HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole March 9 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
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee Of The Whole
March 9, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Sam Crawford, Kathy Kershner, Bill Knutzen, Ken
Mann, Tony Larson and Carl Weimer
Absent: None
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING A DRAFT ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM
COUNTY ZONING CODE TITLE 20, THE OFFICIAL WHATCOM COUNTY
ZONING MAP, AND THE WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND
MAPS, TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES RELATING TO RURAL LAND USE PLANNING
(AB2010 -072A)
Crawford stated this has been a long process. There will be other meetings on this
subject on Monday and Tuesday. An ordinance will be introduced next Tuesday night.
Gary Davis, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted and read
from a presentation (on file). He described the Growth Management Act (GMA)
requirements for rural element, Growth Management Hearings Board and Washington State
Supreme Court decisions, and a summary of the proposed limited areas of more intense
rural development (LAMIRDs) and areas outside LAMIRDs.
Crawford opened the hearing and asked people to line up. The following people
spoke:
Alan Marriner, City of Bellingham Assistant City Attorney, submitted information (on
file) and stated there have been significant changes, many not reviewed by the Planning
Commission. There is not enough time for the public to comment on the latest revisions.
He is concerned about the Chuckanut LAMIRD at Governor's Point. The City will not provide
water for any additional development. There is no sewer service. He is also concerned
about decreased protection of Lake Whatcom.
Cathy Lehman, Futurewise Whatcom Chapter Director, submitted and read from
information (on file). She asked that the Council keep the written record open.
Special Committee of the Whole — Rural Element, 3/9/2011, 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
Jean Melious, 1925 Lakecrest Drive, Bellingham, submitted and read from
information (on file) and stated there have not enough public hearings and evening
meetings. The draft changes to the Comprehensive Plan does not include statements of
rural character. LAMIRDs are too large, too close, and have irregular boundaries.
Wendy Harris, Bellingham, stated they should not allow increased density in sensitive
areas such as Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, and Drayton Harbor. Map overlays should be
created and released before a decision is made.
Sue Brown, Bellingham, stated the proposed changes allow too much development in
the rural areas.
Chet Dow, Bellingham, stated the Council's decision on the rural element will impact
the ability to create and maintain jobs in the county. The Growth Management goals are
supposed to be balanced.
Betsy Gross, 1949 South Hills Place, Bellingham, stated it should be harder to
develop land than to protect land. Encourage infill. She values the preservation of lands
rather than development.
Abe Jacobson, 2314 Samish Way, Bellingham, submitted and read from a handout
(on file). Governor's Point contradicts the GMA in seven ways.
Carol Jacobson, 2314 Samish Way, Bellingham, stated she is concerned about the
lack of public process. She asked for a glossary of terms.
Amy Mower, 8021 Silver Lake Road, Maple Falls, submitted and read from a handout
(on file) that described several specific suggestions for the Foothills area.
Doug Pullar, 5541 Guide Meridian, stated his property has been zoned general
commercial for 25 years, but now it's going to be taken away. He is against the rezone.
Kane Hall, 2870 McKenzie Ave, Bellingham, Daylight Properties Manager, stated he
represents the Leopold Retirement Community. They are concerned the LAMIRDs will
diminish economic viability in the downtown core. There is enough land within city limits to
absorb growth.
Todd Donovan, 2407 Cherry Street, Bellingham, stated he is concerned about the
purpose and use of the residential overlays, particularly in sensitive areas. Do not upzone
the Chuckanut area. Do not allow such high density in agricultural areas, such as on the
East Wiser Lake and East Lynden maps. Leave open the written record.
Dan McShane, 1451 Grant Street, Bellingham, stated he has concerns about the
rural overlay. There is no staff report. It is hard to understand. Lake Whatcom should be
zoned at a density of one home per five acres. He referenced the Birch Bay- Lynden Road
and Interstate 5 (I -5) map. That area was rural in the 1990's. He questions the rural
general commercial (RGC) zone. Newhalem is rural, not rural general commercial. The new
RGC and rural industrial manufacturing (RIM) zones are opened for anything. Strike the
proposed Whatcom County Code (WCC) section 20.69.054.
Michael Gropp, Friends of Chuckanut, stated they support less dense zoning. Keep
open the written record. Chuckanut does not meet the LAMIRD zoning qualifications.
Special Committee of the Whole - Rural Element, 3/9/2011, 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
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
Wynne Lee, 7121 Tuttle Lane, Lummi Island, asked that the County perform a
financial assessment of the cost of infrastructure changes required to support the upzone of
each LAMIRD before the next hearing. Also, provide the public with objective data about
the number of residents who live within the LAMIRD boundaries right now, and whether or
not they agree with the proposed changes.
Roger Almskaar, Citizens' Alliance for Property Rights Board of Directors President,
submitted a handout (on file) and stated the proposal is in compliance with the GMA. The
people in rural areas don't want to be preserved. It's up to Whatcom County to define its
own rural character. The goals of the GMA must balance public interest and private rights.
Mary Dickinson, 805 Dupont Street, Bellingham, Isaacson Family Representative,
submitted a handout (on file). This family is facing the largest downzone in Whatcom
County.
Paul Isaacson, 3940 Isaacson Road, stated this downzone will make him the largest
single property owner to be downzoned. He referenced the letters submitted by his
attorney. This will affect employment. Several special interest groups have challenged the
GMA issue using public resources they can't afford. He wants to protect the lake and
environment. Having a no- development agenda will not accomplish that goal.
Heather Wolf, 230 E. Champion, TC Trans Representative, stated keep the
recommendation in place to allow a building size of 30,000 square feet, expecially in type
III LAMIRDs.
Dennis Jones, Sudden Valley, submitted handouts (on file). He is opposed to
designating Governors' Point a LAMIRD. Support a type I LAMIRD for Sudden Valley. Do
not include an overlay area.
Andrew Compain, Bellingham, stated he is opposed to a LAMIRD at Governor's Point.
Patrice Clark, 4668 Fieldston Road, Bellingham, stated her parents bought Clark's
Point and decided to preserve it for the future. It should be harder to develop than to
preserve land.
PK Conner, 1355 Chuckanut Drive, Bellingham, stated do not designate Governor's
Point a LAMIRD. It doesn't meet the criteria.
Ramona Abbott, 5483 Noon Road, Bellingham, stated the infrastructure and
maintenance of development are very expensive. Taxes will increase to pay for that
additional infrastructure.
Simon Petree, 6775 Guide Meridian, stated the decisions the Council made last week
are balanced. He likes the RGC zone.
Pat Hammill, citizen, stated LAMIRDs are necessary for a tax base for schools. Not
all rural landowners want to develop their property. Have a balance.
Donna Shaw, citizen, stated they need a plan that allows rural areas to prosper.
Work together to create a sustainable community.
Special Committee of the Whole - Rural Element, 3/9/2011, Page 3
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
Greg Round, 4363 Saddlestone, stated he is tired of lawyers and special interests,
regulations, people who move here and try to change them. Continue what they're doing.
Don't delay their efforts.
Jeff McKay, 4693 Sucia Drive, stated he is tired of hearing from people who live in
the city who want to drive out in the county and see no people and a pristine countryside.
Encourage rural development that serves the rural community.
Ann Kaiser, 1380 Chuckanut Drive, stated a LAMIRD on Chuckanut Drive and
Governor's Point is not appropriate.
Wes Kench, 6870 Enterprise Road, Ferndale, stated he supports a building size limit
of 30,000 square feet. He supports what the Council is doing.
Ron Reimer, 6595 Northwest Road, Whatcom County Alliance for Property Rights
President, stated areas around interstate interchanges have to be available to new
businesses. Give people opportunities to change and grow. Direct staff to help people
reach their goals.
Jerry Laakso, 5632 Guide Meridian, stated stopping growth stops taxes for the school
districts, County, and the City. People from the city shouldn't have a voice about how they
manage their lands. He agrees with what the Council is doing, except setbacks are too far.
Shane Roth, 3925 Connecticut, Bellingham, , stated that if the rural element
legislation will increase development in the Lake Whatcom watershed, the Bellingham Mayor
may be able to get the Department of Ecology to turn off all exempt wells. Without exempt
wells, there may be no development. Consider whether or not they want to give more
political capital to Mayor Pike, who can stop development outside the city limits and inside
the watershed.
Gary Honcoop, 5977 Guide Meridian, stated this legislation affects real people. The
discussion of a zoning change made banks nervous, and reduced his business' equity. He
lost $500,000 in capital from last year. Employees were laid off, and they paid less sales
tax and business tax. Maintain the economic viability of Whatcom County and opportunity
for future generations. Balance the needs of the rural area with protecting rural lands.
Dannon Traxler, 709 Dupont Street, Governor's Point owner family representative,
stated this family has owned Governor's Point since the 1960s. They've heard several
comments that are not relevant to the issue of LAMIRDs. Designate the Chuckanut area a
LAMIRD. It meets the criteria.
Dean Brett, Friends of Chuckanut Attorney, stated all the residents of the Chuckanut
area have asked for a density of one house per five acres. The Chuckanut area is not
appropriate for a LAMIRD.
Hearing no one else, Crawford closed the public hearing.
Kershner moved to close the verbal record and keep the written record open until
11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 14, 2011.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Larson, Crawford, Brenner, Weimer, Knutzen, Mann and Kershner (7)
Nays: None (0)
Special Committee of the Whole - Rural Element, 3/9/2011, Page 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council@�omhatcomma.us
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Sam Crawford, Council Chair
Special Committee of the Whole - Rural Element, 3/9/2011, Page 5