HomeMy WebLinkAboutord1990-011.WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO.
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or; inator- h1K /i o M 2/15/90 Council -Intro
Division Head- L=J 3/13/90 P1 anni ncgi & Devel .
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Department Head -
FEB F 0 B 1990 3/13/90 Council
Prosecutor Review-
Purchasing/Budget Mr.- WHATCOY M co COUN
Executive - COUNCIL
SUBJECT: FILE NO: 02 -90:ZT ZONING CODE -TEXT AMENDMENT ALLOWING GOLF COURSES AND RELATED
COMMERCIAL USES IN UR AND LII ZONES
ATTACHMENTS: Agency Report
Staff Report
Draft Ordinance
Public Hearing Needed? Yes / / No /X_/
SUMMARY STATEMENT: This text amendment would allow commercial recreation facilities related
to golf courses, such as driving ranges, snack bars, pro shops and restaurants, as
conditional uses in the Urban Reserve zones. It would also allow these uses plus golf courses
themselves, which are not presently allowed, as conditional uses in the Light Impact
Industrial zones.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Council adoption of ordinance.
COMMITTEE ACTION (including dates):
COUNCIL ACTION (including dates):
Passed 3/13/90 unanimously..
Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number: 0 90 -11
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FILE REF: 02 -9O:ZT INTRODUCED BY: Consent
PROPOSED BY: PLANNING
DATE: 2/8/90
ORDINANCE NO. 90 -11
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE TEXT OF THE OFFICIAL WHATCOM COUNTY ZONING
ORDINANCE, TITLE 20, TO ALLOW GOLF COURSES AND COMMERCIAL RECREATION
FACILITIES RELATED TO GOLF COURSES AS CONDITIONAL USES IN THE URBAN
RESIDENTIAL AND LIGHT IMPACT INDUSTRIAL ZONE
WHEREAS, Parsavers, Inc. has applied for a text amendment to Title 20 to allow
commercial recreation facilities related to golf courses as conditional uses in the
Urban Residential zones where golf courses are already allowed as conditional uses,
and to allow golf courses and commercial recreation facilities related to golf courses
in the Light Impact Industrial zone; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to RCW 36.70.590 and Council directive legal notice was
published in the Westside Record Journal and the Lynden Tribune on January 3, 1990;
and in the Bellingham Herald on January 6, 1990; and
WHEREAS, a determination of Non Significance was issued by the Deputy SEPA
Official on December 27, 1989; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on this matter on January
16, 1990; and
WHEREAS, the Planning staff made a favorable recommendation with a minor
modification to state the uses in the plural; and
WHEREAS, after accepting public testimony and due deliberation the Planning
Commission recommended approval of the text change with minor modification; and
WHEREAS, the Council held a public meeting on March 13, 1990, to consider the
Planning Commission recommendation.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL:
1. Title 20 is hereby amended as follows:
Modif
Chapter 20.20.150 CONDITIONAL USES (Urban Residential District) by adding:
.156 Golf courses and commercial recreation facilities related to golf courses.
Chapter 20.66.150 CONDITIONAL USES (Light Impact Industrial District) by adding:
.156 Golf courses and commercial recreation facilities related to golf courses.
2. The Council finds the public health, safety and general welfare are promoted by
the above change.
3. The Council adopts the following findings and conclusions developed by the staff
and the Planning Commission:
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FILE REF: 02 -90:ZT
Page 2
FINDINGS
A. Golf courses are presently allowed in Urban Residential zones, but not in
Light Impact Industrial zones.
B. The Urban Residential zone text by only addressing golf courses creates
an element of uncertainty on whether ancillary commercial uses are allowed.
C. Golf courses and related commercial uses can convey both benefits and
impacts on the surrounding residential community.
D. Commercial uses related to golf courses will generally create both fewer
benefits and fewer impacts than a golf course itself with the possible
exception of traffic.
E. The normal conditional use process and criteria will provide the necessary
framework to make proper decisions as to the appropriateness of a specific
project in relation to its surroundings.
F. The intended purpose of the Light Impact Industrial zone is to preserve
land for industrial uses and their support services.
G. Golf courses and related commercial recreation facilities are low intensity
uses with low capital investments, thereby not permanently committing light
industrial property to non - industrial uses.
H. Whatcom County has ample land available for industrial development, but
most of it lacks utilities inhibiting full development.
CONCLUSIONS
A. Adding commercial uses related to golf courses as conditional uses in the
Urban Residential zone will clarify ambiguous regulations in the Code and
create opportunities for beneficial uses in residential areas.
B. The conditional use process and criteria are sufficient for judging whether
a project should be approved at all and would prevent negative impacts to
surrounding properties.
C. Allowing golf courses and related commercial facilities in the Light Impact
Industrial zone provides an excellent interim use that can readily be
displaced by higher and better uses when land values rise because of
utility service or other reasons. If a commercial recreational facility
remains viable under these circumstances it can be legitimately considered
a support service to light industrial uses.
D. Unlike residential uses, commercial recreation uses do not inhibit logical
industrial development around them. Unlike commercial uses they do not
have the high value per square foot that would preclude future industrial
development.
E. The zone text change if approved should be stated in the plural to provide
better clarity as to intent.
39 11 F. The proposed change is in the public interest.