HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1990-057WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL
NO. 90 -280
SUBJECT: REZONE NOTIFICATION: A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING POLICY FOR NOTIFICATION OF
PROPOSED REZONE ACTIONS
ATTACHMENTS: Memo from Dan Taylor
Draft Resolution
Public Hearing Needed? Yes / / No /XX/
SUMMARY STATEMENT: Public notice has been a continuing concern. The Planning Department
has developed administrative policies regarding mailing of notices for rezones which should
be reviewed by Council. The Planning Commission additionally desires posting of notices on
the sites.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Planning Commission and staff recommendation is for adoption of the
proposed resolution.
COMMITTEE ACTION (including dates):
COUNCIL ACTION (including dates):
8 -7 -90 .Approved unanimously
Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number: R90 -57
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SPONSORED BY.• Consent
PROPOSED BY.- PLANNING
INTRODUCTION DATE: 8/7/90
RESOLUTION NO. 90 -57 J
A RESOLUTION. ESTABLISHING POLICY FOR NOTIFICATION
OF PROPOSED REZONE ACTIONS
WHEREAS, notification for land use applications is a serious concern to citizens of Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, increased development activity has increased the pressure for rezones and comprehensive plan
changes in all parts of the county; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Department has had an administrative policy to require notice within 300' of the
boundaries of each property; and
WHEREAS, citizens still express concern at the public hearings that there is not adequate notice; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has recommended that notification be improved by posting of notice
at each site.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council:
For rezones and comprehensive plan amendments, it shall be Council policy that notification be provided to
surrounding property owners and other interested citizens by:
1. Mailing notice of all public hearings for rezones or comprehensive plan amendments to all property owners
within 300' from the boundaries of the subject parcel based on the Assessor's records. As part of the
application, the applicant shall supply a complete list of all such property owners and supply the County
with stamped addressed envelopes for each one.
2. Requiring the applicant to post an 18" x 24" sign in a conspicuous location on each of the property's road
frontages no less than 12 days prior to the hearing including the following information:
a. Notice of request for rezone; change "from" (current designation) "to" (proposed designation); and
b. List of intended use and potential uses of the new zone; and
C. Public hearing place and date; and
d. Inclusion of Planning Department address and phone number for further information.
PASSED this 7th day of August 1990.
WHATCOM fsMTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM CPWY, WfiXHINGTON
ATTEST:
Clerk of the Council
DonalVG. Xanslky, Chairperson
APPROVEDIAS TO FORM:
Robert A. Carmichael
Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
WHATCOM COUNTY
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
401 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, Washington 98225
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
Don Hansey, Council Chair
Council Members
2061398 -1310 / 676 -6756
Fax., 676 -7727 / Scan: 7696756
Dan Taylor, Director Land Use & Economic Planning
July 31, 1990
Planning Commission Recommendation Regarding Public Notification
Notification has been an issue that keeps coming up. A few years ago, in fact,
the Planning and Development Committee directed Building and Codes, Planning, and
the Hearing Examiner to develop some policies regarding specific project or
rezone notification. It-has been acknowledged in the. past that notification to
each property owner for subarea planning was prohibitive in cost and not
appropriate. I am not sure what happened to the request. I think we all became
too busy and it was lost. Meanwhile, the Planning Department has historically
been notifying property owners within 300 feet in addition to the legal notice
in the newspaper. About one year ago, I added to this informal policy by
requiring the applicant not only to provide us with the Assessor's list of
property owners, but also with stamped, addressed envelopes as part of the
application.
The Planning Commission now would like us to post the sites. This came up
several months ago and we did not pursue it. The Commission at their regular
meeting in July brought the issue up again and we discussed specifics in
preparation for a recommendation to Council.
At the July 17 meeting, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended to
Council that all rezones be posted. The Commission suggested the following:
* The applicant should be required to post a sign(s) on the subject property
containing the following information:
1. Notice of request for rezone; change "from" (current designation)
"to" (proposed designation); and
2. List of intended use and potential uses of the new zone; and
3. Public hearing place and date; and
4. Inclusion of Planning Department address and phone number for
further information.
• The sign size should be 18" x 24"
• A sign should be posted on each of the property's road frontages
The attached resolution formalizes the mailing procedure by official Council
policy as well as incorporating the Planning Commission suggestion.
cc: Planning Commission
1 \n ot1ce.mem \07 -31 -90