HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning September 14 20101
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
September 14, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Bill Knutzen called the meeting to order at 2:25 p.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL (2:25:38 PM)
Present: Ken Mann, Bill Knutzen and Barbara Brenner.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Carl Weimer, Sam Crawford and Kathy Kershner.
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)
This item was withdrawn from the agenda.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CURRENT STATE BUILDING CODE AND
REPEALING THE EXISTING TITLE 15 OF THE WHATCOM COUNTY CODE
(AB2010 -289)
Wain Harrison, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report
and read from his memo beginning on Council packet page 589. (2:28:02 PM)
Discussion included whether the County received any written comments on this
ordinance; whether State or federal law requires a threshold of 4,000 square feet for
installing fire sprinklers; whether any of the changes will help get projects permitted more
quickly; codifying existing practices at the recommendation of the State Auditor; whether
the Building Industry Association (BIA) has reviewed these changes; fire flow requirements;
how someone with a well would install sprinklers; whether a generator is required to provide
backup power to any fire sprinklers; City sprinkler requirements for homes that are on roads
steeper than ten percent; the number of structure fires in Whatcom County in 2009; the
costs of installing or retrofitting for fire sprinklers in an adult family home; whether State
adult family home licensing requires fire sprinklers; whether other counties have the same
regulations for adult family homes;
The following people answered questions:
• Sam Ryan, Planning and Development Services Department
• Warner Webb, Planning and Development Services Department and Fire
Marshal
Planning and Development Committee, 9/14/2010, Page 1
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Brenner moved to amend Council packet page 619, "F .... shall be installed in new
one- and two - family dwellings and townhouses, in
accordance with Washington State Amendment Appendix R."
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
Harrison stated he has corrections. Amend Council packet page 594, 15.04.010(C),
remove the reference to Appendix R and Appendix S, and relocate to section 15.04.010(B).
Mann moved to amend Council packet page 594, 15.04.010(C), remove the
reference to Appendix R and Appendix S, and relocate to section 15.04.010(B).
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
Harrison stated correct Council packet pages 607 and 608. Items C1 through C8
should be the same list that is on Council packet pages 600 -601, items one through 9.
(3:13:14 PM)
Mann moved to amend Council packet page 607 and 608. Items C1 through C8
should be the same list that is on Council packet pages 600 -601, items one through 9.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
Brenner moved to amend section F.1 regarding fire sprinklers "Any new one - family
or two - family dwelling under 4000 square feet gross floor area" and F.2 "Any new one -
family or two - family dwelling..."
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council as amended.
The motion to recommend approval as amended carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Knutzen and Brenner (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING DRAFT WIND ENERGY SYSTEM ORDINANCE
LANGUAGE SUBMITTED BY COUNCILMEMBER BRENNER (AB2010 -116C)
-and-
3. DISCUSSION REGARDING DRAFT WIND ENERGY SYSTEM ORDINANCE
LANGUAGE SUBMITTED BY COUNCILMEMBER MANN (AB2010 -116D)
(3:21:35 PM)
The following people answered questions:
Planning and Development Committee, 9/14/2010, Page 2
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• Regan Clover, Administrative Services Department
• Wain Harrison, Planning and Development Services Department
• Tyler Schroeder, Planning and Development Services Department
Mann moved to recommend approval of the Councilmember Mann version of the
ordinance (AB2010 -116D) to the full Council.
Discussion included comparing the two versions; whether there are physical impacts
from exposure to low frequency noise; whether the Brenner version would eliminate all the
rural forestry zone, given the setbacks; the purpose of rural forestry; the importance of
allowing alternative energies; whether wind energy is profitable without government
subsidies; whether wind energy will be a viable energy source in Whatcom County; referring
a proposed ordinance to the Natural Resources Committee, and; whether staff is
comfortable with Councilmember Mann's proposed ordinance.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann (1)
Nays: Knutzen and Brenner (2)
Knutzen moved to refer Councilmember Mann's version to the Natural Resources
Committee.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann and Knutzen (2)
Nays: Brenner (1)
Alex Ramel, Sustainable Connections Energy and Policy Manager, stated both
versions of the ordinance include a requirement that sound measurements be made by a
professional consultant when wind speeds are ten miles per hour or less, which is
inconsistent. The goal is to have the windmills on when the sound measurements are
made. (4:08:40 PM)
There was discussion on measuring ambient noise.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council&o.whatcom.wa.us
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Bill Knutzen, Committee Chair
Planning and Development Committee, 9/14/2010, Page 3