HomeMy WebLinkAboutord1990-003WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 000007
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WHATCOM COUNTY
COUNCIL
12/21/89
INTRO
1/2/90
P &D
1/4/90
Council
SUBJECT.•
Ordinance imposing a moratorium on processing conditional use permit applications for
off - premise advertising signs pending study of appropriate official controls.
ATTACHMENTS:
- Ordinance
Public Hearing Needed? Yes No
SUMMARY STATEMENT.•
RECOMMENDED ACTION.•
Recommend adoption.
COMMITTEE ACTION (including dates):
1 -2 -90 PH: Recommended passage.
COUNCIL ACTION (including dates):
1 -4 -90: Adopted.
Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number. n9n -,i
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FILE REF: Billbord.ord INTRODUCED BY: Consent _
PROPOSED BY: PLANNING
DATE: December 21, 1989
ORDINANCE NO. 090 -3
AN ORDINANCE IMPOSING A MORATORIUM ON PROCESSING CONDITIONAL
USE PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR OFF PREMISE ADVERTISING SIGNS
PENDING STUDY OF APPROPRIATE OFFICIAL CONTROLS
WHEREAS, Whatcom County Code Section 20.80.510 conditionally permits off - premise
advertising signs under some circumstances; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County is presently experiencing unprecedented interest by the
public in development and has recently received eight applications for billboards,
creating an exigent circumstance; and
WHEREAS, billboards may block off or otherwise spoil significant views in some
areas and also may by proliferation become unattractive, obtrusive, oppressive and
dangerous even in areas with no special distinction; and
WHEREAS, the proliferation of billboards may be accompanied by violations of
other laws, such as lighting restrictions in zoning controls, division of land
restrictions for purposes of lease in the subdivision regulations, clear vision
requirements relating to traffic safety; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County had expressed its resolution to study the official
controls necessary to the regulation of billboards in the changing future presented
by the present economy of Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, the public health, safety and welfare would be best protected and
preserved by such controls and the threat of present demand necessitates pause in
processing of conditional use permits for off -site advertising billboards, and a four
month moratorium is necessary to implement meaningful land use controls;
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council previously passed an emergency Ordinance No.
89 -94 on November 2, 1989, imposing a temporary moratorium because of the emergency
nature of this issue; and
WHEREAS, the Planning staff and Planning Commission will need a minimum of three
and one -half months to review the issues, work with the sign industry and develop and
hold public hearings on recommendations; and
WHEREAS, a threshold determination resulting in a Determination of
Nonsignificance has been or will be completed prior to Council action;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council:
1. That off site advertising signs shall not be regarded as permitted or
conditionally permitted uses and the further acceptance of applications for the
same shall be stayed until April 30, 1990, or until new regulations are in place,
which ever comes first, pending a study of the impacts of such use and necessary
official controls.
2. That the public health, safety and general welfare would be promoted by this
moratorium.
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FILE REF: Bi l lbord. .-d
Page 2
PASSED this 4th day of January , 1990.
WHATCOM COUNTY - COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY /,<AS lIN
ATTEST:
Clerk of the Council
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Dave Cotti gh m
Civil Depu Prosecuting Attorney
17of6ld G. Ha #tty, Xhairperson 4
(✓f APPROVED ( ) VETOED
Shirley Van hanten, ffunty Executive
Date I - 5 — Vic'