HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning May 19 19981
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
May 19, 1998
The meeting was called to order at 3 p.m. by Committee Chair Kathy Sutter in the
Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Also Present:
L. Ward Nelson
Barbara Brenner
Absent:
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM,
WHATCOM COUNTY, AND WATER DISTRICT 10 REGARDING JOINT
MANAGEMENT OF LAKE WHATCOM (AB98 -195)
Sutter announced that there will be a joint City /County Council meeting on May 28,
1998. The interlocal agreement that is being proposed will be up for adoption at that time.
Nelson was concerned with a language change in the second "WHEREAS" of the
Interlocal Agreement, "...watershed which can adversely affect..." The word "can" should be
changed to "may."
Sylvia Goodwin, Planning and Development Services Planning Manager, stated that no
amendments have been made since the last discussion.
Nelson stated that this process has had a lot of discussion. One issue that keeps coming
back, and he hopes to discuss at the joint meeting, is the issue of funding. He questioned
whether there has been discussion within the Management Committee about this issue. Goodwin
stated that there has been a lot of discussion, but there are not any solutions. There are several
funding possibilities.
Nelson stated that they need to determine how each jurisdiction will fund the activities.
Regina Delahunt, Health and Human Services Environmental Services Manager, stated
that $175,000 is the initial, minimal contribution. They need to implement a full funding
mechanism.
Brenner stated that she believed the County has more ability to raise money than the City
of Bellingham, including a countywide fee or a water district. They are at a point where they
need to plan beyond the current year. She questioned whether staff wanted direction from the
Council.
Goodwin stated that the staff can propose options. Sue Blake, Water Resources
Planning & Development Committee, 5/19/98, Page 1
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Manager, is in charge of that issue.
Delahunt stated that one of the requirements of the stormwater plan was to provide for
funding. She and Blake discussed broadening that to include the watershed issues.
Brenner stated that she wanted other items included, such as metering the water users.
Goodwin stated that the determination of the amount of $175,000 was not a scientific
amount based on funds available, but it was an estimate on the minimum needed.
Nelson stated that point four on Section One should be a discussion point at the meeting
on May 28.
Sutter stated that the amount needed each year will vary, so the allocation of funding
should be based on a percentage and actual cost, not a dollar amount.
Michael Knapp, Planning and Development Services Director, stated that one concept
would be a fee or tax on the water users.
Brenner stated that she was concerned that there was not a fair way to collect an
assessment. Metered service is the fairest way to collect funds.
Sutter questioned why the spring meeting was detailed, but the fall meeting was not. She
also questioned whether the summer meeting would only be about presenting the draft program
or more would be scheduled. Knapp stated that, generally the spring meeting is all the work in
preparation to put the draft together.
Sutter stated that she wanted to see more description of the expectation for work to be
done at that meeting.
Nelson recommended amending language of Section 3, "At the special joint meetings
held in the spring, the public..." They should also add a bullet on packet page 3 for review and
approval of a work plan.
Sutter recommended that any program coming forward have public input. She suggested
amending language to the last sentence in Section 3, "...public is involved in program adoption
and implementation." Brenner and Nelson stated that it wasn't necessary.
Sutter also suggested amending the last paragraph of Section 1 on packet page 53,
"Additional on -going updates will be provided to the involved Councils and Com issue °rs-
Water District #10 to ensure..."
The committee concurred.
OTHER BUSINESS
Planning & Development Committee, 5/19/98, Page 2
1 1. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF EXEMPTING PUBLIC
2 FACILITIES FROM ZONING REQUIREMENTS (AB98 -214)
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4 Sutter stated that the Nugent's Corner fire department would like to relocate, but the
5 County zoning regulations require that they locate on a five -acre site. However, that size
6 property is much larger than they need. They are requesting the Council look at the possibility
7 of creating an exemption for public facilities. The arguments are that it would increase the fire
8 department much more in maintenance costs, it would cost the taxpayers more to purchase and
9 maintain five acres, and it would take more property off of the tax roles.
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11 Barbara Brenner read a memo from Council Member Tom Brown regarding this issue.
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13 Sylvia Goodwin, Planning and Development Services Planning Manager, summarized
14 this proposal regarding minimum lot size. They could establish that public facilities approved
15 under a section of the Code would not be subject to minimum lot size requirements.
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17 Brenner questioned whether it would be up to the administration to determine what the
18 size needs to be or whether it would be decided on an individual basis. Goodwin stated that
19 public facilities are currently a current use permit, so it would be the Hearing Examiner that
20 would make that determination.
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22 Brenner questioned why it would matter where a fire department is located. Knapp stated
23 that it matters because of the service provision and being able to be close the intensity of
24 development.
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26 Brenner stated that it might be safer for a fire district to be centrally located in the
27 district, instead of in the middle of the more populated areas. There are circumstances where it
28 shouldn't have to be in an urban area.
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30 Sutter stated that all they were doing was changing the size of the site, not the location.
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32 Goodwin stated that there are other types of public facilities, such as schools, that should
33 be located and are encouraged to be located in urban areas.
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35 Sutter questioned whether the County is exempt from its own zoning regulations. Knapp
36 stated that the County follows County zoning regulations. There are situations in the past where
37 the County hasn't, but generally they try to meet the requirements.
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39 Goodwin stated that trails and road right -of -ways are not lots and they are not done by
40 subdivision.
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42 Nelson stated that there needs to be public process when a public facility must obtain an
43 conditional use permit.
Planning & Development Committee, 5/19/98, Page 3
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The committee directed staff complete an amendment to the ordinance.
Goodwin suggested planning for a public hearing on June 18, 1998.
Nelson questioned whether this would require review by the Planning Commission.
Karen Frakes, Senior Civil Deputy Prosecutor, stated that she believed it does require
Planning Commission review.
Brenner moved to recommend Goodwin's language change to the ordinance.
Knapp stated that the item would come back to full Council. A motion is not needed.
(Clerk's Note: a vote on Brenner's motion was not taken)
Margie Starkovich, property owner at Nugent's Corner, submitted a map of the location
in question. She requested a proposed timeframe. Goodwin responded that it should be through
the Council by July.
Nelson questioned whether the proposed change would change the conditional use permit
process. Knapp stated that they could go ahead and begin the conditional use process.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A)
Sutter stated that a reporting class from Western Washington University was present.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.
Jill K. Nixon, Records Transcription
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Kathy Sutter, Council Member
Planning & Development Committee, 5/19/98, Page 4