HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources June 8 20101
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
June 8, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Carl Weimer, Bill Knutzen and L. Ward Nelson.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Sam Crawford, Barbara Brenner, Ken Mann and Kathy Kershner.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING A PROPOSED ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A
FORESTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR WHATCOM COUNTY (AB2010 -225)
(9:03:59 AM)
Nelson stated the Growth Management Act (GMA) require resource land protection.
All these years there has been a mineral resource land advisory committee and agricultural
advisory committee. There has never been a forestry advisory committee. Many Council
actions have involved forestry practices. Many foresters are concerned that they have not
had an opportunity to advise the Council on such issues. Recognize the people who work in
the forestry industry and the economic contribution of the industry.
Knutzen moved to recommend approval to the full Council. He asked about the
Executive doing the appointment process.
Nelson stated the appointment process is similar to that of the agricultural advisory
committee. A forestry advisory committee should probably be appointed by the Executive.
Sam Ryan, Planning and Development Services Department, stated there is no doubt
this committee would be beneficial. However, revenue and staff levels are down. The
Planning Department cannot take on any more participation in this arena. There is only a
position less than a full -time equivalent (FTE) doing the work on the agricultural committee.
She explained the current staffing levels.
Nelson stated they might want to take a look at this again in light of the
department's budget recommendations. Evaluate whether this is more important than
Natural Resources Committee, 6/8/2010, Page 1
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other things. One option is to put all advisory committees on hiatus to allow staff to get
caught up on mandatory work. Keep it on the docket. He suggested a friendly
amendment to hold into committee until Ms. Ryan can prepare a list of current staff
assignments.
Knutzen accepted the friendly amendment.
Weimer stated he supports the ordinance. It's a good idea. Forestry is one of the
few resource groups that doesn't have some kind of representation. The Council should talk
about all the County's committees as they go through the budget process, and determine if
there are any committees that can be restructured or eliminated.
Nelson asked the administration to develop recommendations for reviewing and
changing committees as necessary.
Weimer asked if the County has designated forestry land similar to other designated
resource lands. The County has zoning, but not a designation. Ryan stated she will look
into this.
Nelson stated only mineral resource lands have a designation.
Crawford asked the value of the forestry industry and products sold in Whatcom
County.
Nelson stated he also has that question. The State Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) would have information on their lands, but there are many forest practices done by
small land owners.
Crawford stated one purpose of this group could be to keep track of the forestry
value to the community.
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 20.38, AGRICULTURE
PROTECTION OVERLAY (AB2010 -240) (9:17:09 AM)
Nelson asked why they are still using the agricultural protection overlay (APO)
program selection process on lands where they have little intention of purchasing
development rights, in areas outside agricultural areas. Focus on areas that are necessary
for agriculture. Give relief to those areas where agriculture will probably never happen.
Make sure the APO is not directed at the purchase of development rights (PDR) study areas.
Weimer stated they talk about saving 100,000 acres. Much of that is in agricultural
zoning, and also in the targeted rural study areas. There are also the PDR study areas. He
asked if the county can still protect 100,000 acres if they get rid of the APO soils.
Henry Bierlink, Farm Friends, stated they won't, in his opinion. He explained the
APO program. The program has not worked the way it was suppose to work. It's not a
strategic tool. However, he is unwilling to give it up unless there are other tools in play and
operational to fill the gap. If they just throw it away, they're back to only agricultural
zoning. They haven't done anything to protect the rural study areas, other than develop the
purchase of development rights (PDR) program.
Weimer asked if Whatcom County has designated agricultural lands like other
counties have done. Bierlink stated he's not sure what designation would do.
Natural Resources Committee, 6/8/2010, Page 2
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Brenner asked that Farm Friends give her a map that shows acreage not having APO
soil and less than 20 acres in size. A lot of farming is happening on property less than 20
acres in size. She has not received any map. The map doesn't have to be perfect. She
would like to see it on a map. Bierlink stated putting a map together would not show
everything, because there are small tracts in the total 80,000 acres.
Brenner stated she would like to see a map with farms that are less than 20 aces.
Weimer explained she wants a map showing the 10 -acre to 20 -acre farms.
Nelson stated the map they need to use is the one that identifies agricultural zones
and the rural study areas. Cluster requirements harm small farm practices. They end up
creating small urban areas or areas where parks exist with development. It isn't achieving
agricultural preservation. It just puts more urban development into the rural area. Instead,
use the zoning that is already there. People will engage in small farm practices. The APO
doesn't make any sense to the public. Instead, identify areas that are essential and make
sense for agriculture and use the PDR program rather than target the entire county.
Bierlink stated clustering isn't always bad. There are times when it has worked, but more
often it doesn't work. He approves of getting rid of the APO and replacing it with something
more strategic. However, don't get rid of the APO without something to replace it.
Crawford stated he advocates that the PDR program no longer be funded. He asked
if the proposal is to remove the APO from parcels sized 20 acres or larger, in the rural zone,
and not part of the PDR areas. He asked if Councilmember Nelson proposes keeping the
PDR program for those targeted areas.
Nelson stated those targeted areas would be subject to a PDR program.
Crawford asked if Councilmember Nelson is thinking just of the target areas, or of
keeping the APO in all the rural study areas. He asked who designated the rural study
areas.
Nelson stated the rural study area is extensive. Those areas will keep the goal of
100,000 acres. Keep APO in the rural study areas. He's trying to identify land areas that
would be in the APO. The APO is too extensive and doesn't accomplish their original intent.
Crawford stated overlay these areas outside the agricultural zone onto zoning, so
they see what zone they will affect. Have the same overlay on APO soils. Look at the
target areas, study areas, the APO soils, and zoning. Develop a map that will overlay all
those areas. If this is the preferred route of the majority of people, he will be interested in
sustaining the PDR program with some County involvement. This is a different approach.
The County hasn't accomplished much with the current PDR program, relative to the
millions they've spent. This new approach is more targeted. He asked what is the next
step. This is not docketed, and staff is very limited.
Nelson stated it's being addressed through other elements. Right now it's based on
soils. There's no reason it can't be based on map delineation.
Weimer stated the rural study areas came from the Agricultural Advisory Committee
after some significant study. The rural study areas included enough acreage to provide
hope that they would ultimately end up protecting 100,000 acres. There are APO soils that
are being farmed, and they don't want to lose those. They can come up with some
Natural Resources Committee, 6/8/2010, Page 3
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quantification and discussion of those things that would allow them to move forward and
decide how to make changes.
Brenner stated there are parcels that are smaller than 20 acres, have excellent soil,
and are currently being farmed. She would like to know how many of those acres exist so it
can be factored in.
Knutzen stated Farm Friends brought up the issue of a commodities bank. He asked
if this would give some information as to what the parcel values are. Bierlink stated they
have looked into it in some degree. There is an understanding of that issue. There is a
hierarchy of soils. There is more market value for higher - valued soils. The PDR program
looks at soils.
Weimer stated they need to decide if this is a priority and whether it should be
continued in the next Natural Resources Committee.
Nelson stated he would like information on the study area designations, such as the
rural study areas and APO. He would like a map. They also need information on the
production value from lands smaller than 20 acres, per Councilmember Brenner's request.
He would like information on APO areas that aren't in the rural study areas or zoned
agriculture.
Weimer stated he would talk with Sarah Watts to come up with some maps.
Brenner stated the County Assessor will have information on land used for
agriculture.
Sam Ryan, Planning and Development Services Department, stated she would like to
see what maps the department already has.
Nelson stated he would like to know how much clustering has occurred. He asked
for a map of those clusters areas.
Roger Almskaar, Land Use Consultant, stated the APO is a very important issue, and
they need to protect the farmland. The County needs to take a look at the APO. If a person
has 20 or 40 acres with no prime farmland but with an agricultural open space designation,
that property is automatically placed in the APO. He is willing to work on this issue if there
is a technical committee involved. He hopes the County takes something less important off
the Planning Department's work program and place this on it.
Bob Wiesen, 3314 Douglas Road, Ferndale, stated clustering has worked well on very
large acreage, over 100 acres. In one location, houses are built around the perimeter of
hay acres. It's not prime farmland. The only farming use is growing hay. Many farmers in
the county have custom hay operations. They should keep those. Clustering on smaller,
20 -acre parcels aren't of much value. Look at the size of the parcel in terms of clustering.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
Natural Resources Committee, 6/8/2010, Page 4
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 9:52 a.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council4o.w hatcom .wa.us
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Carl Weimer, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 6/8/2010, Page 5