HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council March 1 20111
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special County Council
March 1, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. at the Acme
Elementary School, 5200 Turkington Road, Acme, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Sam Crawford, Kathy Kershner, Bill Knutzen, Ken
Mann and Tony Larson
Absent: Carl Weimer
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSED SOUTH FORK PARK
(AB2011 -061)
Crawford stated this is like a town meeting, not a public hearing. Their purpose is to
hear from the community, but they will not make decisions tonight. He described the
background of the issue. The Backcountry Horsemen and Heritage Group also would like to
give a presentation.
Mike McFarlane, County Parks and Recreation Department Director, submitted and
read from a presentation.
Mike McGlenn, Backcountry Horsemen, stated he has thoughts and would give a brief
history. Washington state is losing 100 acres per day to development. This heritage park
will protect about 890 acres of land and provide many years of recreation and enjoyment to
the public. He submitted and read from a handout (on file). The park, from top to bottom,
is approximately three miles.
Galen Smith, South Fork Heritage Association, submitted a handout (on file) and
stated they have an alternative proposal for a park that has a lower cost, more accessible
trail, fewer environmental impacts, eliminates adjacent landowners, and utilizes the
Hutchinson Creek campground. Residents feel they have no ownership. They have been
left out of the process. They are concerned about safety due to law enforcement and
volunteer fire district availability in the area. Traffic is also a concern. Animal habitat is a
concern as it relates to the elk herd. Projected displacement of the herd could be sixty to
eighty percent. Property rights and land use are also concerns. The impacts on the local
economy due to loss of agriculture and loss of forestry are concerns. Local stores and
business rely on this to survive. He asked if this is a responsible way to spend taxpayer
dollars. He would like to see use of the Hutchinson Creek campground. He asked the
Council to put together a working group to work on the project.
The following people spoke:
LeRoy Harkness, 1611 Mosquito Lake Road, submitted a handout (on file) and spoke
about the Acme elk herd.
Special Whatcom County Council - South Fork Park in Acme, 3/1/2011, Page 1
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Lynn Wheeler, Cold Stream Farms, spoke about impacts to the elk herd, salmon
protection, traffic, law enforcement burdens, and park management.
Rand Jack, Whatcom Land Trust, described the history of Tom Nesset and his desire
to have his property become a park, the conservation easement, the Land Trust
involvement in the development of the park plan, and the park entrance.
Stage Holland, Backcountry Horsemen, spoke about the Hutchinson Creek
campground.
McFarlane explained the reason Hutchinson Creek doesn't work. There has been a
lot of dumping. Trailheads should be visible to avoid car prowling and vandalism.
Hutchinson Creek would require a lot of mitigation because of function and design. They
were told by the Department of Fish and Wildlife that there would be no impact on the elk
herd.
Rick Gantman, Mt. Baker School District Superintendent, asked the Council to
consider complexities this presents to the school district. Mt. Baker School District could be
jeopardized by the reconveyance of land.
Harry Patz, Turkington Road, Acme, spoke on a flawed design, access to Nesset
Farm, the elk herd, and the Parks Department as an unreliable source of information.
Verna (only first name given), Lake Whatcom, spoke on the elk.
John Lamont, Saxon Road, spoke on the Hutchinson Creek campground property.
Russ Pfeiffer -Hoyt, 6190 West Saxon Road, stated he was appointed by the Nesset
Family to make sure the land was taken care of. He supports efforts to minimize the need
for reconveyance and prefers the easement idea.
Eric Jacoby, Acme, submitted a handout (on file) and spoke about basic economics
and the loss of agricultural land.
Harry Williams, Deming Road, Everson, stated he is a member of the Northwest
Washington Steelheaders and is against the park. He spoke about a scaled down Nesset
park with access at Hutchinson Creek.
Theresa Sygitowicz, resident, submitted a handout (on file)and spoke about
budgetary restraint due to the economic downturn and returning the issue to committee.
Gordon Bakke, Acme, spoke about concerns about what goes on with the Nesset
Farm. He is related to the Nesset family.
Doug Dobbin, 3231 Hillside Road, spoke about salmon habitat restoration and using
Hutchinson Creek for education and for the kids.
Gail Galbraith- Everett, resident, stated spoke about pressure from the Land Trust to
sell and possible condemnation.
Mickey Jacoby, Mosquito Lake Road, stated there is no need for a park. She spoke
about citizen involvement, job loss, and property damage.
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Gina Jacoby, resident, spoke about non - resident use of the park, inner - tubing on the
creek, and the South Park Heritage Association.
Jim Strachilla, resident, spoke about questions from his son.
Dana Crowley -Jack, 5798 Schornbush Road, stated she is in favor of the park as it
has been planned and long -term benefits.
Marcy Bartels, former resident, spoke about citizen input and the necessity of the
park.
Rodney Vandersypen, Blaine, stated he supports the park and spoke about people
outside of the community who are in favor of the park.
Kershner stated she wants to know whether they can afford it, if there are issues
regarding law enforcement, about the reconveyance, how much it will cost the Mt. Baker
School District, whether an easement will work better, whether property can be logged for
timber if it's reconveyed, about the elk issue, about the Hutchinson Creek access and why
they can't have access via Saxon Road, why there is a reconveyance on the south side,
about condemnation, and whether this will be the largest park in the county. She thanked
everyone for their comments.
Brenner stated a false debate has been going on between equestrian trails and those
who don't want any park. They can have a scaled down park that serves the purpose of
what Tom Nesset wanted. She's upset about the argument that the County either has to
approve this plan or have nothing. The Backcountry Horsemen have more in common with
the residents than they don't have in common. She was disappointed in seeing a County
employee stand up and make a pitch.
Larsen stated he thanks everyone for coming. This is the beginning of the process
for him, as the newest councilmember. He has more questions than answers. Those
questions must be answered before they move forward. He will be fully engaged.
Knutzen stated he thanks all the speakers. It's unfortunate that the process had to
come through this. He understands people don't feel like they've been heard. If they keep
taking land away from DNR, they'll see what kind of timber tax they're getting. The DNR
logging practices result in minimal damage. A working forest is one of the best things they
can have for carbon and the environment. It's misleading to say that DNR won't take care
of the property. He hopes to keep the community involved and work out a solution. The
County doesn't have the money to build a park.
Mann stated he thanks the citizens for attending. The Council mostly hears from
developers and attorneys who are paid to attend. The Councilmembers are listening. He's
confident they will do a good job and make all the citizens happy.
Crawford stated he heard a lot of great comments. He is smarter now than he was
before the meeting regarding many issues. He supports the park and will work on
mitigating concerns as much as possible.
Pete Kremen, County Executive, stated this has been a learning experience. It's
great the County Council has come to the community to give the citizens an opportunity to
officially weigh in on an important and historic process for developing a park in Whatcom
County. It's important to hear from the people who are most impacted by a facility that
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will, hopefully someday, provide an asset to many people. It's important that the project
process considers the concerns of the community residents. He said that there will be no
condemnation of any property for any park as long as he is County Executive. He's never
condemned any property. A park does not meet the threshold for condemnation. He will
consider and incorporate the concerns heard tonight into the final product.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
ini ivixon, rnnutes i ranscnption
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
Sam Crawford, Council Chair
Special Whatcom County Council - South Fork Park in Acme, 3/1/2011, Page 4