HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works November 25 20031
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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
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee
November 25, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 1:38 p.m. by committee member L. Ward
Nelson in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Barbara Brenner None
Sam Crawford
Also Present:
None
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. DISCUSSION OF YEW STREET ROAD /SAMISH WAY INTERSECTION
ILLUMINATION AND RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE OPTION A IN
THE AMOUNT OF $40,000 (AB2003 -381)
Joe Rutan, County Road Engineer, stated the $40,000 to do this work would
come from a previously approved project that they'd planned to do in 2005. They'd
just spend the money a bit early.
Nelson moved to recommend approval of option A to the full Council.
Motion carried 2 -0 with Brenner out of the room.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ONLY — COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
1. ORDINANCE ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE WHATCOM COUNTY
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ZONING ORDINANCE RELATING TO
ESSENTIAL PUBLIC FACILITIES (AB2003 -075B)
Matt Aamot, Senior Planner, submitted a memo to the Council regarding
recommended amendments (on file). He read through his Power Point presentation
(on file).
Solid Waste Facilities
Aamot read from his Power Point presentation (on file). The existing solid
waste facility on Hemmi Road is nearing capacity.
Brenner stated that's the first she heard that the facility is nearing capacity.
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 11/25/2003, 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.
Crawford stated the whole facility is ramping down.
Aamot stated staff is planning to amend the Planning Commission definition
of solid waste facilities. He read the definitions of the different types of facilities.
The Type I moderate risk waste facilities have stringent controls on how they
handle the waste, according to the Health Department. Type II facilities are more
restricted than Type I facilities. The type IV facilities category is a new category
because the County Council directed staff to look at composting facilities. It's being
addressed through a separate process.
Brenner asked if Type IV facilities would need more or different restrictions
than Type III facilities. Aamot stated they would be different. Type III facilities are
the most restricted.
Aamot stated the Planning Committee did not recommend specific siting
policies for types I and II, other than designating the zoning districts in which they
are allowed. The buffers for type III facilities are similar to most zoning districts,
except the Planning Commission recommends going from 1,000 feet to 1,500 feet.
Brenner asked if a type III facility has to have a 1,500 -foot buffer in a rural
zone. Aamot stated it would because these policies would apply to all facilities. It
is a buffer from a zoning line, not a property line. The 1,500 -foot buffer would not
apply if it's next to an agricultural, forestry, or industrial zone.
Crawford asked what it means for a stream to contain threatened or
endangered species. Aamot stated they are waterways that the fish use.
Crawford asked if they just eliminated the possibility of any solid waste
facility existing in Whatcom County. Almost all of Whatcom County is within 1,500
feet of a waterway that contains a threatened or endangered fish species.
Aamot stated there is a map with these criteria, and it shows where type III
facilities could be located.
Brenner stated forestry zones are located far out there. These types of
facilities need a lot of oversight. She is uncomfortable with a type III facility
locating anywhere other than an industrial zone. Industrial zones have the
infrastructure that forestry zones don't have.
Aamot continued to read from his Power Point presentation.
Brenner asked if commercial composting facilities are extremely difficult to
site. Aamot stated they are, but there are other criteria to be designated an
essential public facility. One requirement is that the facility is for a public agency,
is publicly funded, or has public service obligations. A commercial composting
facility does not meet all the required criteria.
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 11/25/2003, Page 2
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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.
Brenner suggested they specify commercial composting of clean green
materials.
Crawford stated a mushroom composting facility does not meet the criteria
for an essential public facility. Aamot stated staff is working on proposed
regulations for composting.
Crawford stated they're saying that type IV facilities are essential public
facilities.
Brenner asked how a solid waste composting facility would be regulated.
Aamot stated they would fall under the regulations that staff will bring forward.
They are not considered essential public facilities.
Brenner stated composting is in the public's interest. They've made it a
priority.
Sewaae Treatment Plants
Aamot read from his presentation. A State Department of Ecology (DOE)
representative talked about potential impacts, and some of these recommended
policies reflect that discussion.
Water Treatment Plants
Aamot read from his presentation. Staff consulted with the Department of
Health about potential facilities.
Crawford asked if they should say that future water facilities should be
located away from petroleum and natural gas pipelines. Aamot stated they could.
There are buffers outlined in the Comprehensive Plan. He'll look at that.
Brenner stated they should specify being away from any hazardous pipelines.
Water Storage Facilities
Aamot read from his presentation. This is similar to the existing zoning
code.
Aamot referenced and read from the memo he submitted regarding
amendments to the essential public facility policies (on file). A couple of issues
have come up. One is that the State adopted a Washington Administrative Code
(WAC) relating to solid waste. Amendment 1 proposes to change the definition of
solid waste handling facilities in Whatcom County Code (WCC) section 20.97.429 to
conform to the State definition. Staff is working on yard waste compost
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 11/25/2003, Page 3
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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.
regulations. Include one catchall category in the Type III facility category, in case
new technology is developed.
Crawford asked how Beacon Battery would be classified.
Kyle Dodd, Environmental Health Specialist II, stated he would classify
Beacon Battery as a Type II facility.
Crawford asked about the Nooksack facility on Highway 9.
Brenner stated it's on the reservation, and the County doesn't have
jurisdiction.
Crawford asked about Gundie's auto wrecking yard. Dodd stated it's not a
solid waste facility. Gundie's does recycling. The State Patrol has reserved the
right to permit auto wrecking yards. The County has authority only when there's
contamination at the site.
Crawford asked if the State Patrol inspects and verifies that nothing is
leaking at an auto wrecking yard. Dodd stated he doesn't believe they do.
Brenner asked if the County can inspect for leaking oil. Dodd stated the
County can make a complaint visit. The County can't permit the facility as a solid
waste facility.
Crawford stated he's concerned about neighborhoods that develop near an
auto wrecking yard. He won't be surprised if it eventually comes up as an issue.
Aamot stated the general manufacturing zone allows auto wrecking yards.
They are not classified as a solid waste facility.
Aamot stated transfer stations were struck from the type II category and left
in the type III category. There isn't anything existing now in the county that fits in
the type II category.
In the section for solid waste handling facilities, limited purpose and inert
waste landfills are now defined in the WAC's.
Nelson asked about the facility at Point Roberts. Dodd stated it is considered
a drop box facility with expanded operations. Those expanded operations are
included in the operations plan as a part of the conditional use permit. That facility
would need to comply with the zoning permit to be issued a solid waste handling
permit.
Aamot stated that amendment two in the memo recognizes that composting
is moved from a Type I to a Type IV facility.
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 11/25/2003, Page 4
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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.
Brenner stated this item would be held in committee for two weeks.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 11/25/2003, Page 5