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INTRODUCED BY: _CONSENT _
PROPOSED BY: PLANNING
DATE: OCTOBER 1, 1987
ORDINANCE N0. 87 -64
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE TEXT OF TITLE 20, THE OFFICIAL WHATCOM COUNTY
ZONING ORDINANCE, TO ALLOW CERTAIN COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS THAT DIRECTLY
PROVIDE GOODS AND SERVICES TO AGRICULTURAL OPERATORS AS CONDITIONAL USES
IN THE RURAL ZONE DISTRICT
WHEREAS, Eldon De Jong, Lynden Hay Company, has requested an amendment
to the text of Title 20, the Official Whatcom County Zoning Ordinance that
would allow certain commercial operations that directly provide goods and
services to agricultural operators as conditional uses in the Rural zone
district (WCC 20.36).
WHEREAS, the statutory requirements for SEPA review and public notice
have been satisfied, and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has conducted a public hearing upon
the application and formulated Findings of Fact and Reasons for Action and a
Motion recommending approval of the Proposed amendment as presented in the
Planning Department Staff Report, Exhibit "1 ".
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED that Title 20, the Official Whatcom
County Zoning Ordinance be amended as presented in Exhibit "1" attached hereto
and incorporated herein by reference.
PASSED this 15th day of OCTOBER
ATTES 7
Carol Ebergson, Cler of the Council
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
�
�.
tt
David Co ngham
Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Published 10/7/87 and
This Ordinance becomes effective 10/26
, 1987.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
WILLIAM P. P.O _ V L
VICE CHAIRMAN
(✓f APP�ROQVED� (1�) VETOED
Shirley Van ZAhten, CoVhty Executive
Date 10/16/87
10/21/87
1987.
, 1987.
® EXHIBIT "1"
ORDINANCE NO. 87 -64
September 2, 1.9117
File Ref: 09- £37:ZT
WHATCOM COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT
APPLICANT: Eldon De Jong, Lynden Hay Company
REQUEST: The request is to amend the text of the Official Whatcom County Zoning
Ordinance, Title 20, to conditionally permit in the Rural District, WCC 20.36,
certain commercial operations, including hay sales and storage, that directly
provide goods or services to agricultural operators. The proposed zone text
amendment is shown in Exhibit "A ".
LOCATION: The amendment would affect all areas of Whatcom County that are zoned
R, Rural.
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS: Pursuant to RCW 36.70.590, legal notice was published in
the Bellingham Herald and in Lite Westside Record - Journal on Wednesday, September
2, 1987. The Deputy SEPA Official has determined that the proposal is
categorically exempt from SEPA requirements.
REGULATORY EFFECTS OF THE REQUEST: The regulatory effect of the proposal would
be to provide a broader range of uses in the Rural zone.
ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION: The Agriculture zone district, WCC 20.40 currently
conditionally permits a similar range of uses providing goods or services to
agricultural operators as long as specific criteria are met. The purpose of the
criteria is to prevent the untimely and unnecessary conversion of agricultural
land to non - agricultural uses, consistent with the county -wide goal of preserving
agricultural land. Since the Rural zone district also lists agriculture as a
primary permitted use, the proposed conditional uses are appropriate in the Rural
zone. The proposed amendment would provide an opportunity for certain commercial
activities which are supportive of agricultural operations to locate in the Rural
zone but without such severe l.ocational criteria as specified in the Agriculture
zone. The proposed language for the Rural zone differs from that of the
Agriculture zone in that the l.ocational criteria are different and it does not
allow livestock auction facilities. Although the Rural zone, particularly the
R2A district is primarily a residential zone, the conditional use criteria along
with the locational guide provided in the text would prevent the locating of
commercial uses where they may be detrimental to surrounding properties and uses.
FINDINGS: The proposal is consistent with the goals and policies of the Whatcom
County Comprehensive Plan and helps to preserve agricultural land by providing
alternative locations for commercial activities that might otherwise be forced to
locate on agricultural property.
RECOMMENDATIONS: The Planning Department recommends adoption of the proposed
zone text amendment as presented in Exhibit "A ".
•
EXHIBIT "A"
Title 20
WCC 20.36.150 CONDITIONAL USES
Proposed new text:
20.36.171 Commercial operations that directly pEoovide goods or services to
agricultural operators with the intent of augmenting agricultural operations,
including but not limited to hay sales and storage, sawdust sales and story e,_
farm equipment service and repair, and farm chemical applicator establishments,
provided that the prospective commercial operation is limited to directly sere'
agricultural operators; does not include the manufacture of farm related
Implements; does not include_ livestock auction facilities; and is located on a
parcel. that is surrounded by agricultural operations or is in an area that is
Predominantly used for agriculture or forestry or minim._