HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning December 4 20121
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
December 4, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Bill Knutzen called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(3 :01:49 PM)
Present: Ken Mann, Bill Knutzen and Barbara Brenner.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Pete Kremen, Carl Weimer and Kathy Kershner.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. PRESENTATION BY WHATCOM COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES, SUMMARIZING THE DEPARTMENT'S 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENTS,
CHALLENGES, AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES (AB2012 -377)
Jack Louws, County Executive, stated he's talked with staff regularly all year about
Planning Department challenges. The Planning Department has achieved many goals. The
staff are very cooperative and desire to make their operation run better.
Sam Ryan, Planning and Development Services Department, stated councilmembers
had asked about staff involvement in meetings through Commerce. Staff attended three
meetings to see how the economic part could link to the agricultural strategic plan. It's
important for the councilmembers to trust her and her department. She introduced her
staff.
Stephanie Drake, Planning and Development Services Department, described the
tasks of the administrative support team, including reception, form and application updates,
website updates, department accounting and budget preparation, Planning Commission
minutes, records management, and public disclosure requests.
(3:10:50 PM)
Wain Harrison, Planning and Development Services Department, described customer
service improvements made in the past few years and challenges for 2013 in the Building
Services Division. Improvements include the new quick permit program, prioritized plan
review for special needs applications, an abbreviated emergency permit program, a
coordinated and streamlined permitting process for residential and commercial sized
geothermal systems. In 2013, they will update the Port of Bellingham fire safety plan,
tenant safety plan, and fuel spill response plan for the airport. The fire marshal will work
with each fire district to create capital facilities plans. They continue to participate with local
Build Green programs. They will adopt code updates in 2013. There are no fee increases
for building permits. They're raising residential project valuations, which are the square
Planning and Development Committee, 12/4/2012, Page 1
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foot values assigned to different building uses, to establish a total value. The 2012
International Residential Code (IRC) Section R313 requires automatic sprinkler systems for
residential one- and two - family dwellings. However, the legislature will receive a
recommendation to not adopt that code section.
Wayne Fitch, Planning and Development Services Department, described the
activities of the Natural Resources Division staff in the Planning Department, which includes
shoreline jurisdiction, critical areas, streams, wetlands, geo- hazards, and watersheds. Last
year's successes include a critical areas case type, cross - training of all natural resource
staff, bi- monthly staff meetings to discuss difficult projects as a team, and round table
reviews. This year they will expand the round table review program and work on a database
to make sure regulatory timeframes for shoreline permits are met. In August, the national
pollution discharge and elimination system (NPDES) phase two area will expand to include
urban growth areas in Birch Bay. The Department of Ecology also adopted a new
stormwater manual. They plan to provide more information on the website.
(3:23:24 PM)
Tyler Schroeder, Planning and Development Services Department, stated there is a
department -wide effort to uphold regulations while becoming more coordinated and
efficient. He described the projects he and his staff in the permit center are working on,
which include the Gateway Pacific Terminal State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review
and environmental impact statement (EIS), agricultural short -plats and long- plats, and the
round table reviews. There are new property owners of large properties in Birch Bay that
have talked with his staff about the best way to develop those properties. People are
looking for larger industrial facilities in the high impact industrial (HII) zone. Staff must
review and permit all the cellular towers. They are looking at technology advancements to
increase efficiency.
Mark Personious, Planning and Development Services Department, described the
upcoming work, challenges, and goals of the Long Range Planning Division, which include
comprehensive plan and zoning code amendments, the Birch Bay watershed action plan,
initiated the preliminary 2016 comprehensive plan update process, reviewed and refined the
urban growth area land capacity analysis methodology, and initiated a Department of
Ecology grant for a pilot project regarding farming in the watershed. The major challenges
moving forward include improving communication among the staff, Planning Commission,
and County Council; improving efficiency to stay on schedule, and; improve vertical
integration between the staff's policy development at the comprehensive plan level and
development regulations for the permit center staff and natural resources staff. He
described the 16 major tasks coming up in 2013.
(3:43 :44 PM)
Knutzen asked and there was discussion about coordinating mapping and geographic
information systems (GIS) efforts with the Public Works Department and replacing existing
Agricultural Advisory Committee staff support.
Brenner asked and there was discussion about whether an individual councilmember
can docket a Comprehensive Plan amendment item and the water resource inventory area
(WRIA) 1 Planning Unit.
Mann asked and there was discussion about a Comprehensive Plan amendment
regarding Specified Fittings.
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Knutzen asked and there was discussion of the department coordinating with other
departments and agencies, creating consistent regulations, and developing technology with
other departments and agencies.
Kershner asked and there was discussion of whether the Planning staff have
identified any regulations that need to be changed, beyond the code scrub.
Mann asked and there was discussion of permitting requirements for cellular towers.
Kremen asked and there was discussion of why a homeowner has to get a permit to
replace a hot water tank.
Brenner asked and there was discussion about the reason for increasing valuation
and what is a 12 percent grade.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of the quick permit system and allowing
emergency maintenance watershed permits for at -risk levees.
Mann stated and there was discussion of not requiring sprinkler systems in a single
family residence.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of whether the permit tracking system
tracks shoreline permits.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of the cost of a pre- inspection.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OFFICIAL WHATCOM COUNTY ZONING MAP IN
THE SMITH ROAD /GUIDE MERIDIAN AREA FROM RSA TO R10A AND
APPROVING AN AMENDED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (AB2012 -370)
(4:18:45 PM)
Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. REQUEST APPOINTMENT OF TWO MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO
SERVE ON THE AD HOC TITLE 20 REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AB2012-
423) (4:19 :27 PM)
Mann asked and there was discussion of when the group plans to meet.
Mark Personious, Planning and Development Services Department, answered
questions.
Kershner stated she is interested in serving on the committee. She asked and there
was discussion of assigning alternates.
Planning and Development Committee, 12/4/2012, Page 3
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Brenner moved to recommend appointment of Councilmembers Kershner and
Crawford to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:21 p.m.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council(g-.o.w hatcom .wa.us
Planning and Development Committee, 12/4/2012, Page 4