HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning February 14 20121
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
February 14, 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 (3:02:23 PM)
Present: Ken Mann, Bill Knutzen and Barbara Brenner.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Pete Kremen, Kathy Kershner, Carl Weimer and Sam Crawford.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. RESOLUTION INITIATING WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND
ZONING AMENDMENTS FOR 2012 (AB2012 -089)
Matt Aamot, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report
and submitted and read from a presentation.
(3:17:46 PM)
The following people answered questions:
• Roxanne Michaels, Planning and Development Services Department
• Jack Louws, County Executive
• Samya Lutz, Planning and Development Services Department
Brenner stated she should be listed as an applicant on the specified fittings item,
PLN2012- 00006, and the slaughterhouse item, PLN2012- 00008. Move forward on the Birch
Bay Action Plan, item PLN2011- 00012. She asked and there was discussion of:
• The Lummi Island mineral resource land (MRL) application, item PLN2011-
00009.
• Reviewing a Comprehensive Plan amendment on all potential transfer of
development rights (TDR) sending and receiving areas instead of doing the
Fazon Lake request.
Item PLN2012 -00001
Crawford asked and there was discussion of whether this item is related to a past
kennel request that went through the Hearing Examiner, who required a sound analysis and
sound monitoring. He does not want this item docketed.
Kershner asked and there was discussion of whether the applicant proposed a
reasonable solution of where to locate a commercial kennel. She will not support docketing
this item.
Planning and Development Committee, 2/14/2012, Page 1
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Item PLN2012 -00002
Crawford asked and there was discussion of having a future presentation and
discussion of an overall Comprehensive Plan update process.
Item PLN2012 -00003
Crawford asked and there was discussion of whether they already rolled back the
square footage as part of the Comprehensive Plan.
Item PLN2012 -00004
No comments.
Item PLN2012 -00005
No comments.
Item PLN2012 -00006
(3:35:28 PM)
Mann stated and there was discussion of:
• The effect of the Smith Road and Guide Meridian Road area on this item.
• Whether they can address this through the Rural Element.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of whether it's a type I limited area of
more intense rural development (LAMIRD), which was already valuated based on the 1990
environment.
Kershner asked and there was discussion of whether including the parcel will lead the
County to another Growth Management Hearings Board challenge.
Item PLN2012 -00007
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of offsite wetlands mitigation and habitat
restoration in the agricultural strategic plan.
Item PLN2012 -00008
No comments.
Item PLN2012 -00009
(3:44:18 PM)
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of the reclamation possibilities for this mine.
Lesa Starkenburg - Kroontje, applicant representative, answered questions and
submitted a handout (on file).
Planning and Development Committee, 2/14/2012, Page 2
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Item PLN2012 -00010
No comments.
Item PLN2012 -00011
No comments.
Item PLN2012 -00012
No comments.
Item PLN2011 -00009
Kershner asked and there was discussion of:
• Whether the Council could recommend this as a low priority, and whether this
has to roll over to next year.
• Whether the owners are still working on their issues.
Item PLN2011 -00012
No comments.
Item PLN2011 -00015
No comments.
Item PLN2011 -00019
Crawford asked and there was discussion of why the owner wants the property to be
a TDR sending area.
James Chorlton, property owner, stated the land was traditionally a dairy farm and
potato farm. It's been adversely impacted by surrounding development, which all drain
onto the land. It's also been adversely impacted by a gravel pit to the north. Lake Fazon
has no outlet. The reason for the request is because there is no option for actually building
all the development rights attached to the property.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of whether a comprehensive look at all TDR
sending areas would be initiated by the County.
Crawford stated he won't support docketing this item. He stated and there was
discussion that the TDR program doesn't work, because there are no designated receiving
areas.
Knutzen stated he will support docketing this item with the hope that a workable
TDR program will be developed. He suggested some solutions to the property owner.
Item PLN2011 -00026
This item was not discussed.
Item PLN2008 -00001
Planning and Development Committee, 2/14/2012, Page 3
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Crawford asked and there was discussion of getting cooperation from the State
Department of Ecology.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of whether the staff recommends that the
Council docket this item.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of how much staff time can be devoted to
the docket.
Kremen stated the Planning Department should proceed with the existing
prioritization as shown in the memo in the Council packet.
Mann asked and there was discussion of why the Council is talking about docketing
items that are required to be docketed.
Kershner stated she asks councilmembers to come to the Council meeting with
motions already prepared.
Aamot described the difference between initiating Comprehensive Plan items and
initiating zoning map items. Ask legal counsel if the Council can "uninitiated" something for
which a fee was already paid.
Brenner moved to forward to the full Council without a recommendation.
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 4:18 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, 2/14/2012, Page 4