HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole November 10 20091
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee Of The Whole
November 10, 2009
Council Chair Seth Fleetwood called the meeting to order at 2:21 p.m. in the Council
Conference Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Barbara Brenner, Laurie Caskey- Schreiber, Sam Crawford, Seth Fleetwood,
Bob Kelly and Carl Weimer.
Absent: L. Ward Nelson.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. FINALIZATION OF PROPOSED URBAN GROWTH AREA ORDINANCE, MAPS,
AND AMENDMENT LANGUAGE (AB2009 -052F)
Rebecca Craven, Council Policy Analyst, stated the Capital Facilities 20 -year plan is
revised to reflect changes that the Committee of the Whole made last week. It is available
to the public. It will become appendix E of the Introduction Item tonight.
Also, there are two minor map changes. Changes to the Everson map reflect that
the Skillman annexation has not yet occurred. Changes to the Geneva map reflect a change
to the zoning they voted to concurrent review.
The Planning staff is ready to show the revised Columbia Valley map that identifies
where they would like to put the line to divide the 80 -acre parcel to the west of the UGA, to
keep that area off the alluvial fan hazard area.
David Stalheim, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report
on the Committee's direction to split an 80 -acre parcel in the Columbia Valley. He
submitted a map showing the split (on file). Option A is to follow some natural contour lines
to divide the property, at a 505 -foot contour interval. Option B would be to split the
property in half down the middle. Some of the areas included in the urban growth area
(UGA) would still be in the hazard area, but that would be accounted for on development
applications. The property owner is aware of this proposal.
Fleetwood asked if this split would reduce the number of developable units. Stalheim
stated the area not included in the reserve would have a lower density.
Caskey- Schreiber moved to amend the Columbia Valley urban growth area (UGA)
to approve option A for this parcel.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Caskey- Schreiber, Fleetwood, Kelly and Weimer (4)
Nays: Brenner (1)
Abstain: Crawford (1)
Absent: Nelson (1)
Stalheim stated Executive Kremen would prefer the Council reconsider certain issues
regarding the Lynden UGA at Double Ditch Road, the Sumas UGA regarding the land area
Special Committee of the Whole- UGA Review, 11/10/2009, Page 1
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west of Hovel Road, an area north of the Everson UGA, and various areas around the
Ferndale UGA. He described the Executive's concerns.
There was discussion about whether they should reconsider the projections and land
capacity and the provisional zoning around a commercial zone in Birch Bay.
(Clerk's Note: The Committee took a ten - minute break at 2:46 p.m.)
Weimer moved to amend page 2 -73, "Nooksack Urban Growth Area ... at least
100,000 acres of agricultural land in Whatcom County
NIGA. The area will be kept in reserve status until the County has determined that
development will not expose future residents and employees to unacceptable risk from
naturally- occurring asbestos."
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Caskey- Schreiber, Fleetwood, Kelly and Weimer (5)
Nays: Crawford (1)
Absent: Nelson (1)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:01 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
The Council approved these minutes on December 8 , 2009.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council &o.w hatcom .wa.us
Special Committee of the Whole- UGA Review, 11/10/2009, Page 2