas for no more than 30 vehicles.
(3) Public community facilities.
20.69.100 Accessory Uses.
.101 Employee recreation facilities and play areas.
.102 Explosives storage operated in compliance with RCW Chapter 70.74.
.103 Temporary buildings for construction purposes for a period not to exceed the
duration of such construction.
.104 Metalworking shop for the maintenance and repair of equipment used by the
primary permitted use.
.105 On-site treatment and storage facilities for hazardous wastes associated with
outright permitted uses or approved conditional uses subject to the most current
siting criteria under WAC Chapter 173-303.
.106 Testing and experimentation in connection with a principally permitted use.
.107 Other accessory uses and buildings, including offices, security and a caretaker
residence, customarily appurtenant to a principally permitted use.
.108 Retail sales of merchandise manufactured, assembled or stored on site within
the definition of accessory uses as defined in Chapter 20.97; provided retail
facilities do not exceed fifteen percent of the total floor area of all buildings located
on site.
.109 Childcare facilities operated by, maintained by or funded by business in the
district for the purpose serving the childcare needs of employees whose place of
employment lies within this zone district; provided, that childcare facilities in a
family dwelling shall conform to the definition of home occupation, WCC 20.84.150.
.110 One one-story detached accessory storage building per lot; provided, that the
floor area shall not exceed the exempt criteria stated in the adopted edition of the
International Building Code, and shall only be used for personal storage and not for
habitation or business; and provided further, that the storage building shall contain
no indoor plumbing but may be served with electrical power for lighting.
Page 76 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
20.69.130 Administrative approval uses.
The following uses are permitted with administrative approval pursuant to WCC
20.84.235. In a Rural Community designation, uses listed below may be
administratively permitted if the same use existed in that same Rural Community
designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business
designation all uses listed below may be administratively permitted.
.131 Agricultural slaughtering facilities, if done in compliance with Title 16 WAC
(Department of Agriculture) and Title 16 RCW (Animals and Livestock).
.132 Temporary storage of moved buildings including manufactured homes,
provided storage is:
(1) only for periods less than 12 months duration; and
(2) limited with no work or maintenance done to the structure while in storage;
and
(3) limited further with no structure used for any other use than to be
temporarily stored on site.
.133 Storage or salvage of unlicensed/inoperable vehicles if done in compliance
with RCW Chapter 46.80.
20.69.150 Conditional uses.
Unless otherwise provided herein, conditional uses shall be administered pursuant
to the applicable provisions of Chapter 20.84 WCC (Variances, Conditional Uses and
Appeals). In a Rural Community designation, uses listed below may be conditionally
permitted if a use of the same type existed in that same Rural Community
designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1). In a Rural Business
designation, all uses may be conditionally permitted.
.151 Manufacturing/Fabrication type uses
(1) Manufacture, batching and recycling of hydraulic cement, concrete gypsum and
plaster products, abrasive asbestos, sand, and miscellaneous nonmetallic mineral
products.
(2) Petroleum products and gas storage—bulk.
(3) Confined feeding operations greater than 40 acres.
.152 Commercial type uses
(1) Repair, service and accessory sales for motor vehicles provided the use or uses
are not expected to generate significantly more traffic than that which would
ordinarily be expected by an industrial use of comparable intensity.
.153 Public type uses
(1) Public and private parks facilities not included in an adopted city or county
Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.
(2) Trailheads with parking areas for more than 30 vehicles.
(3) Athletic fields.
(4) Intermediate passenger intermodal terminals.
Page 77 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
(5) State education facilities.
(6) Type I solid waste handling facilities.
(7) Type II solid waste handling facilities.
(8) Type III solid waste handling facilities; provided, that:
(a) The facility or site will not be located within the 100-year floodplain or the
Lake Whatcom watershed. The facility or site will not be located within any area
identified in an adopted critical areas ordinance unless outside of the floodplain
and at least three feet in elevation higher than the floodway elevation;
(b) Solid waste handling facilities shall be located at least 1,500 feet from the
following:
(1) All zoning district boundaries, except Commercial Forestry and Industrial
Zones;
(2) Public parks, public recreation areas, or publicly-owned wildlife areas;
(3) Archaeological and historical sites that are registered with the State Office
of Archaeology and Historic Preservation;
(4) Shorelines that are within the jurisdiction of the Shoreline Management
Program;
(5) Rivers, streams or creeks that contain documented threatened or
endangered fish species;
(6) This 1,500-foot buffer does not apply to:
(i) Structures used for offices, storage areas for equipment, and weigh
scales. These facilities shall be set back from the property line 100 feet or
the standard zoning district setback, whichever is greater;
(ii) Inert landfills;
(c) Inert landfills shall be located at least 500 feet from the following:
(a) All zoning district boundaries, except Commercial Forestry and Industrial
Zones;
(b) Public parks, public recreation areas, or publicly-owned wildlife areas;
(c) Archaeological and historical sites that are registered with the State Office
of Archaeology and Historic Preservation;
(d) Shorelines that are within the jurisdiction of the Shoreline Management
Program;
(e) Rivers, streams or creeks that contain documented threatened or
endangered fish species;
(f) This 500-foot buffer does not apply to:
(i) Structures used for offices, storage areas for equipment, and weigh
scales. These facilities shall be set back from the property line 100 feet or
the standard zoning district setback, whichever is greater;
Page 78 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
(d) The facility or site will not result in filling or excavation, location of structures
or buildings, driveways or machinery use except for vegetation maintenance
within 100 feet of any property line and except for driveways within 150 feet of
any county or state road right-of-way;
(e) The facility or site will have vehicular approaches designed to minimize
conflict between automobile and truck traffic, will maintain the carrying capacity
of county roads, and will be located on a road classified as all weather, except
where use is shown to be intermittent and easily delayed until emergency
conditions have passed;
(f) The facility or site has complied with the provisions of WCC 20.84.200 and all
other ordinances and laws regulating solid waste facilities and sites, such as but
not limited to WCC Title 24, the Whatcom County SEPA Ordinance, as well as
state and federal regulations concerning solid waste facilities and sites; and
(g) All landfills have a final closure plan meeting the requirements of WCC Title
24 and of Chapter 173-350 WAC, and the closure plan includes:
(1) Reclamation in two- to 10-acre increments, as appropriately responsive to
the size and intensity of the particular activity, with seeding to be
accomplished annually but no later than September 30th; and
(2) Permanent vegetative cover that will maintain in healthy growing condition
with the level of maintenance that is covered through the financial assurance
for post-closure activities;
(h) The buffer areas and visual screening shall include a minimum of 50 feet
wide of landscaping meeting the requirements of WCC 20.80.300 (Landscaping);
(i) Solid waste facilities or sites shall be located outside the 10-year time of
travel boundary of a public water system's delineated wellhead protection area;
(j) Solid waste facilities or sites that handle putrescible waste will be located at
least 10,000 feet from airports serving turbine-powered aircraft and at least
5,000 feet from airports serving piston-powered aircraft. These buffers shall be
measured from the boundary of the Airport Operations Zone or, if the airport is
not within an Airport Operations Zone, from the boundary of the airport
property;
(k) In addition, the Whatcom County hearing examiner may impose conditions
of approval which may be necessary to protect the value and enjoyment of
existing adjacent uses.
.154 Other uses
(1) Mitigation banks as a form of compensatory mitigation for wetland and habitat
conservation area impacts when permitted in accordance with the provisions of
Chapter 16.16 WCC; provided, applications for mitigation banks shall be processed
as a major development project pursuant to Chapter 20.88 WCC.
20.69.200 Prohibited uses.
.201 All other uses.
Page 79 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
.202 Adult businesses.
20.69.250 Minimum lot size.
The minimum lot size shall be consistent with the area required to meet the
building setback, lot coverage, buffer and development standards of the district.
20.69.255 Minimum lot frontage.
For the purpose of dividing property, minimum lot frontage shall be sufficient to
provide adequate access and utility development, and meet applicable building
setback, buffer, and development standards of the district. In no case shall the
frontage be less than 30 feet.
20.69.300 Maximum building size.
.301 In a Rural Community designation, maximum allowable floor area of a building
shall not exceed the floor area of the largest building of a use of the same type that
existed in that same Rural Community designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC
20.80.100(1) except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(2).
.302 In a Rural Business designation, the maximum allowable floor area is 7,000
square feet except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(3) and (4).
20.69.350 Building setbacks.
Building setbacks shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.69.550 and WCC
20.80.200.
20.69.400 Height limitations.
No maximum structure height is established; however, when building height
exceeds 35 feet, the setback requirements of WCC 20.80.200 shall be increased by
one foot for each foot of building height in excess of 35 feet, as applicable to all
setbacks. Height of structures shall also conform, where applicable, to the general
requirements of WCC 20.80.675. Piles of materials, including those stored and/or
processed on site, shall not exceed 35 feet.
20.69.450 Lot coverage.
.451 On a lot in a Rural Community designation, combined floor area of all
buildings shall not exceed that of a use of the same type that existed on a lot in
that same Rural Community designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC 20.80.100(1)
except as provided in WCC 20.80.100(2).
.452 In a Rural Business designation building or structural coverage of a lot shall
not exceed 50 percent of the total area.
20.69.500 Open space.
At least 10 percent of the site shall be kept free of buildings, structures, stored
materials, hard surfacing, parking areas and other impervious surfaces.
Page 80 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24,2012
20.69.550 Buffer area.
.551 When a parcel situated within this district adjoins an Agriculture, Rural or
Residential Rural District, or county or state roads designated as or proposed for
improvements to principal arterial status, setbacks of adjoining area shall be
increased to 25 feet. Unless adjoining an Agriculture zoning district, said area shall
be landscaped consistent with the requirements of WCC 20.80.345.
.552 If any part of said buffer area is separated from, or sold to any contiguous or
adjacent owner, lessee or user, the parcel so separated or sold shall be used only
as a buffer area in accordance with the above requirements.
20.69.600 Sign regulations.
Sign regulations shall be administered pursuant to WCC 20.80.400.
20.69.650 Development criteria.
20.69.651 Facility design.
Rural Industrial and Manufacturing developments within this Zone District should be
designed to accommodate additional industrial, manufacture, or commercial
development on adjacent RIM or other commercially-zoned property in an
integrated manner. Consistent architectural treatment is encouraged. Each
development shall screen roof-mounted mechanical equipment so as not to be
visible by surrounding uses or roads.
Design of a proposed use in the Rural Industrial and Manufacturing zone district
shall be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan rural land use chapter.
20.69.652 Landscaping.
Refer to WCC 20.80.300 for landscaping requirements.
20.69.653 Off-street parking and loading.
Off-street parking and loading provisions shall be administered pursuant to WCC
20.80.500. In addition, loading areas must be located in such a manner that no
loading, unloading and/or maneuvering of trucks associated therewith takes place
on public rights-of-way.
20.69.655 Drainage.
All development activity within Whatcom County shall be subject to the stormwater
management provisions of the Whatcom County Development Standards unless
specifically exempted.
No project permit shall be issued prior to meeting submittal requirements relating
to stormwater management in the appropriate chapters of the Whatcom County
Development Standards.
20.69.656 Driveways.
Pursuant to WCC 20.80.640, driveway plans shall be reviewed by the county
engineer or State Department of Highways, as applicable.
Page 81 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
20.69.657 Access.
Access shall conform to the provisions of WCC 20.80.565 and 20.80.660.
20.69.658 Maintenance.
The owner, lessee or user shall be responsible for maintaining an orderly
appearance of all properties, and shall be responsible for assuring the care and
maintenance of any natural growth where appropriate. All required yards, parking
areas, storage areas, operation yards and other open uses on the site which are
adjacent to a public right-of-way shall be maintained in a neat and orderly manner
appropriate for the district at all times.
20.69.659 Enclosure.
All manufacturing or fabrication processes which produce physical off-site impacts
of a detrimental nature shall be sufficiently enclosed to mitigate the impact.
20.69.700 Performance standards.
20.69.701 Pollution control and nuisance abatement.
Each industrial and/or manufacturing activity is required to continuously employ the
best pollution control and nuisance abatement technology when reasonable and
practicably available; provided, that where federal, state, or regional laws or
regulations provide for the level of technology to be employed, the appropriate
standards shall apply.
20.69.702 Heat, light and glare.
All operations and facilities producing heat, light or glare, including exterior lighting,
shall be so constructed, screened or used as to not unreasonably infringe upon the
use and enjoyment of property beyond the boundaries of the district.
20.69.703 Ground vibrations.
No ground vibration other than that caused by highway vehicles, trains or
construction activity shall be permitted which is discernible, without instruments, at
or beyond the property line for the use concerned.
20.69.704 Odor, dust, dirt, and smoke.
No odor, dust, dirt, or smoke shall be emitted that is detectable at or beyond the
property line, for the use concerned, in such a concentration or of such duration as
to cause a public nuisance, or threaten health or safety, or to unreasonably infringe
upon the use and enjoyment of property beyond the boundaries of the district.
20.69.705 Noise.
No use in this district shall exceed the maximum environmental noise level
established by Chapter 173-60 WAC.
20.69.706 Toxic gases and fumes.
There shall be no emission of toxic gases or fumes.
Page 82 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
20.69.707 Liquid pollutants.
There shall be no off-site release to soil or surface drainage ways of water borne or
liquid pollutants.
20.80 Supplementary Requirements
20.80.100 LAMIRD requirements.
(1) Building size in Rural Communities. Within areas designated in the
Comprehensive Plan as Rural Community, which are Limited Areas of More
Intensive Development as described in RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(i), permitted
maximum building sizes shall be in accordance with building sizes that existed in
each area on July 1, 1990, as shown in the following table.
Maximum floor area per building, in square feet
(Maximum combined floor area for all buildings, in square feet)
Retail! ` "
Office! =_ Auto/
Restaurant!" Storage/ Equipment Public/" Manufacturing/'
Lodging _.Warehouse Repair Community Fabrication
2,734 2,070 17,784
Acme : (2,734) (2,070) (21,896)
Axton"&:
Guide 4,800 2,160
Meridian (4,800) (2,160)
Birch Bay-
Lynden& 2,784
V.V. (3,684)
2,060 2,473
Cain Lake (2,060) (4,825)
3,968 3,300 46,451
Custer (3,968) (3,300) (46,451)
11,790 2,400 1,392 30,099
Deming (18,757) (2,400) (1,392) (79,512)
Diablo 513 10,872
Page 83 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
(513) (10,872)
3,500
3,150
Glacier (7,888) (3,150)
41mote'S • 6,636 1,500 19,856
Comer (9,036) (1,500) (19,856)
7,000 3,340
Kentlall (7,000) (3,340)
10,700 10,260 21,950 17,670
Laurel (11,000) (10,260) (63,360) (23,590)
7,800 7,280
Peltmsf�l . . (18,540) (7,280)
8,020 4,620 8,822
Maple Falls (8,020) (4,620) (10,082)
3,218 4,810 16,284
Newhalem (3,218) (12,981) (28,924)
Nugents , 18,221 3,240
Comer-- (19,499) (3,240)
Point ~ 34704 3,286 11,246
Roberts (34,704) (3,286) (11,246)
Pole&Guide 6,400 4,548 4,000
Meridian- : (6,400) (5,556) (4,000)
1,428
Sandy Point (1,428)
Smith&
Guide 5,866 5,900 9,600 22,042
Meridian (7,068) (5,900) (17,100) (22,042)
Sudden 6,348 20,260
Valley (10,320) (43,205)
•
3,480 1,904
Van Wyck (3,480) (1,904)
24,690 11,222 2,130
Wiser Lake (24,690) (12,374) (2,130)
(2)Modifications to building sizes and uses in Rural Communities
(a) Within a Rural Community designation, the Zoning Administrator may
permit a use other than shown in 20.80.100(1) and/or building sizes greater
than shown in 20.80.100(1) if there is documentation that a use of the same
type existed in 1990, or a larger building size or combined floor area existed
Page 84 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
for a use of the similar type in that area in 1990, provided the proposed
floor area does not exceed the documented floor area.
(b) Within a Rural Community designation, development or redevelopment
with a per-building floor area or combined floor area of all buildings greater
than allowed per 20.80.100(1), or development or redevelopment of a use
other than shown in 20.80.100(1), may be permitted if approved through an
administrative approval process per WCC 20.84.235. The administrative
approval is subject to a finding that the development or redevelopment is
consistent with the character of the area on July 1, 1990 considering the
parameters listed below, though the development or redevelopment need not
meet every one of those parameters.
(1) Building size, referring to the floor area of the largest building,
(2) Scale, referring to the combined floor area of all buildings,
(3) Use, referring to whether the proposed use is included in the type of
use existing on July 1, 1990 in the area, or
(4) Intensity, referring to potential adverse impacts on surrounding
properties that did not exist on July 1, 1990.
(3) Within areas designated in the Comprehensive Plan as Rural Business, which
are Limited Areas of More Intensive Development as described in RCW
36.70A.070(5)(d)(iii), new nonresidential uses are subject to a maximum
building size of 5,000 square feet, except in the Birch Bay-Lynden/I-5 area
where new nonresidential uses are subject to a maximum building size of
12,000 square feet, which is considered "small-scale" relative to existing uses in
that area. For nonresidential uses that existed on July 1, 2012, building size
expansion to no greater than 8,000 square feet is permitted, except in the Birch
Bay-Lynden/I-5 area, where building size no greater than 20,000 square feet is
permitted.
(4) Within a Rural Business designation, a larger building size for new
nonresidential development is permitted if a conditional use permit is granted
per WCC 20.84.200. A conditional use permit for a larger building size shall be
subject to a finding that:
(a) The larger building size will not cause the need for additional public
facilities to be provided in the area,
(b) The proposal is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan policies regarding
the Rural Business designation, and
(c) The proposed small-scale business conforms to the rural character of the
area.
20.82 Public Utilities
Page 85 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
20.82.010 Intent.
The provisions of this chapter regulate the installation, maintenance and operation
of public utility lines, sanitary sewer, pipelines for oil and gas, railroads (but not
included switching yards or round houses), or maintenance facilities. The citizen
initiative, enacted through Ordinance 90-124, regarding power line placement,
Comprehensive Plan land use designations, Comprehensive Plan policy directives
and the specific provisions of this chapter, shall be the basis for decisions regarding
utility development. This chapter applies to all zoning districts unless stated
otherwise.
20.82.020 Permitted uses.
.021 Except as provided in WCC 20.82.030, the installation and maintenance,
including replacement, of all utility lines including pipes, cables and wires; and
associated service equipment together with associated structures such as pump
stations and equipment vaults; provided, that above-ground structures shall
conform to the size requirements of WCC 20.82.022.
20.82.030 Conditional uses.
The following uses shall require a conditional use permit or major project permit
and shall be subject to a threshold determination in accordance with the Whatcom
County SEPA Ordinance:
(3) New water lines with an inside diameter greater than eight inches except for
new water lines in conformance with a state approved water comprehensive plan
and consistent with the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan, which shall be
permitted outright so long as they are water transmission lines or are located
and installed by a public utility or municipality within urban growth areas,
LAM:iRDs, or Rural Neighborhoods.
(4) New sewer line extensions with an inside diameter of six inches or greater
and length of 150 feet or greater, except for new sewer lines located and
installed within urban growth areas or limited areas of more intensive rural
development (LAMIRDs), and in conformance with a state approved sewer
and/or water comprehensive plan and consistent with the Whatcom County
Comprehensive Plan, which shall be permitted outright. Sewer lines shall not be
extended to serve lots in rural areas unless such extensions are shown to be
necessary to protect basic public health and safety and the environment, and
when such services are financially supportable at rural densities and do not
permit urban development.
Page 86 of 87
WCC Title 20 Amendments July 24, 2012
20.97 Definitions
20.97.356 Rural Business Designation (Type III LAMIRD).
"Rural Business Designation" means an area that has been designated in the
Comprehensive plan as a limited area of more intensive rural development
(LAMIRD), which allows for the intensification of development on lots containing
isolated nonresidential uses or new development of isolated cottage industries and
isolated small-scale businesses, as defined in WA state law (RCW
36.70A.070(5)(d)(iii).
Page 87 of 87
Rural Element Ordinance July 24,2012
EXHIBIT C
Official Zoning Map and
Comprehensive Plan Map 8
Amendments
19
Axton & Guide Meridian; Smith & Guide Meridian
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File #: PLN2009-00011
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File #: PLN2009-00011
US(Of MRIATGOMGOUMFA 5 GISOATA IMPULS rut UM 5 p H0,INF Ono ro
Proposed Rezoning AONV-UFMT WRN INF 5O1tOWIM6 SIATFYFMT oY'Qt•SOOM Co(,4S`
--._- W FMa�Gu.Fymxl or mF«rf.arnayol+nWwMeMlrcFa•r.norr 03'r 20/2 'j'AF%
Existing Zoning Boundary ofIllrtoAlNamap?SI MlpatllFUlvprpaeAOrrwoov 's
WW1 torop osFr.,een.,Neh,I.aaFrmM.folopOmAtCUl
Proposed Zoning Boundary A9..dIe1C-aapp moron oiia°Iyae+L a.ellla enleb nn
,..; OnflO ra,lotoldWNIMne m/or:0v 11SPO i an v.
OnMe,kw.er t1411111 nipMp Ire.Fry••w 41 O4•FO
® Proposed Rezone Area °ssoF-,c,
Proposed Zoning - RR5A (not in parentheses) 0 330 660 1,320 1,960 2,640
Existing Zoning - (RR2) Feet June 13,2012 by gla
•
Badger & Guide Meridian
E.BOUNDARY RD.
I:
! 1. p
al i' CC1
U (: I_ VISSER RD.
Q I Z
CO
I H STREET RD.
H STREET �l
ix, f 1 ��
°�. I p
ce
. a! ± 7. p
I f I di PRAIRIE RD. ° °;
BARNHARTRD. �� ,l I '
Q Uad
Ip i I ; PANGBORN RD.
z
oi °1
Rural Neighborhood E I '
E(Rural) ° i i of
I !` N:1 {
i !I 1 co. I
f
W. BADGER RD.
., _ ....._,
I 'BADGER RD.
1
1
o ,. r
W
°
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i I.
>i °
.4 iii-,,, m COOMIS TRAIL RD.
tti I i
N ( i •`
File #: PLN2012-00012 o01HF 0RAN 7,0
YA[af IATCON OO6NT7 SOIS DATA INPII[>7NC UlfP.T ePtG6M C07 s`
ASOFfWFNI11011 TNF FOIION'I.O SUIFNFMI 5l.e zote 4),LS r
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Change I„,..c,.., w,.any,,„,,,,a,nu„1,d,b1;m,wan.ntl 0
I!Oran.l ally op Nom P•Na1u Isom,Olaf arm n
Mpired.xk nplgRm[11r voinslr 1 NAA1 C1.zm1101ne or Iv •
,. Proposed Rural Neighborhood f-. r ,m v,i.lm.oraunnlda,la&oldNmonkmos
M!rrer1r11:s s111smnrs all rapwallllll kr 1,u d.511..a
SAW 101NA Is Sold Conk IYImIeC!rem AM p1H.11r1 n
_a Existing Comprehensive Plan Boundary ■,mAr..N1.1r!kWh*Mg l,sn NW tso Mt11ar.
•Rural Residential Density Overlay G'ISservt
Proposed Comprehensive Plan designation-Rural Neighborhood (not in parentheses) 0 330660 1,320 1.9002.64O
Existing Comprehensive Plan designation - (Rural)
March 2,2012 by 910
Cain Lake
a 10'•i rini
44-0,...".. 4....wall
04 •*I 11 4. ity
Ilip 4 * 1115
APO 411/1 i aw
iii
C CC.11111 IIIIj�Qi 1 j1� ,
1 . am*1111t14 N�I�j.I
a:
II lib�> ot, �` �0' .fit ,
. sr.
i mil. Al
AI ►.tee ♦.� �ail.. ..i ..f 1 itiii
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A�,♦:i
Cain Lake 4 4, ::
lira,.„,:vd„.. . • •
IA
rill
1 Nom
f•ims0:404 tt:itelarall
rip 4,
■• ■1 � Al f�
norfiv"v 4, 4 is... As
• ri r 411114, 4114* •• z• a
I.Ih 6S1M 4 1111 1/ini l 11,A, ***,V* r :. i
122 N EP 1�
ME atil Ark 41/ mai •II
111 1
■I� IA ••a ' �I.i
4• •'R�,� a =� ■
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•�iI�V O @� C Q .1�p \ ■ •
.� fat `
fret �r,3f n ■ . ■ —
IS W,�M:II i nr I ft:. d Ex •AI wri
Oil ■ L��� ►�i iii •• I-. •
■I: x awns ;; 11►�:
■ ■ ♦: gaining'',�'�' •
■ • ��i* 1111M1s111111t A.U f
■ �: ?y:s r .rrpx- R5A Im
•
■■ ►girl(e. //,■ _' (R2A) ■•
mr/1/4" ',.SW„II,ii
vii:' ■
■. .: •• ■
R5A r!iii.•:. �%�� •
(R2A) ■%///%.;•;
Chuckanut
\------,_____)"_______ wil _,
o i , i ! ., 1 IL1 s ill p`� 1 4'L el: e 1 11®[I] ° n U 0
•
�,\\.r��
1
t�— 1
■=u 1 MEI
' 1
-,,-
121°V r - - -
1 ■ C o` 1
t I,n ot ❑
∎tkZ -1
1 ii p • 1 [mm
sl ��1 _.
0 a sh[vii[
lbs. 1 1 ®1
1 1 [ if
Irk 1 =
it .7771 Mil Rural Neighborhood !NI-
-
` (Rural) 1
1
ii y 1
e or
milk '
-'i 4/4 11ti7 ..' 1
• ,‘t4 ,` 1
lPF4. Orli 1
, fie � 1
FAT Vk
i‘414.7
to
File #: PLN2012-00012
A6PFE-MENE1N11N ENE P01lOWA6=MAN BEEPS Qpp cGGM RMCO�rys,
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Land Use Changes � P �y
o 't' ZO1Z T s
rrt.unh!I 1,,vdr+sas 4.11111olm i1Nra fln,'-r,e 0 1� tAS
of Mnen,1 lnE�q tor. nwarmly E s ms4v aXFrrnPrtun -
apliq.MrnrrMm�llCnn 's nME Wnumh.p ll..mr
Existing Comprehensive Plan Boundary A,y;i.,;,;,1)13MV,g,n° ;'M yforonMisal nu -
▪ u sowee.1.Wu um IC m Cody!Annan lust sm.enw..r N
.1 4..11 Iqs.Er 41Pli1 mnrp 4an 1,1,14 011.4 aso
a Rural Neighborhood
ocs semoe
O 330 660 1320 1,980 2,640
Feet
Proposed CP Designation - RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD(not in parentheses)
Existing CP Designation - (RURAL) March 2,2012bygId
Chuckanut
�`• voiles liar annum `.
limmT
1 CEO . . lit
„ , .
' !\\_\ I, Ti._ jar' 1 1 _____
• �,I1� iI
, Tat _all% I
1a�• i MO
c
WI 0 lrI i. o
Ills: ),rid Is
al NI
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Ili MI I 11\ri =O• o- l
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,704•Ietelim,..nall: 1
ir
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t 4% Nt*,10 ililePO gill 4- 1
• ,, ,aqi. d 1 711._*. A.
"It ::117/ ... -f414,14111}-::11Prilill:
• �� VIP,r• /1111 i
• •\`I` , i . . . . . . . .Ill . 1
iI�, ' i
1111`i� 'IA
•
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4r*.j i•. �,,"' RR5A
�O/t1 •' (RR5A1
File #: PLN2012-00012
Proposed Rezoning 0ono€ .,1,TOril 1S000UQ 1 00791(9004 IMOU6nl3 PQ�\C,MFoR4,„hs
Wr,elr_m rasa.Wccrpa7 e�•erm+r or A.ro,w,olitry x..mnry or'e'SPt ZO/Z Ghr�r
elroMn d lms mnmr soy f.drwhr mna.rilbcr norm Of 41,4. AFs
Ir.O:i•.Ho nc nne2len orr..rtuer rc mode cc.areln0 mo ats -
ExistingZoningBoundary ea,`W`Nliie.0 ire emoWIrra�ce:ianryia`sst:aenni,aoa
77� harhouono.la blO WNlcan PEA/1Orerlueran xK naiad an
ILLLdProposedRezoneArea H oo t,Ixo.aeaoa�rvurpnrrieamwaortagmoo n`
%Sery trf"
•Rural Residential Density Overlay 0 330 660 1,320 1,960 2,640
Proposed Zoning - RR5A (not in parentheses)
Feet
Existing Zoning - (RR2) February 29,2012 by gld
East Lynden
I I Rural Neighborhood
J (Rural)
► "
Oggg, i Rural Neighborhood
s
-1 (Rural)
i
I
i N,
I .
_ _
i 1 Mil
r y .
Ell .
Lynden
f
I
File #: PLN2012-00012 ,,rcrNFOFIMg„O
I15CLL WNh1V1Y LWrIFY'S GSeifA IMPLIES rXl113[a; egicom OOV-S�
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Change ICFFFNFiRWOHINCF010W4eSfh lIF1 v 3� z0/z %��;
weelee•emery Fmblwr,my>+mrr err or ermenleh ary Pr l a,r g
_ a mnen r IAa raspier,.cnh:ar Flamm ha abater er
orm Proposed Rural Neighborhood at1 m .1°01'mr ayelSea.unedrn,larrer
- eLmoat-emarMaeurr eo el AIeeWlNiea ar e.
f+ P Mb/ser rays no,maul ea ramenrlMYry lar au aerer.end I N
Mna eyes la A:le!ffl Caddy M.. 'Irem re,agel�ur
Ffnr?PP:km:v teQrhf nyMa lmvr i�Y WI PI lHe VI
Existing CP Designation Boundary szrvr
Proposed Comprehensive Plan designation-Rural Neighborhood 0 165 330 660 990 1.320
Existing Comprehensive Plan designation-(Rural) Feet
March 2,2012 by gad
Eliza Island
I
iit
Irk
MN 1
1 111
110,
At
411111 %
RURAL - #41/01,
`
(RURAL COMMUNITY)
lor 4,46„„,,
iii.,
� II ,�_
Alik lilt WidIN IV 1
111010 .. ..
- NI -IIIIIIIFW
4,'
File #: PLN2012-00012
USE Of Proposed Comprehensive Plan Land Use Changes 46S Far MTN INFFM OWNli3Arfmf so rhf JSEp'S 03',,IOMR CopHS`
Wlalace,Cooan emralnc airy.untfar screw/May sari ion °ye'Z'P 2012 G4')/'�,
01 Thai 11141 leap laf Manta,.mamas.Iflur aaaw sr i
InrlaE III'eFinaa;anm sr vMVO II marls pootaminp no aaa.,
icy,armory.so spIsIonoss o,W.Ilty TO Olds Onions/walls maa -
As/:nr sr IIa sap mason all msppafWUtt form?areal,ant
worst mappwn Is Is rlW:aaom Loom?Laren Iran ane ap rlm NY N
Existing Comprehensive Plan Boundary I a00 l,pn11 11411t44mw
0/S Serve
0 165 330 660 990 1,320
Feet
Proposed CP Designation - RURAL BUSINESS (not in parentheses) January 23,2012 by gld
Existing CP Designation - (TRANS CORRIDOR)
Emerald Lake
- H Imo ' r I _
ii ,Liirilli.
Pdliui IN
Ir. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _ _ _ - - - - -
��� ;. %�� X11',
r ,:li-'e. a-��I�.�1-���� ,`��`,,�� RURAL_ I.'.
P∎ f� Oit��,���� i ot��`,� • (RURAL COMMUNITY)„ ,,,.. „,„, ,0.: _ , ... 1
ll
qr.
gi==i1 ii\
E i1111 _____,
__
AZ II
garin; NM .2 agglha 1•1 IIII 1111111
\/IM i VC�11►�m:I liii all
No r NIP ►..AIiuiui•1►'
wirs:I J�Y 1►va ”"r•b►r — —
.��inn mow=1111!:n tii 4.11 1�
j•��� ,••- ■m
,_,,,,,,,. a move mar __
A': : i" _
. �IIi _ I Q �I■ . mum=— - =� –
0��o1,nay
I II ----
, �_= - play] L L_ 1 1 .
File #: PLN2012-00012
IMO"ANn I L OM=oars GIS DMA MOVES'HE IMP'S JIFJPN..;�
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Land Use Changes ASPIFMENT WITH Tilt FOLI OW M 6 STtTEMEIR QN`CQM O,Hy
Wr wi Lucy,a30a,nn nt,ci n uenrrunn r t
y any nl @.r.�..+n o.f?�P 2010 aA
el Rama 11.rgma,i nn 7Mirr asratoinf 4 an.allorr i
Imgo•-X.ncr.Mw6c.n.<mrtr.MdmIceminriavan
`._`._1-� Ay,rnr ell t In atmn oIII.2lydI.,tYl,“Inin Mu van In
L Proposed Type I Rural Community .ucar..Ho.*nHra,era of nlma , z v
1..t.Menlo MLL'u I.MM WWIrnan Cnga nny Vra nlM1m.lM nuE+e+n
_�_.__ dar..Er.MS O7Il.pinh M'VgI!.n Try.M n1 1E4 r116 a r
Existing Comprehensive Plan Boundary • I--'°E�E,o,1.E"ye
0 335 670 1,340 2,010 2,680
Proposed CP Designation - RURAL BUSINESS (not in parentheses) [Feet
Existing CP Designation - (TRANS CORRIDOR) January 23.2012 by gltl
Emerald Lake
___--ii
,d III .
• '
..`��r ,�� ~II% ,-� ' nr1►1„1 �
�T � t
i■
11411.%00. :AP...., IIP **--'--. --#4,;,'''
A.,. t 0
% i„r„
mi
.. . ,,.•.a .'-1.1.0.,,1,
•
p.-...i ■ 1 tp♦ ♦ �� ,... RRSA
\ 'I=1s♦,t f.•I�� 1 `��` '> .i' •0sii••„ ••i (RR2)
1' Avall ,i 10.„0,:-... g -
1 1
.i,„ HL
... 741...,mg Mr II 1
IPIE 1
iii�i��•IRI _____ -- —
11� .. •� p/.•1►� ;1
mu NIP Al 1 ��I\'
1. i�■afti! 111�ti■MI • 1'
II • lingIMM II
g /111ora 1 - -
2 mid
it � � -- i 1' ! --- --_ -A\-----:______.______
all --
rmait•t is
_- nnnnnnn I 11 l
File #: PLN2012-00012
UDC IF WNATEOM GCUNIT'S GIS DATA WILES*LE USLN'i V�GOrAp C.��Hfs
Proposed Zoning AGa.I PANT DION THE FOLLOWING STATEME•<T ,LLS OG
:. Existing Zoning Boundary drawn No u/ �,.Wads101ol,I,�a.,aNllra...
a,4a 2O/2 'LL.
arl.d.NnNrIN rorAMrriffM∎11..d.rAMrrng a
Iwo ow Ilrnpwm9orM+anrarKwMr olLled lnOTnramr
ANLw of to/a r.IMm.aln aualllo nercao Ea Eml{Id an !,D•ol
Airy-,ar e;Irlr bar/%P lver.r. N Wolfe Irlon WVOLIAE y
Proposed Zoning Boundary I7,«r,a 1,11yVE+MIN WMkytbylop OrlfA.r,
07,110.lou,n uaplllh VV.'nom r•x tM alPM aro
M Proposed Rezone Area
41-$&W”
Proposed Zoning - R5A (not in parentheses) 0 ass 670 1,340 2,010 z,eseet
Existing Zoning - (NC) January 23,2012 bygld
Fort Bellingham / Marietta
i _______
•
iliii
soli: '
•
IIL
risi AIN
SAN 1r X11 11
'=ii;■i a 1101100=na
1�■' m; . !Lilt ■.
INIA
•�:� '' Mill" RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD _
-------7/ 4,••.111-, • I Allrillli. (RURAL)
• 16i3
,,,,,
,, -____ ......_
\\_.,■■i-i RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD ....IN.
7�
•
•v.. i- .........,.1 i III (RURAL COMMUNITY) ,II N.bw
_&__
_ _!'iii Ti_ _ ':'
1 / I % ���1.��1111111111 �`',
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•
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File #: PLN2012-00012 d ,OFUFNgOG }
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Land Use Changes a9 ftmIM7YIIrilgilfJlI0iYL16II0 MMFYi IX[JIICas "9.10°M p`a y
wa�± Wiz yr�F.
M...CCVOrr OW von any to away x exnN°ecinf/(rrrrn.1
eI Inut el NNe m4 Iv an mutt.wine atlYr ore.,e.
. ._ I Proposed Rural Neighborhood ay v.v m cmv"lonvor'"F""`sa tole a oeMs `°'
ey.nor*I uneieruan,$Ir edaw tole IIrca sm
Aeygoy,efl I,m1amnae" Q 7nMnlylarcm r4 igilm0 .Y
hnbx a0nte II haltl NTaknn Covnly hx°lab wm ea gylatl aay
Tr Existing Comprehensive Plan Boundary tlemlu rou.xUVIT.0 vnr,mWeUMNW.eae
4)s serv;ce
0 330 660 1,320 1,980 2,640
Feet
Proposed CP Designation - RURAL COMMUNITY (not in parentheses)
June 19 2012 by yid
Existing CP Designation - (SUBURBAN ENCLAVE)
Fort Bellingham / Marietta
• ■
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File #: PLN2012-00012 ,U ala 08mge,
UK algal 18E FOLLOWING NU fi CS INr US(F' Go-y0'COM COG'
Proposed Zoning Changes ;�..$Z. zoo T,
weampn Coca,aae.lan art cenray or aanrua,aalq a.a:nn7 3
cl Oln...18,1,me/be any pan loam panic.ell er oaall n
Imp:lp.MI nR,a.blknnnmnll.......8.8.118....,
Existing Zoning Boundary a..Cane n.Nn1Y neaa or oath of atla daaleld on l01;moo -
liEllt
9 9 ry Amgur0..c mapaaen.a mrepa.aminp far men,rael,oeO N
®Proposed Rezone Area Iwta.Ie lea..!cola Make.co-aoq Lnaletl lls mae a.ix ado
1>I,.ro.CIMOM Wv lst,,l�pn ten Uw.flak Ma
%Servlcoa
•Rural Residential Density Overlay 0 330 660 1,320 1,980 2,640
Proposed Zoning - RR5A (not in parentheses) D Feet
Existing Zoning - (RR2) Feb nary e,2012 by gld
H inotes Corner
1 _ „ Rural Neighborhood
1
i 1 (Rural)
,-:
[
: : • - , r
, , .1
_ 7
,
,
/
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/
111W "I
III 7: Rural Neighborhood --: 111111111112 In
.•.:
AMINE,
(Rural)
, ■
, IN
I -
J ■ -, i 4
-7 ,'■ .1..
Z ;,;'•
.":_!, -;=?S_541:41,:,.':'_;;;.-•---;',,'MF- t, :",-,;,-,A.-Vi',. . .-- -a,'W",15--•:- f::_-• "i-,Fr•-'1''.._,, • , !,, f 111
, r r
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or •
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fill MPI
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ill
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ailimi mil ;
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VIII MI ..
EN MVP 1
N. 1 1110
Al 1111110
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File #: PLN2012-00012
USE 01*NAT COM mum s AIS 11,1A MIMS chi'dbE A A
AGAVE 411/0 WITH 114 FOLOWIIIG OA I L,4 E 0 glig;;G 0 M CO,N,
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Land Use Changes
allhIcan Gov aly tVitIONII scry.cnArty of avehhalcoaltv h Ihre,cry cee ZO a ts.:-.,‘,4
Op fl af Ihs mu/Iv any p Mho th'wpm ON/amass•IT
avabhd,ga ncroarrallAn•■yaw-v.1y ii hada humming 14.am r
acv conch.tbalohlechav a,Auddc al aria violated OP Ihh ow
AM the V MN nap magma III robaaatahly farm Mahar,sad .
11.19.Ipreax la hold%Wuhan,COY*h.I ralot Irtun MI add Ad.1
Proposed Rural Neighborhood or.110 I .1,cl/stilly/alba,bon any vi4 AI Oh sap N
Existing Comprehensive Plan Boundary
3/4 senile"'
0 330 660 1,320 1,980 2,640
Proposed CP Designation - RURAL BUSINESS (not in parentheses) Feet
Existing CP Designation - (TRANS CORRIDOR) March 2.2012 by gld
Lake Samish
a!I► N
4
i !H aN_.�cr ,..,..*
0 Jl:l-
�a
ii l
• 1-1\ —
I/I` j`
,,L,,._,,,,, --z- -, -- kers ii.,::,..,,,, ' 'IL
__ 16 11 �Illllfllll1 ' ` '
I
III A \ 1 1` k
I.
----- ------ ,� \ N--
c. N , 1\\`,y,--i - -.
t_ 11til
'A ;� ` \ Rurai
,F A' a.
2 (Rural Community)
0
o . m.
uadv/ , ...
- ! ' \\
'— i y'% .=1` ,�� '.
Rural Community l . 14.1%. _a, ,�,, 00'-_ -
(RuraQ ' N-'-�1 l
1� ,�, _ ,_ —f,
1 11 W/ /M1_ ,i:
File #: PLN2009-00011 P�yc,„, RM4 i.,
UUD .1A!GONGOUMRSGnOhTA1NWJ.5UHFU!(NS ?. �Ca CO, 3.
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Land Use Changes AGNGp4FNyW❑u,NGiGtt0vANGG,�GNfM Uo��' zoiz 4',..,.%;
WMtrsr.:.olj pltllNni.rr�amoY al nrwt1.UUt rr ++Gory
nmmnnntI maamrGayamiaNrGmme.INtrrarmsv
'- Irapnna No.hp.Hrtalci id r4.1y b oh.mnarn Ghi as..r
' Proposed Rural Community(Type I LAMIRD) q umnp,mnl Mmm 411..tdkaprpltlgannh wa;
xe..Fi., 0.nv AGh.la w wulnan rood.vs.=
rvx V wm And.ni,n an
anvvy�w,,rlhyinnL�vvl�vvG-rn>lanKaw
Existing Comprehensive Plan Boundary
c>s Sem '
0 460 920 1,840 2,760 3,880
Proposed CP Designation - RURAL BUSINESS (not in parentheses) Feet
Existing CP Designation - (TRANS CORRIDOR) March 2,2012 bygld
Lake Samish
[ ]
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ii.Wool--• • • • • • •1 • • • • N • a • NE • li ..1■111' ::0,_. W:1\-.IT
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• 4_ % • II V
it me b a_.1., `• Tgr N .:.;, ..►.w.--,mukAll.• _•
• • ,..
R5A
(R2A)
File #: PLN2012-00012 �1G 6HFOR4Iq T�
USE VefiAiCOM COUNTY S VI DATA IMOUES THE JS(P'5 4.4-9,cCONI COG',,.
AOlLF4fp3 VRN 1Hf f0El01Np6 NIA'EY6p1 UO`,'P zwe t,'-,
Proposed Zoning Changes
11'M1Otnn Wey elorlYons
n8rfl anamyi1 rureleWOU p6a Vera me
0101nen V INp moo IN m1 I*11,3 entice.e4e/9e,ellber ealren V
I rf65.4o Hpowei1on el)+3431610 move 41.4I4Plte lac,
Icy.WTI neI.unnMOeen el Palle 21 tlaIa 010101 N en 101•1
1146 aMr er111I.10 sump all r1�u3,1Ilt6 to,e0 m Vael,Ml
Rau open to m!9 YINMaon Coyly unmet:4vra am,n.0.64r
Wale ION gr11a111IN V,I.Il r•en MOP lr WI*MI
a Existing Zoning Boundary
///, Proposed Rezone Area 0 330 660 1.320 1.980 2,640 �3 Scn1C�
Feet
February 29,2012 by gid
•
Lake Whatcom
'•`' � ^ -I -'EN - > I
..011`11low IP } 14
.�€1_ RD.
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I
'1111 _I Y I �■ �I - �i III f I
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m: =® 811[ ffilml 111 '; sto. �� rf I
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31: !I dU IU•�I. ..1 IN ,r_.1 ._■. . .
-- �rl III P -I� -.rig.
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���=i° � AI11'11\�I/ice oo R5A . :,
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■ I &drill •d��01 CVO - 6
. . . . . . . . . .r. . R5A ��//:....• °==�+
II III . _.s.
111111111 I ® See Map Sudden Valley
111fil11111 I i, t R5A
t (R2A)
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File #: PLN2012-00012 FOFA,
LIM AAN fFVFttI U1 IMF FOLLOWING AIEYf MI(9F IIS[NS QPQ�SCOM c.O0h y
Proposed Rezoning o� p zorz `,,,,,-,k
,N.a:mw ia•;u,a,ebng F.,were.,olne.a4a MI'nF esear.nr ,,
al teem it Res rim burn Wiled.Mime OW msrw
licol Existing Zoning Boundary r,.berm,mwgblmm arguer,a gm MUM an.Orb wn
® any r...ell es Id se*F.airnpo Name tor eta arm spews
*NI.Farmm la.NNFFelFePe mrwnml eta mei,mary N'
Proposed Rezone Area mnase la,el es&Ilb nerree o-oe mesa NOW ma
°Fs sa,vl,
Proposed Zoning - RRSA (not in parentheses) o 0.125 0.25 0.5 0.75
Existing Zoning - (RR2) Miles
•Rural Residential Density Overlay June 13,2012 by girl
North Bellingham
J
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PARADISE RD. If ,...-
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IL. �1�1�1�
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1110111111 ME Ine
�W.'AXTON RD. ; ■ ;�I_■,"� O
,.O 2 1 1' �— _ __—..� _ I W.AXTON RD. rl
I 4 Ill 3 I . ' Mil ::
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iinit1�110P dill NiSlimlli
m.s.w
-al.16.11 I _____,
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\AL jr �p•o■■11 „ M °��
'" Ferndale RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD _ °ire
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��. ■ (RURAL COMMUNITY) J= a
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all P z• \-5‘,.;11•1 114
UN 1— \‘‘\k...0 •ITI , : \ _
m° `\�\ny■ .4.9,i4-.;71;.:1-,)-A_ RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD _, __
D.I \‘5w .vZ (RURAL) -
,'; _ !! HI I r =■ _ 1 1 11 1 1
File #: PLN2012-00012
uct Or wNAIGOM mom s.s OATS WPM Ott IISES S �T GOER C, r
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Land Use Changes ASPEMIIt WOO P1EPoU-OWI\pSTArEWErl ee °L"s
o�3a ma ry%,m
-_
cu m...1 in{S,, hpa„pa•culog MMM.eJK,npws.aTnnq s
,` el Proposed Rural Neighborhood Inlm3 pnb toomosam parowbl pt sasp.totompp aa.r
,,--, i.P:ne.a nvawardca n nrrwrn n+o.mraml.mnm,.
&.mr OILarplIYrnn at ooaldv al data'&shied oo LLh carp
.:. Ast:pr✓hla nlp attars[all rnppaNAlat IV 04 Ohm!,Alp .W
Existing Comprehensive Plan Boundary !lather...,,,,�,::, II,;'S,a. n„'";;0 uma;�"'"'^
C1S Serilef'
0 330 660 1,320 1,980 2,640
Proposed CP Designation - RURAL BUSINESS (not in parentheses) Feel
Existing CP Designation - (TRANS CORRIDOR) June 13,2012 by gla
North W Bellingham
..
6:7%'60.//►► 11■
� • � ate' /:.1.01.00 �,iiii/��,�. , ■ ■ ■■
— into Jug "mop
_ _
PARADISE RD. • • :�/% ' I, ♦�i/ly:�I!ri■ •
I `JARA
—' 4„..„,,,,..: . W.LAUREL RD.
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W.AXTON RD. ■ /�/�ul///,%i�/ii.� / j•
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C 111 r i/,,/.% A/.%%/r�iil�%�1'��i'//I�/ i W.AXTON RD.
as ■ ����,�•r%►r, gar i�,ti ►y; r1 ■ ■E.
vilio:0144444 ,4441,40grore�' ►.iri/,E%%' ���Iyqf4: :•
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Ferndale %O,`.� ,%,,,r„ .
��r RR2A r
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. _ F� (RR3) �I1 sip // :/: %ulr.•./r. 41err'/,.•4'or • ■
OS %/I/r ■ .1, 102.+9% rr 9%4//.,icr n
I . \\ - _ \1�%/n ,/,/ ,.....,/ W.SMITH RD. I •
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File #: PLN2012-00012 ,,,\4,HroHa1AT0
UAL Or a6PEr w Wr.e il�u,fa G INC rA'AMES ML Una 5 oppYP cOM CO .
Proposed Rezoning �03� zoM rte F;
W e nWm,mann,ano A only CI Anrnonetiy o.Ann n4
CI Anna N IMI.Ty fo,un menial Em.N.o.OW Lore..Y
meant No nynW.Wllen n warn./1.An.wnwElwp4.atayl- -.
An Ewr.PCn=enema:or W.Ia.WCalaly,',X .114AaP.
AEA Existing Zoning Boundary .n....aLnAaP,uwn.a.n.wcwuwunW...nn.n,>nN v
noon.041,9 Uri
ntWLI.A CCUra,YarA1.O b.A aM MalaA..S
®Proposed Rezone Area ...wy.Iyp,el nayil h n„p Lyn ar.y..M G4 PM
CY's serve
•Rural Residential Density Overlay 0 330 660 1,320 1,980 2,640
Proposed Zoning - RR5A (not in parentheses) Feet
Existing Zoning - (RR2) February e,2012 by gib
Pole & Guide Meridian
cc!
ol mo,1
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t Q
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LI..II
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,W. POLE RD. I IPI_ 1 W.,POLE RD_ _I I HH L I I 11 �, /EJPOLERD.
J ■ III Wit 411. .,_._u- 144 4). : ,•
•111_�� — See Map Hinotes Corner
-MI ii EE 21 ' •
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: .
a1
di r of — -- J _
Si
o f : _ _
BEARD RD.
3
04__ �'
or
I
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Rural Neighborhood
W.KING TUT RD. I W. KING TUTRD I (Rural)
• II �I� '.__ 111,� lei .., , �_ • —
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wl.,
CI Wi
3 1 o
of
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File #: PLN2012-00012 ,O INF ORMq,./
Qc cOM Col..
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Land Use Changes use o1WrIA1601rcW alrsGlsoaAlRRhsnrtUSERS Co zoiz°�r�s�
AaPFEMFNi YIRN DIE IOLtOWIMG STAIFNF41 FO..? 6,
ueala:n Limy OIIIII1rat aes earranY cr stall oloORIp a ee-rI pry
triteness et Ma nue hr apt Wrath 1'eNp,.Rlpr crinU er
;4911.0.Ma nprtsa5>•Iln n.anagl II enit pOKamlt9 At now
r1,pr:an,comemmaa or win ol 4na duelled mills e 0
l =-ti'.proposed_ruraLres_ouerlay Ms ror orllk eap avmps allrayeeWide bl ace Mnml,awl Ai
-_ MEr mem to kohl Where,"Lppg1 Umiak tram pN sryalotl la1
kw Olmala. u u HAIlllp el Who heel+m us el Ws moo
/�, ��pp
~`S veNAGe-
0 330 660 1,320 1,980 2,640
Proposed CP Designation - RURAL BUSINESS (not in parentheses) Feet
Existing CP Designation - (TRANS CORRIDOR) March 2.2012 by gld
South Bay
o
1l
,
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P °I
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4
ss
4
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43 1______
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sk'400
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File #: PLN2012-00012
Afi ffZIW Tfil i9LLeWIM6eLIR f O'"E""' PQ„,co.R°„.
Proposed Rezoning ' °°`,
Wem�smccuwravn 47.7:;11 7;71'eu:ryo.,`" vo�V 20/2 y-`5-p
mm.euminnramenlierp anful! MA./XYINAUer ;
IDIE Existing Zoning Boundary le�u "n:anulftnen'cwi rdinnecr ndon Of .'
>n:en MI 4e men amens ell IeyuPaN9 II!Len Melee.el
IOW ei1eetelwl0 WNkCm Corny'wee=lnm eel mane erl N
® Proposed Rezone Area 0emg9 W919rna9mry er{ep r,qm pr v.,Wle4 oq9
•Rural Residential Density Overlay Rsservce
Proposed Zoning - R2A (not in parentheses) 0 330 660 1.320 1,980 2,640 Feet
Existing Zoning - (R5A) June 12.2012 by gld
Van Wyck
li
1
s
1
VANWYCK RD. - .._ -�:_ _ - _,- =i_ —
RURAL
(RURAL COMMUNITY) • =N= =
- -- off!
SZS
♦
♦
r
•
s'
f
File #: PLN2009-00011
UST 0,W4ATCOM Corms Ris ROTA IMFUES RIF UFF"'S GGIF010u4r,
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Land Use Changes
"�`°y`"fWll"1lIF'°"GWI"pSTA1FMF" GpPeP�coM Roo",`•
I e..Cooly R'dAdros rnn,ri al nnae�raurtl a+000,1 �0 ' 20/2 yrj,�i
v nnpennLln Fn.mMr erpreee or
100,1e4 No 0.03.447300n u.0uae 1e•d1 ec.wmco m.a04;
act,mown.¢or0R3oeu or paally M dale dnlord eo Yl.ouo.
Existing Comprehensive Plan Boundary AS our at MR IDdauom. norpoullo"l for lbrgl,aid
1w010 oproee le Uhl 0110100/11 Curly L7M4ee Ire m am maul ur JV
Proposed Rural Community(Type I LAMIRD) die. °" "1ir'G�r„®,ryypppOp pp
ois sarvlo
0 85 170 340 510 880
Proposed CP Designation - RURAL BUSINESS (not in parentheses) Feet
Existing CP Designation - (TRANS CORRIDOR) January 23,2012 bygld
Van Wyck
, _
•
R5A •
(NC) •
•
.,/ 110 _—\ -
_ ___________ ____ts '47. .
• I
I
•
File #: PLN2009-00011
MAC 0,ASIIF WI AWRIT 11�Irt FOIL ells DATA IMPLIES Olt LSE,'1 paa;1MFpMq 4„ti
Proposed Zoning too 000
wra,xm Come aaam,neer smraYl of SenaWeortl o.+anl es 4o.*�P 20/2 4r�,s�,
Existing Zoning Boundary of Wes w or Om m II hr ens pre WM man.rdscr Maeas ar ;
Ismeml.go nuwsntles el'venues le male wnamina as uo
Acr.[arrer..se modfaneas or04111 olaa deelud aerylA mar.
m,A rel ine memsumac n,eegaaYaJ Ar lar wo*mud..
Proposed Zoning Boundary hoax men I0 Said WNUars Courts'Armieatlreg as tt!!b(Lr N
;.....>:.._.: eamaae lava auaplup a•IS!r]no.1,
rua of leu meo
MProposed Rezone Area G;sseN1c.'
0 85 170 340 510 680
Proposed Zoning - R5A (not in parentheses) Feet
Existing Zoning - (NC) Janaury 23,2012
Welcome
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1 Rural Neighborhood
1 (Rural)
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File #: PLN2012-00012 Q�, ,„,0„U4,,
P 60M Co b3.
USE Or VICUNA:WW1 SCIS ORIAIMRRES'NE USEPS VQ' PS (/ L
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Change a6flEEMEN,M1111NF FOLLOW 6Sl�lfalE�1 EPO�r 2O/Z YT�1m;
WrYam toady s,arz,ors wa.n.y el nt•amen V, ,,,,,
4P.ta.n,M1Lnglear,or ankl'ol.1 Wrld and R, so
AC,.utOn rein Mena al,re Ardbala C, 5.an ram.ado
Airy.r to entm p,aauP,aallrvaa,Yr nrr!artm And $I gl N
a.Ya,r Ins r,D*WN4un[,Ylt/or v.,nr.2Tanf,ga,al l,}
--- anwv ws1+r uwwrrrwac oaa+rarv,a orm4■,o
,1 Proposed Rural Neighborhood
0 165 330 660 990 1,320
Proposed Comprehensive Plan designation - Rural Neighborhood (not in parentheses) Feet
Existing Comprehensive Plan designation- (Rural) March 2.2012 bygld
Wickersham
•
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File #: PLN2012 00012 '
USE Or W11610MCW41'4GIN barb I PLIR WE 01165 oVQ,t.QSCDM CO`ys4a,
Proposed Rezone 600106161 W101111EPo1l0YII165T0aMM' � y1 20/2 �1 Fl
1YI YLan Ewet)Ciu14 3,4E...n o.rob Wolcott/n won ME
d Mood 21144 rtao■a elr EI14LY10ur%4,.boob aorni v
Existing Zoning Boundary bid NoN,INN rRr.llaam .13:3m34.wmrra1lrau, ,
acy twenty ca,.bt,.u p Welly 31 L4 01,1.1.1 m 1111 N0.
Proposed Rezone Area e^ enlanamras,o oeyUl E1*1 00 14006 N -
Slml 16*1 k 110111;Cba Gooey .II,,!fr.4,ap111tl YI
0nap]a,bu,r la,i!,r x4n,IN'.1 aa,au,1 1,4.1�.vs
Proposed Zoning - R5A (not in parentheses) 0 165 330 660 990 1,32C G)S Serv}c#
Existing Zoning - (R2A) Feet
July 23.2012 by 960
Wiser Lake East
7 _ ,.p.l,.--'",.. FIE ��— L 1
to en:eI�/II R ��
te_u.Iunc �
2 FI
.p ,, ....„. .= _ -
, w 1 .1716
KOK RD. _ LEN11
) - 1
_ h,� i J l .' �.._. D.
' POLINDER— — -- R-
/ ■■ I 0
II'
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-- -� ( A I ABBOTT RD., _,,
_ l W_,
. .. _
t? Rural Neighborhood JAN a---t_� (Rural)-JL r_____ 11._!Per . �n 1____
DYCK RD. Iral
[� ..�::w Ei I1LII E.WISER LK.RD. ■�__l g r -iriewitimailli:II " I
I I 7-,-... , 0 III 1,0,,,i 1 11,0, loc,,,,. iiii
II
See Map Wiser Lake w
z
I ____Z
l
4 zj
i
E.BARTLETT RD.
gm 1 _ _ _
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... , _
. V �■1�.. 1 r--
File #: PLN2012-00012 Q�,GtNFORAS4r,p
USE Of MNAISOMSOUNITS GIN OVA tM�UE5:NF 9LEP'5 PP SGOM C, 4's5.
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Changes AGAEFJ,EM1rpP10f FOIL OrING51ATEMENF iV ewe oyfAZId'
realm Corny awwm,an a,,,arNY el wrcluMeounF u..u..,n o i
A fllelq r Pot m4 hr let PaliWe/ ask,Iles P,n ,
'..`'F�� dill Pir 11,ntx,.,aUNAe D rrid NlF d,w+E.axaml.i le,RIP
'' Proposed Rural Neighborhood w"'aui,m�r.+,M,dw+6nM b+a,ae e1..0,mlo sot
z ^'•. 641.1 smell•Salt memo c�CMWLn xm.1 souse in N
,FmMfa.5X4.nIkalr19f',Vag from flute elan sin
-- -- Existing Comprehensive Plan Boundary
qs Servile
Proposed Comprehensive Plan designation- Rural Neighborhood (not in parentheses) 0 330 660 1,320 1,980 2,6 Feet
Existing Comprehensive Plan designation - (Rural) June.2012 bygte