HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning January 11 20051
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
January 11, 2005
Committee Member Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 3:00
p.m. in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Seth Fleetwood None
Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
Also Present:
None
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE WHATCOM COUNTY
ZONING MAP ESTABLISHING TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
SENDING AREAS AND AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY ZONING
ORDINANCE (TITLE 20) CHAPTER 20.89 DENSITY TRANSFER
PROCEDURE (AB2004 -453)
Troy Holbrook, Senior Planner, stated this ordinance is to establish transfer
of development rights (TDR) sending areas in the Birch Bay subarea. The Birch Bay
Community Plan included establishing TDR receiving areas. Staff was directed to
come up with appropriate sending areas in Birch Bay. The Planning Commission
held a hearing and recommended approval of the map. He described the seven
sending areas, including Terrell Creek at Birch Bay State Park, a corridor to Terrell
Lake, Terrell Lake, Dakota Creek and California Creek corridors up to where the
shoreline designation stops, a shoreline area along Drayton Harbor, and the two
downzoned areas at Birch Point and Point Whitehorn.
Caskey- Schreiber asked if there are any instances, such as an industrial
upzone outside of an urban growth area (UGA), where they might want TDR's.
Holbrook stated there may be. For now, they are focusing on residential areas
only.
Holbrook stated he proposes to add language in the zoning text in Whatcom
County Code subsections 20.89.052(1) and (2). Lake Whatcom transfers of
development rights can be transferred into the Bellingham UGA. The Birch Bay
transfers of development rights can be transferred to Birch Bay.
Roy stated she supports the areas selected. They are the critical areas
around Birch Bay.
Planning and Development Committee, 1/11/2005, Page 1
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Caskey- Schreiber moved to recommend adoption to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimously.
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING AN ALTERNATE EXHIBIT TO THE
ORDINANCE PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE WHATCOM COUNTY
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, CHAPTER 6 AND 7 GOALS AND POLICIES
RELATED TO THE CUSTER PROVISIONAL GROWTH AREA (AB2004-
396B)
Sylvia Goodwin, Planning Division Manager, stated this is to implement the
motion from the County Council on December 7, 2005, where it eliminated the
Custer provisional urban growth area (UGA). This language change would amend
the County Comprehensive Plan policies to be consistent with that elimination. The
motion from the Council is in exhibit A, beginning on Council packet page 543. She
proposes an alternate exhibit A beginning on Council packet page 545. She
recommends keeping goal 6Q and just striking policies 6Q -1 and 6Q -3. Policies 2,
4, and 5 are generic, broad policies. The Council of Governments (COG) and Port
of Bellingham didn't want to delete those policies because they encourage public
access for airports, ports, international border crossings, and other things. In
addition, the County could amend policy 7C -6 to eliminate specific mention of
"including stops in Custer, Lynden, and Sumas."
Caskey- Schreiber stated she really likes the staff's recommendations. If the
railroad wants to investigate a corridor, it will. The County doesn't need that in the
plan.
Brenner moved to recommend approval of alternate exhibit A (staff
recommendation).
Bob Tull, Stevedoring Services of America attorney, stated his client is the
proponent of the Gateway Pacific dock terminal. The County staff is giving good
guidance to the Council. This will set the stage for a brief hearing in two weeks. At
that time, he will assemble useful information regarding the future possibilities of
that east -west rail corridor. His client's focus is not the Custer intermodal facility,
but there should be some allowance for an east -west rail corridor. He will provide
more information before the public hearing on this item.
Jean Freestone, Custer rezone area landowner, stated she doesn't object to
dropping the language about Custer. That language was a compromise that made
everyone confused and frustrated. The language has discouraged any potential
users and created confusion among staff as to what is required. She objected to
the way it was brought up at the last minute. Some of the councilmembers'
comments welcomed them back if they could produce more information, including
support from the State and railroad. She talked with other owners and the State
Department of Transportation. She will provide that information. There are new
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
owners in the area. This is a long -term project. Keep the language in that will
keep the area's prospects open. It will be a contribution to the county and state.
Motion carried unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
Bob Tull, attorney for Point Roberts residents, stated he wants to find a way
to constructively move things along regarding grave community concerns about the
manner in which the archeology provisions for Point Roberts were installed. The
main problem is the rub between the County ordinance and the State statute. He
asked that the committee, at some future meeting, go through the ordinance to see
if there is an interest in working on the ordinance. If there is, they might be able to
diffuse substantial and sincere angst of the residents.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Seth Fleetwood, Committee Chair
Planning and Development Committee, 1/11/2005, Page 3