HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning February 23 20101
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
February 23, 2010
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
Present: Ken Mann, Bill Knutzen and Barbara Brenner
Absent: None
Also Present: Carl Weimer, Sam Crawford and Kathy Kershner
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LONG RANGE PLANNING WORK PROGRAM
AND 2010 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ZONING DOCKET REQUESTS
(AB2010 -113)
David Stalheim, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report.
He submitted and read from a presentation (on file).
The following person answered questions:
• Rebecca Craven, Council Policy Analyst
Discussion included settlements with other jurisdictions and new ordinances; not
being able to do any actual planning because of all the litigation requirements; whether they
want to easily allow accessory uses of agricultural land; prohibiting urban growth areas
(UGA's) in flood plains; whether staff is available for Planning and Development Services
Department (PDS) recommendations for docketing; allowing daycare in agricultural lands;
assuming permit authority from the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for class
IV forest practices applications; amending the critical areas ordinance; why the County is
responsible for school concurrency, but not fire districts; whether the Council can comment
on the Concrete Nor'west application; where the transfer of development rights (TDR)
program falls in the overall work program; fire protection level of service (LOS); staff work
being done on the TDR program; adopting the State Department of Ecology low- impact
development manual by reference; addressing city requests to revisit the urban growth
areas through settlements, not as docket items; how staff plans to work on UGA appeal and
settlement issues; the difference in timeframes between handling UGA appeals and waiting
for the 2011 update, and; whether all the appeals will be on the table in terms of the 2011
update.
Crawford referenced the presentation slides regarding reoccurring work, the previous
docket, and the 2010 suggested zoning amendments. He stated he has priorities that will
buy some time to do projects that he is more interested in. Don't do any work on the PDR
program, and maybe don't do anything with TDR program. The agriculture program is not
urgent. Send a message to the Agricultural Advisory Committee that the Council is looking
for assistance on how to help the agriculture industry, not how to use regulations to punish
Planning and Development Committee, 2/23/2010, 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
the industry. Don't do concurrency management work, the Parks Plan, lot consolidation in
agricultural lands, affordable housing, and low impact development. Fix the Title 20 portion
of who initiates zoning amendments. Rezone the R10A zone to R5A in Birch Bay, because
there are arguments for both sides. Look at the issue of drive -up service. The staff time
required for that issue would be minimal. Also look at the resort commercial zone regarding
drive - through service language.
The following citizens spoke:
• Jack Petree, citizen, stated look carefully at the information given on internal
consistency. Consistency is required now. There are many inconsistencies in
the plan just developed and approved in November. Comprehensive Plan
components must fit together so not one feature precludes the development
of another. A plan that is adopted is supposed to be implemented. Make
sure the law is followed when they do these things, and they won't have
lawsuits.
• Amy De Vera - Pederson, David Evans and Associates, stated she represents
Harbor Shores LLC. She asked if the Council will discuss the UGA issue during
executive session in three weeks, or whether it's docket application will move
forward.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:44 p.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council &o.w hatcom .wa.us
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Bill Knutzen, Committee Chair
Planning and Development Committee, 2/23/2010, Page 2