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Home My WebLink Aboutord1999-031WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 99 -215 r CLEARANCES Initial Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assi ned to: Originator. Elizabeth Olsen �' `� 5121199 uuu " E � V E JUN 08 1999 `A/ n{� y1yHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL 6115199 Introduction Division Head: Sylvia Goodwin .�� // �N/M /29/99 P & D Council Dept. Head. Michael Knapp �% "` ZV Prosecutor David Grant �w_ Op �"'q PurchasingB udget. Executive: Peter Kremen _y SUBJECT. File Reference: ZON99- OOOIZT: An Ordinance to amend the text of Title 20, the Official Whatcom County Code, Chapter 20.42 to allow meeting facilities for natural resource -based educational purposes; related uses will include rental cabins or other lodging structures, cooking and dining facilities, retail sales of meeting supplies and gifts as a conditional use, in the Foothills Subarea, South Fork Valley Subarea, the Newhalem Exclave and the Baker Lake Exclave. ATTACHMENTS. Agency Report Proposed Ordinance, Excerpt from Draft Planning Commission Minutes, May 13,1999 Should Clerk schedule a hearing ? ( ) Yes ( ) NO Requested Date. "')MMARYSTATEMENT. This ordinance, in response to a request by Whatcom County Council, expands the conditional uses allowed in the Rural Forestry zone district to allow meeting facilities for natural resource -based educational purposes; related uses will include rental cabins or other lodging structures, cooking and dining facilities, retail sales of meeting supplies and gifts as a conditional use, in the Foothills Subarea, South Fork Valley Subarea, the Newhalem Exclave and the Baker Lake Exclave. The Director of Planning and Development Services recommends Council adopt the proposed ordinance. Distribution Indicate those who should receive List specific names to the right. Request a copy after Council action. ADS Facilities Management ADS Finance ADS Human Resources ADS Info Services Assessor Auditor Cooperative Extension District Court Executive Health Hearing Examiner Jail COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN. 1999-215 6/15/99: Introduced 6/29/99: Adopted 5 -0, Imhof, Nelson absent Ord. #99 -031 - .elarea uounry contract #F: Juvenile Parks Planning Michael Kna Prosecutor Public Works Sheriff Superior Court Treasurer Other Related File Numbers: ZON99- OOOIZT Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item): V1�V • 5-1 vwr . SPONSORED BY: Planning PROPOSED BY: Planning INTRODUCTION DATE: 6/15/99 ORDINANCE NO. 99 -031 AMENDING THE OFFICIAL WHATCOM COUNTY CODE, TITLE 20, CHAPTER 20.42, TO ALLOW MEETING FACILITIES FOR NATURAL RESOURCE -BASED EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES; AND RELATED USES INCLUDING RENTAL CABINS OR OTHER LODGING STRUCTURES, COOKING AND DINING FACILITIES, RETAIL SALES OF MEETING SUPPLIES AND GIFTS AS A CONDITIONAL USE, IN THE FOOTHILLS SUBAREA, SOUTH FORK VALLEY SUBAREA, THE NEWHALEM EXCLAVE AND THE BAKER LAKE EXCLAVE WHEREAS, The request is a text amendment to Title 20 of the Official Whatcom County Zoning Code, Section 20.42.155; and WHEREAS, pursuant to RCW 36.70.590 legal notice was published in the Bellingham Herald on Thursday, April 29, 1999; and WHEREAS, the Deputy SEPA Official issued a Determination of Nonsignifcance on May 6, 1999; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed amendment on May 13,1999, considered all testimony, and recommended approval of the text amendment; and WHEREAS, the Council held a public meeting on June 29, 1999 to consider this matter and approved the Planning Commission recommendation; and WHEREAS, the Council found the amendments in the best interest of the public health, safety, and welfare; and WHEREAS, the Council has adopted the following Findings and Conclusions: FINDINGS 1. The Whatcom- County Council has determined that expeditious reviews of amendments to Title 20 are necessary to support the economic well -being of the County. 2. There is a provision in allowed conditional uses in the rural forestry zone which allows bed and breakfast and camping facilities but not rental cabins. 3. Forestry education centers provide a valuable contribution to rural economies. I: \PLANNING \REZONE \99 -0001 ZTemORD.doc Page 1 4. The economies of the Foothills Subarea, South Fork Valley Subarea, the Newhalem Exclave and the Baker Lake Exclave have been depressed due to a reduction in timber harvest. 5. Several current grant offerings depend on expansion of a forestry education center. 6. The 20 percent lot coverage maximum in the Rural Forestry zone will prevent conversion of parcels to non forestry uses and in addition requirement that development be on no more than 50% of the lot will discourage inappropriate conversion of productive forest land to incompatible non - forest uses, as set forth in Policy 8E -7 of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan. 7. At the regular meeting on May 13, 1999 the Planning Commission voted to approve the proposed zoning text amendment. 8. Conditional use criteria in 20.42.902 will ensure compatibility with the surrounding environment and addresses traffic impacts. 9. Section 20.80.212 of the Whatcom County Code, Supplemental Requirements, provides for written Endings for approved adequate levels of services of development for subdivision, commercial or conditional uses. 10. Educational facilities with associated uses will not create impacts greater than those which would occur under 20.42.154 including traffic, water, sewer /septic, viewsheds etc. 11. Whatcom County envisions the development as a small scale project compatible with a rural setting. CONCLUSIONS That the proposed text amendment in the Rural Forestry District will create economic growth in the foothills regions of Whatcom County and enhance understanding of forestry, natural resources and wildlife through education. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that: Section 1. The Official Whatcom County Zoning Ordinance, Title 20, is hereby amended as shown in Exhibit 1. Section 2. 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. I: \PLANNING \REZONE \99 -0001 ZTemORD.doc Page 2 ADOPTED this 29 day of .Tune _,1999. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON �` .�� _, A APPROVED as. to form David ant, Civil Deputy Prosecutor I: \PLANNING \REZONE \99 -0001 ZTemORD.doc Tnt-&�� Marlene Dawson, Council Chair (N Ap d ( ) Denied Kremen, Executive Page 3 Date: 7 -,:?-f� EXHIBIT "1" The proposed RURAL FORESTRY DISTRICT text amendment is: 20.42.155 The operation of facilities intended to provide education related to forestry, natural resources and wildlife and the purpose of this district, including but not limited to demonstration forests and conservation laboratories, educational meeting facilities and related uses including rental cabins or other lodging structures, cooking and dining facilities, retail sales of meeting supplies and gifts in the Foothills Subarea, South Fork Valley, the Newhalem Exclave and the Baker Lake Exclave provided the following standards are met: (1) Density shall not exceed one sleeping unit per one gross acre or a maximum of 50 beds for the entire development. (2) Each cabin shall have a maximum of three sleeping units. (3) Must be located with vehicular access fronting on paved County road or private road improved to County standards. (4) Front yard setback shall be 75 feet, with 100 feet side and rear yard setbacks to adjacent properties. (5) Lot coverage for all facilities, including the rental cabins, shall not exceed20 %. clustered on no more than 50% of the property.