HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning July 12 20111
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
July 12, 2011
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 (3:00:35 PM)
Present: Ken Mann, Bill Knutzen and Barbara Brenner.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Carl Weimer, Tony Larson, Kathy Kershner and Sam Crawford.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION OF THE 2011 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN FOR THE
PERIODIC REVIEW REQUIRED BY THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT (RCW
36.70A) - AB2011 -230
year.
2011.
Gary Davis, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of changes that have occurred in the last
Mann asked and there was discussion of the timing for approving a 2011 plan mid-
Brenner asked and there was discussion of:
• Planning Commission and staff changes.
• The specificity of the new statutory requirement S -10 regarding the Ferndale
urban growth area (UGA).
Brenner moved to amend S -10 on Council packet page 101 to become item R -7,
"Ferndale UGA (PLN2011- 00017) — Amend the Ferndale Urban Growth Area boundary and
make changes to the capital facilities plan
and C)i=deF (ApFil 11, " She withdrew her motion.
Brenner moved to amend section 2.4, the first bullet item on Council packet page
103, "Posting a draft proposal on the County website and, if urban growth areas are being
modified, sending it to cities, en-d any citizen planning groups for non -City UGA's, and
anyone requesting notification at least 30 days prior to the public hearing."
Crawford asked and there was discussion of the context of section 2.4 and the
settlement process.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Planning and Development Committee, 7/12/2011, Page 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
Nays: None (0)
Mann moved to recommend approval as amended to the Council's Committee of
the Whole.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 20.14, WIND ENERGY
SYSTEMS - AB2011 -223 (3:23:22 PM)
Wain Harrison, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report
and described proposed changes to the existing ordinance. He showed a presentation of
maps.
The following person answered questions:
• Gary Honcoop, Planning Commissioner
Brenner asked and there was discussion of:
• Why wind energy systems are not allowed in heavy impact industrial (HII)
zones, as referenced in section 20.14.053(2).
• Starting cautiously and focusing on smaller generators.
Larson asked and there was discussion of setbacks becoming a de facto prohibition
against wind energy systems (WES).
Weimer asked and there was discussion of:
• Planning Commission analysis for recommending setbacks.
• The reality of having a WES in commercial forestry zones.
Mann asked and there was discussion of:
• The purpose of setbacks.
• Establishing performance standards rather than blanket setback
requirements.
• Whether there are credible medical concerns with low decibel (dB) noise.
• Why they changed the small WES from 100 to 50 kilowatts (kW).
Crawford asked and there was discussion of:
• The analysis of a four - times - tower - height setback in rural zones.
• Why they would allow the use in the rural forestry zone.
Kershner asked and there was discussion of whether the Hearing Examiner or Zoning
Administrator could make arbitrary decisions outside of the setback limits, per the language
in 20.14.052.
Brenner moved to amend the language at the bottom of Council packet page 121,
"1. A reduction in setbacks may be approved... against the applicable deed(s), or 0
She withdrew her motion.
Planning and Development Committee, 7/12/2011, Page 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
Mann moved to hold in committee for two weeks. He asked and there was
discussion of:
• Establishing performance standards instead of setbacks to make WES
acceptable to the community.
• Enforcement.
The motion to hold in committee carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER ITEMS
There were no other items.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:42 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, 7/12/2011, Page 3