HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning July 26 20111
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
July 26, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Bill Knutzen called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL (3:02 :33 PM)
Present: Ken Mann, Bill Knutzen and Barbara Brenner.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Sam Crawford, Tony Larson and Kathy Kershner.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING A PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE OFFICIAL COUNTY
ZONING MAP TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES RELATING TO COMPLETION OF THE
10 YEAR REVIEW OF THE URBAN GROWTH AREAS REQUIRED UNDER THE
GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT (FERNDALE UGA) (AB2011 -255)
Matt Aamot, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted and read
from a presentation and submitted two minor amendments to the proposed ordinance (on
file).
The following person spoke and answered questions:
• Jori Burnett, City of Ferndale
Mann asked and there was discussion of:
• The proposed acreage of the Ferndale urban growth area (UGA).
• The public input at the County Planning Commission hearing.
Kershner stated she attended the Ferndale Planning Commission when the three
options were discussed. There was much public participation. She commended the
Ferndale and County staff for bringing forward a good document.
Mann moved to recommend introduction and approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 20.14, WIND ENERGY
SYSTEMS (AB2011 -223) (3:24:42 PM)
Wain Harrison, Planning and Development Services Department, stated he made
typo and consistency corrections. He read through section III of the staff report in the
Council packet.
Planning and Development Committee, 7/26/2011, Page 1
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The following spoke or answered questions:
• Gary Honcoop, Planning Commissioner, answered questions. He described
the regulations in Kittitas County.
• Alex Ramel, Sustainable Connections, stated he sent recommended changes
to the Council. He is in favor of regulations that make it easier for these
systems to be developed. He would like to take councilmembers on a tour of
wind systems of all sizes. He will schedule a tour in early September. He will
submit information on sound measurements from a local professor.
• Margaret Mawson stated there are adverse issues when the systems are
located too close to homes. The issue of dBC levels is important. A minimum
setback from structures is crucial.
Mann asked and there was discussion of:
• Waiting to make changes until after a tour.
• Why there is a difference in Gary Honcoop's ordinance between allowable A-
weighted decibels (dBA) and C- weighted decibels (dBC) between small and
regulated wind energy systems.
• Whether there is a health risk from a background noise decibel level of 55
d BA.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of:
• Limits and allowed versus prohibited uses in the different zones.
• Whether they will amend Whatcom County Code (WCC) sections for each
allowed zones to reference WCC 20.14.
(3:40 :04 PM)
Brenner moved to recommend approval to the full Council. She moved to amend
the table in 20.14.041 to remove the rural forestry as an allowed zone from the last two
categories in the table. She withdrew her motion. She stated and there was discussion
of:
• Regulations that allow systems to be developed if there are willing neighbors.
• The real, public health burdens on people.
• Reducing the setback to 1.2 height in certain zones and on parcels that are
large enough.
• Whether the Planning Commission cared much about allowing the use in the
rural forestry zone.
Kershner asked and there was discussion of:
• Whether any of the allowed areas are in an agricultural zone.
• Waiving setbacks in zones that don't allow residential development.
Crawford stated he agrees with eliminating the use in rural forestry, which is
supposed to be a buffer. If so, change the setback requirement for 51 to 500 kilowatt (kW)
systems in WCC section 20.14.052(1) from four to three times the total height. Also, he is
concerned about language in 20.14.090 regarding the complaint process. He asked and
there was discussion of whether the subjective language in the last paragraph is truly
workable.
Mann stated make the following changes, for the larger systems:
• Remove from rural forestry zone, and
• Reduce setbacks, and
• Require an administrative permit instead of conditional use
Planning and Development Committee, 7/26/2011, Page 2
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Mann asked and there was discussion of:
• Making the setbacks from the zoning boundary instead of the property lines in
industrial and commercial zones.
• Allow the wind energy systems to operate at times above 45 or 55 dB by
defining an amount above the ambient noise that these systems can operate
at.
• The impacts from the dBC noise level.
Knutzen asked staff to put forward a version of the ordinance that shows the
changes they've discussed. Identify the places where they need to make changes.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:35 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 .w a.us
Planning and Development Committee, 7/26/2011, Page 3