HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning January 25 20111
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
January 25, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Member Bill Knutzen called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL (3:10:27 PM)
Present: Ken Mann, Bill Knutzen and Barbara Brenner.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Carl Weimer, Sam Crawford, Tony Larson and Kathy Knutzen.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE CHAIR (AB2011 -056)
Brenner moved to elect Knutzen.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. RESOLUTION APPROVING THE WHATCOM COUNTY PEDESTRIAN AND
BICYCLE PLAN (AB2010 -381)
Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The following person spoke:
Ellen Baker, Glacier Resident, submitted and read from handouts (on file).
Discussion included adding information to the plan about mileage, distances between
points, and how many people would use the routes, and; the lack of a cost - benefit analysis
of the plan.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE TITLE 20 TO ALLOW
DRIVE THROUGH SERVICES IN THE URBAN RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE
(URMX) AND THE RESORT COMMERCIAL ZONES (RC) (AB2011 -054)
(3:17:43 PM)
Knutzen moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Planning and Development Committee, 1/25/2011, Page 1
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The following people answered questions:
• Roxanne Michael, Planning and Development Services Department
• Tyler Schroeder, Planning and Development Services Department
Discussion included reviewing the square footage limit; whether there is an
agreement with the City of Bellingham for urban growth areas; why the County is spending
time and effort on something that applies to the City of Bellingham, if the City doesn't
intend to go forward; a dispute between the City and a particular property owner; whether
the City would provide sewer and water services to the property on Trickle Creek;
discussions about this item at the Planning Commission; whether or not they are forcing
people to walk or to drive; evaluating each application on a case -by -case basis; whether
other zones prohibit drive - through services; making the service a conditional use in the
resort commercial (RC) zone; changing the allowable square footage from 2,500 to 5,000,
and; the cost of a conditional use permit.
The following people spoke:
• Gary Honcoop, Planning Commissioner, described the reasons people testified
in favor of allowing the service at the Planning Commission hearing. He
supports a larger square footage limit of 5,000 square feet.
• Jack Swanson, 900 Dupont Street, Bellingham, stated he supports a larger
square footage limit of 5,000 square feet. Businesses are failing because
they aren't allowed to do anything that will pay the bills. (3:51:27 PM) The
expenses of a conditional use permit can be astronomic. Drive - through
window services don't create traffic problems.
• Chet Dow, 5491 Woodfern Way, Bellingham, stated they need to allow
businesses in Whatcom County.
• Doug Campbell, Associated Project Consultants Owner, stated allowing the
drive - through services make sense for intersections. It requires 100,000
square feet to create pedestrian- oriented facilities. It won't happen for most
of these services. Approve these outright in the urban residential -mixed use
development (URMX) zones. He is in favor of the larger square footage limit
of 5,000 square feet.
• Butch Kvamme, citizen, stated he would like to develop the site he purchased.
He described the history of his project. Allow the larger square footage limit
of 5,000 square feet. Don't require more conditions.
• Ellen Baker, 9945 Mt. Baker Highway, Glacier, submitted a handout (on file)
and stated she supports the ordinance and allowing a larger square footage
limit of 5,000 square feet.
Discussion included the location of all the resort commercial zones; whether or not
the use should be permitted outright or allowed with a conditional use permit in urban
residential mixed use (URMX) zones and resort commercial (RC) zones; approving just a
coffee shop or an entire neighborhood center; whether there is a difference between coffee
shops and restaurants; having a conditional use permit for a drive - through on Birch Bay
Drive; considering if an administrative use permit may be more appropriate; not limiting
where businesses can go, due to the poor economy, and; having to docket any changes to
move the uses between administrative approval, conditional use, and permitted use.
Brenner moved to amend 20.24.161(3) and 20.64.053, "...'�0 5,000 square
feet...."
Planning and Development Committee, 1/25/2011, Page 2
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The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
Brenner moved to make the service a permitted use instead of a conditional use in
the URMX zone. Schroeder stated that is tied to a larger issue of a neighborhood center.
Brenner withdrew her motion.
Knutzen moved to recommend approval of the 20.24 section of the ordinance with
the one amendment to the minimum square footage.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
Knutzen moved to recommend approval of the resort commercial section of the
ordinance with the one amendment to the minimum square footage
The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: None (0)
Nays: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
OTHER BUSINESS
Kershner asked about the progress on the settlement with re- designating a portion
of Caitac to tourist commercial.
Tyler Schroeder, Planning and Development Services Department, stated staff is
having that discussion with attorneys and the proponent.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:39 p.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council&o.whatcom.wa.us
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Bill Knutzen, Committee Chair
Planning and Development Committee, 1/25/2011, Page 3