HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning August 10 20101
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
August 10, 2010
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 (2 :59 :02 PM)
Present: Bill Knutzen and Barbara Brenner.
Absent: Ken Mann.
Also Present: None.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AND ZONING MAP FOR PROPERTY KNOWN AS HARBOR SHORES LOCATED
ON BLAINE ROAD, SOUTH OF DAKOTA CREEK (AB2010 -258) (3 :00 :09 PM)
Kate Blystone, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report.
The following people answered questions or spoke:
• Kyle Dodd, Health Department
• Michael Jones, City of Blaine, submitted a memo (on file). Mr. Jansen
initiated an annexation request if owners of 60 percent of the assessed value
approve. If Mr. Jansen doesn't get 60 percent approval, annexation won't go
forward this way. Developed properties with houses are worth much more
than vacant land. Without participation of people who have developed
properties, there's no way to get 60 percent of the vote. The County
Assessor verifies whether 60 percent has voted in favor of annexation.
• Tyler Schroeder, Planning and Development Services Department
• Skip Jensen, Project Proponent, stated this property was in the UGA until six
months ago. They won't pursue annexation unless 60 percent of the people
want to. This isn't a decision about annexation.
• Deanna Hutchings, 9076 Shipyard Lane, Blaine, stated Mr. Jansen needs to
be in the UGA for annexation, not for water and sewer service. She's talked
to all the neighbors. Thirteen of the 19 property owners want services from
the Birch Bay Water and Sewer District, not the City of Blaine. Three owners
are in favor of services for the City of Blaine, for different reasons. (3 :39 :52
PM) One property owner is undecided. She couldn't get in touch with one
owner. A local improvement district (LID) would be an unnecessary financial
burden on everyone.
• Anthony White, 2057 Dearborn, stated he put in a Glendon system, and then
Mr. Jensen refused to allow them to put in a double wide manufactured home,
even though they had all the approvals from the County Planning
Department. A $35,000 bill is tremendous. The land was initially developed
for recreation, not housing. Mr. Jensen has his money to invest. They don't
want to spend money on a sewer system that they don't need.
Planning and Development Committee, 8/10/2010, Page 1
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• Deanna Kane, 9042 Dearborn, stated Skip Jensen thinks he has sole approval
for anything that goes into Harbor Shores. His reason for this rezone is to get
annexed into the City of Blaine, and the residents have to pay. Don't change
the decision made last November. The population growth in Blaine doesn't
justify it.
• Craig Parkinson, Harbor Shores LLC, stated those properties outside Harbor
Shores have to be in the UGA if they want sewer from Birch Bay Water and
Sewer District.
• Sarah Klinkon, Shipyard Lane, asked for more specific testimony from Birch
Bay Water and Sewer District. She does not want a sewer system. If she has
to get sewer, she prefers to get it from the Birch Bay Water and Sewer
District.
Discussion included whether platted lots not in a urban growth area (UGA) can be
built on; the agreement between Harbor Shores and the Birch Bay Water and Sewer District
for sewer; the requirements if these properties were brought into the UGA and whether
annexed properties would have to pay for sewer service; why a property owner would pay a
deferred sewer rate; the City and County agreeing to annexation by interlocal agreement,
without property owner approval; collecting latecomer fees instead of the deferral program;
an interlocal agreement between Blaine and the Birch Bay Water and Sewer District to
service this area if annexed or to change district boundaries, and; whether property owners
would be required to hook up to a sewer system if the service is provided by the Birch Bay
Water and Sewer District.
Brenner stated she needs reassurance that the City and developer have an
agreement that they would pay for services up front and collect latecomer fees. Develop an
interlocal agreement between the County and City of Blaine to create an exception to the
deferral program for these people. Bellingham has a workable solution that can be used.
Schroeder stated staff can bring forward more information from the Birch Bay Water
and Sewer District. There may be other, more applicable applications on file, similar to the
development agreement, which will be before the Council after the Hearing Examiner makes
a decision. (4:04:25 PM) That may be the more appropriate place to have some of these
discussions.
Knutzen moved to recommend concurrent review to the full Council.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Knutzen (1)
Nays: Brenner (1)
Absent: Mann (1)
Brenner moved to hold in committee.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Knutzen and Brenner (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Mann (1)
Knutzen stated get information from Birch Bay Water and Sewer District and from
the City of Blaine about whether there are any options other than the five -year deferral
program or if there is the possibility for an interlocal agreement. Find the least onerous
burden for the property owner.
Planning and Development Committee, 8/10/2010, Page 2
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Brenner stated she would like to know if a developer could pay for the sewer
development up front.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:07 p.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
Bill Knutzen, Committee Chair
Planning and Development Committee, 8/10/2010, Page 3