HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2002-048WHATCOM COUNTYCOUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2002 - 63 B
CLEARANCES Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned 'I'a
Ong. Dept'. Cowry Council
7/10/2002
E C E � V E ®
JUL 10 2002
WHATCOM COUNTY
COUNCIL
9/6/2002
Introduction
Division Head
7/30
Dept. Head.
Prosecutor:
Budget
Executive:
SUBJECT:
Continuation of Moratorium on Subdivisions - Lake Samish Watershed
ATTACHMENTS
SUMMARYSTATEMENT:
Related County Contract p: Should the Clerk schedule a hewing? CM)Y Requested Dare. 9130/2002
Continuation of moratorium established with Ordinance 2002 -011 on the acceptance of new applications for subdivisions of
land into parcels smaller than five acres within the Lake Spanish Watershed. Continuation is for an additional 180 days.
RECOMMENDED MOTION (for final action):
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN
2002 -63B 7116/2002: Introduced
7/3012002'. Adopted 6 -0, Crawford absent, Ord. #2002 -048
Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only):
ORD * ZG7 - 048
SPONSORED BY: Consent
PROPOSED BY: McShane
INTRODUCTION DATE: July 16, 2002
ORDINANCE 2002 -048
CONTINUING AN INTERIM MORATORIUM ON THE ACCEPTANCE OF
NEW APPLICATIONS FOR SUBDIVISIONS OF LAND INTO PARCELS
SMALLER THAN FIVE ACRES WITHIN THE LAKE SAMISH WATERSHED
WHEREAS, there are concerns that future and current development
within the Lake Samish Watershed will degrade the quality of water that is
withdrawn from the lake for drinking water purposes; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County Code 20.71 establishes the Lake Samish
Watershed as a Water Resource Protection Overlay District; and
WHEREAS, there are approximately 1,000 new building lots that could
be created within the Lake Samish Watershed under current zoning; and
WHEREAS, an application for a comprehensive plan amendment has
been submitted to Whatcom County to change the zoning designation for
approximately 500 acres within the Lake Samish Watershed from suburban
enclave to rural; and
WHEREAS, information is needed to predict and evaluate the impacts
of full build out of the suburban enclave to the existing sewer system, road
infrastructure, schools, and storm water management; and
WHEREAS, the occurrence of potentially toxic algae blooms pose a
health risk to residences of Lake Samish that use the water as a drinking
water source and recreational users of the lake; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County is required to prepare and /or implement
a watershed action plan for the portion of the Samish Bay Watershed Action
Plan with the County jurisdiction and Lake Samish is within the Samish Bay
Watershed and is a critical portion of the watershed; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council implemented a development
moratorium within the Lake Whatcom Watershed in order to develop best
management practices for stormwater management for subdivisions, roads
and single family residences and to address impacts of both existing and
future development and Lake Samish is within a Water Resource Protection
District with the same rules as Lake Whatcom; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council finds the continuation of the
interim moratorium imposed by ordinance 2002 -011 is necessary for the
protection of public health and safety; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County SEPA Official issued a Determination
of Non - Significance on January 14, 2002; and
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WHEREAS, the Whatcom
County Council
held a public
hearing on this
issue on July 30, 2002.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County
Council that a continuation of the moratorium is hereby imposed on the
acceptance of new applications for subdivisions or short plats of land into
parcels smaller than five acres in the Lake Samish Watershed unless the
applications were complete, as provided in Whatcom County Code.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that this continuation of the moratorium
be in effect during the period that the Whatcom County Planning Commission
and Whatcom County Council consider the proposed amendment to the
Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan for changing the Suburban Enclave
designation within the Lake Samish Watershed to Rural, but in no event,
absent further extensions allowed by law, no more than 180 days from the
effective date of this ordinance.
ADOPTED this 30th day of July , 2002
ST
1
Dana D.
APPROVED as to form:
vii Deputy Prosecutor
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
L. Ward Nelson, Ch Irperson
Approved / ( ) Denied
Pete Kremen, Executive
Date:
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