HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2014-039 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2014-288
CLEARANCES Initial Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned to:
Nat.Resources
Originator: KB Aug 29,2014 Sept 16,2014 Comm/Council
Division Head: u4 i) q- 'i`f A E C E 11 V E D
Dept.Head: 0..k_ Q f-r,f SEP 0 9 2014
Prosecutor: �j -1 K (4( WHATCOM COUNTY
Purchasing/Budget: COUNCIL
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Executive /1/i 7
TITLE OF DOCUM T:
Resolution Affirming the PDR Oversight Committee Ranking and Authorizing Whatcom County Purchase of Development
Rights Administrator and Whatcom County Executive to Proceed with the Acquisition Process for PDR Applications
ATTACHMENTS:
Memo,Resolution, Purchase of Development Rights 2014 Applicant Ranking list(Exhibit 1), and presentation slides
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( x ) NO Should Clerk schedule a hearing? ( ) Yes ( x ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( ) NO Requested Date:
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.)
As required by the WCC 3.25A-Purchase of Agricultural Development Rights Ordinance,applications submitted by landowners
interested in participating in the PDR program were reviewed for program eligibility and ranked pursuant to the PDR Guidelines
Document,Ranking Criteria,by the PDR Oversight Committee. The ranking by the PDR Oversight Committee is now being submitted
to Council. County Council needs to review the ranking as submitted by the Oversight Committee and affirm or modify that ranking list
and authorize the PDR Administrator and County Executive to proceed with the acquisition process.
COMMITTEE ACTION: COUNCIL ACTION:
9/16/2014: Motion approved to recommend approval and to 9/16/2014: Amended and approved 6-1, Crawford
get a letter from Rollin Harper, City of opposed. Res. 2014-039
Everson, on the City's intent for the industrial
property in the Everson UGA
Related County Contract#: Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number:
Res. 2014-039
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:
PROPOSED BY: Planning
INTRODUCTION DATE: September 16, 2014
RESOLUTION# 2014-039
AFFIRMING THE PDR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE RANKING AND AUTHORIZING
WHATCOM COUNTY PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS ADMINISTRATOR
AND WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO PROCEED WITH THE ACQUISITION
PROCESS FOR 2014 APPLICATIONS
WHEREAS,Whatcom County government recognizes agriculture as a major contributor to the
local economy and a high quality of life for Whatcom County citizens; and
WHEREAS,The Growth Management Act and the County Comprehensive Plan support the
retention of agricultural lands of long term commercial significance and encourage the use of
innovative techniques to do so; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance#92-002 enacted a property tax levy known as the Conservation Futures
Tax as authorized by RCW 84.34.230 to provide a funding source to assist in acquiring"open
space land, farm and agricultural land, and timber land, and a significant Conservation Futures
fund balance is available for additional farm land protection efforts ;"and
WHEREAS, Ordinance#2002-054 adopted Whatcom County Code Title 32..A that authorized
the creation of a Purchase of Development Rights (PDR)program that offers voluntary farm
agreements that include the purchase of agricultural conservation easements on farmable land
within Whatcom County, and
WHEREAS, Ordinance#2002-054 and WCC 3.25A established a Purchase of Development
Rights Oversight Committee to provide review and assistance to the PDR Administrator, and
WHEREAS, The Whatcom County Council adopted the PDR Guidelines Document through
Resolution#2002-040 which includes specific direction for program administration and
conservation easement acquisitions, and
WHEREAS,The Purchase of Development Oversight Committee met on July 25, 2014 to
develop a ranking of all applications received to date and forwarded that ranking to Council; and
WHEREAS, Council,pursuant to PDR Guidelines Document, must affirm or modify the
properties as submitted by the PDR Oversight Committee, and
WHEREAS, Council has reviewed the application ranking and background materials at a public
meeting, with input by County staff and PDR Oversight Committee members, and
WHEREAS, Council has determined the ranking in accordance with their policy priorities and
the requirements of Title 3.25A and the PDR Guidelines Document.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that:
1. The PDR Oversight Committee and Administrator proceed with the acquisition of
conservation easements in the order of the approved ranking(Exhibit 1)pursuant to the
process outlined in the PDR Guidelines Document provided that:
a. Council receives a written confirmation from the City of Everson about the portion of
the 66-acre parcel that is in the UGA and that
b. If the City of Everson is willing to incorporate the portion of the 66-acre parcel that is
in the UGA into a conservation easement, Council would like a dual appraisal of the
66-acre parcel, one with the light industrial UGA property and one without.
2. Expenditure of Conservation Futures Funds are authorized to cover expenses associated with
purchase of conservation easements, including title search and insurance, appraisal services
and Whatcom Land Trust fees.
3. The Executive is authorized to enter into Purchase and Sale Agreements,provided:
a. Appraisals are completed and conservation easements are drafted which meet the
requirements of the Whatcom County Purchase of Development Rights program, and
b. Landowners have agreed to the offer price and conservation easement conditions.
APPROVED this 16th day of September , 2014
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
ATTEST: ,N!�1 Y 1'C���<<�
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Dan J3row1}avis.Cotitlert' Carl Weimer, Chairperson
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APPROVED as to form:
Civil Deputy Prosecutor