HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1992-016WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 92 -062
- 'x,EARANCES
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Office:
Agenda date
Assigned to:
Originator. Executive/Beacon Grp
2/3
2/4/92
Council - addendum
Division Head:
Dept. Head.
Prosecutor.
Purchasing/Budget:
Executive:
SUBJECT.
Beacon Group of Companies: Proposed movie studio development near Blaine
ATTACIMENTS:
- Resolution exempting the project from normal land use schedule
- Council's policy of processing of land use matters (1990 resolution)
SU DIMRY STATEMENT: Please complete sections of box as appropriate & explain the item below.
Related Coart "contiact c NA:.:
Should'Clerk sched5le a-hearin ? 'NO aoi YES" "' 'R uested date:
, :Aniount.bu ed for <this.itea ect: $ aN A.
Ls, itP ar wilt: -it -be within bud t2 YES~ ,lease,s ainbelow �..
Budget line item number(s): ,
"'ie Beacon Group of Companies proposed to build a movie studio development near Blaine, which would
.;quire a rezone. The deadline for filing a rezone request with the County is December 31; the Beacon Group
would like that deadline waived in the interest of promoting economic development and job creation in the.
County. The Beacon Group will need to. pursue the rezone through the normal Planning Commission process,
which includes public hearings. Representatives of the Beacon Group of Companies include .Grant Allan,
president; Gins Doolittle, executive vice president; and John Erickson, project manager. Beacon group is based
in Vancouver, B.C. and can be contacted at the following: Fax 206 - 371 -5423; phone 206 - 371 -5474 or at the
Vancouver office, 604- 641 -1323.
ORIGINATORS RECOAMENDED ACTION:
2/4: The Executive and Planning Director Dan Taylor asked that the Council consider approving of the
exemption to the regular land use process, by passage of a resolution presented at the meeting.
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN
2/4/92: Resolution passed unanimously.
Related File Numbers : Office or Resokttion Number (this item only) -
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FILE REF: STUDIO.RES [c: , ,6k] cam
INTRODUI BY. C o n s e n t
PROPOSED BY: PLANNING
DATE. February 4, 1992
RESOLUTION NO. 92 -016
A RESOLUTION EXEMPTING A FILM STUDIO PLANNED COMMUNITY FROM THE NORMAL
LAND USE ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, the Beacon Group is proposing a film studio planned community in Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, one of the desirable sites for the community would require a comprehensive plan map and
zoning map amendment and /or a zoning text change; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 90 -58 established a land use activities schedule which is to be adhered to except
for emergencies; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council finds the Beacon Group's request to be of an emergency nature.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL:
1. ._.The. Beacon. Group. request(s) for an amendment to the comprehensive plan map, the Official Whatcom
:County_,Zb Bing Map.:and /pn•.a:zoning text :change7be -exempted1rom the Normal iand.use activity- schedul ;and be
,,,-,expedited, by the staff and-the Planning Commissiorrto-- the - extent reasbhably possible: :,,: '
2. The Council declares the request to be an emergency and makes the following findings:
a. The, Beacon Group is proposing a film studio planned community which would be an asset to
Whatcom County.
b. The. Beacon Group has worked with the County and the City of Blaine for the past 16 months on
this proposal.
C. The original site which was contemplated for annexation to Blaine had to be eliminated because
of wetlands problems.
d. The present site is also under consideration for annexation to Blaine, but because of its location
and the difficulties in working out service agreements between the City of Blaine and the Birch Bay
Sewer and Water District, the annexation may not come to fruition.
e. Timing has become critical to the investors in the project and the property sale must be closed
in June of this year.
f. Without taking a position on the merits of necessary land use changes which would accommodate
the project, Council does recognize the economic benefits that may accrue to the community if
the project could be appropriately permitted. These benefits include:
* A film studio is generally considered to be recession - proof.
* The proposal will provide up to 375 high paying, direct jobs.
Film studios are considered to provide a multiplier of three outside dollars in the
community for each dollar directly associated with the studio.
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REF: STUDIO.RES [c: kf1 k6k] cam
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* It is estimated that construction of the film studio planned community would result in
$18,000,000 to $25,000,000 in taxable retail sales for the construction, provide over
$1,500,000 in property tax revenues, and provide an additional direct income of $400,000
to $600,000 annually to the region.
g. The Council concludes that the findings above do constitute a sufficient emergency that this
project should be allowed to proceed forward in an expedited manner to be judged on its merits
through the normal planning process.
PASSED this 4th day of February 1992- .
ATTEST:
dw=a�
Clerk of the Council
APPROVED AS TO FORM
Robert Carmichael
Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA WASHI GTON
a�e �'!/< o—
Daniel Warner, Chairperson