HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works February 26 20081 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Public Works and Safety Committee
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4 February 26, 2008
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6 Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in the
7 Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
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9 Present: Absent:
10 L. Ward Nelson Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
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13 Also Present:
14 Sam Crawford
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17 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
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19 1. RESOLUTION TO CONSIDER VACATION OF A PORTION OF WILLOW STREET
20 IN BIRCH BAY (AB2008 -105)
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22 Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, stated this is a resolution to consider the
23 vacation, not to vacate the road. It seems to meet all statutory requirements. The
24 resolution is to request the County Engineer to develop a report of whether the vacation
25 meets requirements.
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27 Brenner stated Birch Bay is growing. It seems that having public access between
28 these two roads for a bike path or a trail is not a bad idea. Rutan stated he can look at that
29 issue in his report if the Council approves this resolution. The vacation process includes a
30 public hearing process.
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32 Crawford stated he encourages the Committee to have staff do this analysis.
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34 Denise Bauche, 7448 Birch Bay Drive, stated she owns the lot in the front and in
35 back. The front lot is on Jackson Road and the back lot is on Sunset Drive. The road access
36 would be from Sunset Drive to Jackson Road.
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38 Crawford stated the map in the Council packet says Woolridge Avenue, but that's
39 now Jackson Road.
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41 Bauche stated that regarding using the area as a bike path, the area is a blind area.
42 Cars race through on Jackson Road. There is no walking path on either side of the road.
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44 The back lot is very narrow to build, and would help them with their setbacks for
45 building. They would like to build. They would work with the County to maintain the area.
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47 Brenner stated the request makes sense. She's walked around the area and been
48 fine. Because Birch Bay is considering incorporation, she's concerned about losing public
49 access between two roads, depending on the terrain.
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51 Crawford asked about other adjoining property owners of lots one and 14. He asked
52 if the proposal is to vacate the entire street, or just to the middle. Rutan stated the County
53 vacates the property. The County doesn't determine to whom it goes. Someone pays for it,
Public Works and Safety Committee, 2/26/2008, Page 1
1 but it goes to the lot out of which the property was originally carved. If the vacation
2 process goes through, it will more than likely be shared equally between all four lots. A
3 majority of the abutting landowners must agree.
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5 Crawford stated the owner of lot 14 has not signed for approval. If the owner of lot
6 14 is not a petitioner, then lot seven would only be vacated to the center line, and the
7 remainder of the road would not be vacated. Rutan stated that if someone never pays for
8 it, it remains County right -of -way.
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10 Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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12 Brenner stated she will not support the motion. She would like feedback from Birch
13 Bay residents, and will send out for information for people on her Birch Bay email list. She
14 would like to know if the terrain is useable.
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16 Crawford stated the State law has a process. He's concerned about a councilmember
17 sending out information to certain people on an email list. Information about the terrain
18 would come from the staff report.
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20 Brenner stated 'she hasn't heard if the terrain is useable from the proponent.
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22 Crawford stated the hearing guarantees a public process. It's not appropriate for
23 County councilmembers to contact their select group of people for information. They must
24 go through a public process.
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26 Motion carried unanimously.
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28
29 OTHER BUSINESS
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31 There was no other business.
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33
34 ADJOURN
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36 T I meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
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40 Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
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43 ATTES1�� WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
44 J�•'•H'•;�1i WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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49 Dada Bro =D1s, t�ci erk Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
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Public Works and Safety Committee, 2/26/2008, Page 2