HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning August 5 20141
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
August 5, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Member Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner and Rud Browne
Absent: Ken Mann
Also Present: Pete Kremen
Brenner moved to appoint Rud Browne as acting Chair for this meeting.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner and Browne (2)
Nays: Mann (1)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. BRIEFING FROM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF ON
RECENT AMENDMENTS TO STATE LAW THAT PROVIDE COUNTIES WITH THE
AUTHORITY TO MERGE OPEN SPACE TIMBER PROGRAMS INTO FOREST LAND
PROGRAMS (AB2014 -281)
Erin Osborn, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report
and stated there are recent amendments to the State open space timber land program and
forest land program. She explained the two programs, their amendments, and the
possibility of merging the programs. If the merger took place, the owners of lands classified
as timber land would not be able to opt out without paying back taxes. Instead, it would
just terminate the timber land designation and they would transition directly into the forest
land designation. Their assessed value won't change. With the new program, designated
forest land has ten years of compensating tax at time of removal or withdrawal, without
interest. Now, the current open space timber designation requires interest on the seven
years' back taxes. It's a better deal for property owners to pay for ten years' back taxes
without interest than seven years' taxes with interest.
Janice Judge, Assessor's Office, stated the forest land removal is not calculated back
ten years. It's the current market value less the current timber assessed value times ten
years at the current tax rate. An appraiser would have to look at the property and
comparable properties to determine market value at the time of removal.
Brenner asked and there was discussion about whether there are calculations that
can tell them in the future which is the better deal. Judge stated there aren't.
deal.
Brenner stated make sure people know that it's not known which would be the better
Planning and Development Committee, 8/5/2014, Page 1
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Browne asked if the land is valued with or without the timber. Judge stated the
value is without the timber.
Brenner stated she would like to know if the current assessment includes the value
of timber.
Browne asked the prescribed rate of interest. Judge stated the rate of interest is one
percent per month on the open space timber removal. It compounds.
Kremen stated the pros will outweigh the cons. That's why the State legislature
passed the amendments.
Browne asked for an example of the cost for taking a parcel out of designated forest
land versus timber land based on the new rules. Judge stated she can provide that
information.
Brenner asked and there was discussion about whether staffing requirements in the
Planning Department would decrease. Osborn stated applications have been low in recent
years. It would shift work away from the Planning Department staff. The work would be
done in one central location.
Browne asked if this can impact possible construction on commercial forest land.
Judge stated the minimum number of acres have to be growing timber for commercial
harvest.
Brenner asked if the County can still require a timber plan. Judge stated the
Assessor can.
Brenner asked the effect on taxes, bonds, and levies if the County doesn't merge the
program. Judge stated the designated forest value calculates into the timber assessed
value, which also calculates into the excess levy. There would be some impact. It's still
assessed the same value for regular property taxes. It wouldn't affect a regular tax levy in
any way. The State uses a formula for timber assessed value for each county. That
calculates into excess levies.
Browne asked what is an excess levy. Judge stated those are voted levies, such as
school bonds or fire district bonds. They're outside the regular property tax limit.
Osborn read from the State of Washington fiscal notes summary regarding merging
the programs, which may result in a loss of revenue from foregone open space timberland
program application fees. This revenue is likely to be compensated for through expenditure
savings. Combining the programs would increase timber assessed values for calculating
rates for excess levies and bonds, minimally reducing levy rates for other taxpayers.
Browne stated this analysis indicates revenue losses from this change are expected
to be negligible.
Brenner stated she doesn't understand the difference. The assessment is the same,
whether the land is designated open space timber or forest land. Judge stated there is a
complicated State formula to calculate a composite timber rate. They only use designated
forestry land. That rate is applied to private and public harvestable acreage. It goes into
Planning and Development Committee, 8/5/2014, Page 2
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the levy calculation for excess levies. That's not done for the open space timber
designation.
Browne asked the zoning for commercial forest land. Osborn stated rural forestry
allows one dwelling unit per 20 acres. Commercial forestry may allow a caretaker's unit.
Browne asked if the amendments change dwelling unit density. Osborn stated it
does not. A question is whether the Assessor's Office is willing to take on the merger.
Judge stated they are. They are communicating with landowners to make sure there
are timber management plans. If they need to review timber management plans, there
isn't a planner in the Assessor's Office.
Brenner stated having a timber plan allows people to know what the rules are. She
would like to know if the Council can add a stipulation in the ordinance that timber plans are
required.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:41 p.m.
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Rud Browne, Acting Committee Chair
Planning and Development Committee, 8/5/2014, Page 3