HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning June 3 1997WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
June 3, 1997
The meeting was called to order at 3 p.m. by Committee Chair Alvin Starkenburg in the
Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present:
Marlene Dawson
Kathy Sutter
Absent:
None
Staff Present:
Ward Nelson, Council member
Tom Brown, Council member
Dan Gibson, Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Sylvia Goodwin, Planning and Development Services Manager
Michael Knapp, Planning and Development Services Director
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
REQUEST COUNCIL APPROVAL OF FINDINGS SUPPORTING THE FINAL
ADOPTION OF THE WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
(AB96 -051 L)
Dan Gibson, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, stated that all of the comments throughout
the record present the Council's story of detailing the Comp Plan. He presented an errata sheet
for the Findings (handout on file) and reviewed same.
Sutter moved to recommend approval of Gibson's errata sheet for the Findings.
Motion carried unanimously.
Sylvia Goodwin, Planning and Development Services Manager, presented staff's
revisions to the Findings (handout on file). Discussion followed on Cherry Point /ARCO.
Nelson requested a language change by deleting "the Prudoe Bay" and adding "the Orient ".
There was consensus on this issue.
Goodwin explained the new language regarding Cherry Point ensuring that on each
Planning Minutes, 4/22/97, Page 1
parcel -- whether larger or smaller than 160 acres - -there is a site designated for a major use that is
generally 40 acres or larger.
Continuing, regarding the northeastern towns, Goodwin noted some of these towns are
not northeastern, so the "north" was deleted.
Gibson requested clarification regarding the intent of a specific sentence on packet page
180, first paragraph, last sentence: "... Small towns in this area typically occupy an area of one
quarter to one half mile and are constrained by physical limitations." He inquired if that were to
be one half "square" mile or one half mile "square ". Goodwin replied they are square miles.
Discussion followed.
Goodwin requested clarification regarding the striking of rural industrial development
regarding Deming. There was discussion. Starkenburg requested staff investigate this for
tonight's meeting.
Goodwin was concerned with the wording "status quo" regarding the sewer moratorium
at Sudden Valley. Language was deleted in order to avoid confusion on this issue.
According to Goodwin, the intent of the paragraph addressing governmental protection
was to promote less government regulation.
Goodwin noted that she added references mentioned by Gibson but was awaiting an exact
citation.
Dawson moved approval of Goodwin's document.
Motion carried unanimously.
Brown inquired about the percentage of the ag and resource protection zones. He was
informed it was 20 -30 percent. Starkenburg noted the Development Regulations and the Comp
Plan need to be brought together; Goodwin stated she would correct it to read administratively
up to 30 percent. The language would then be consistent.
Brown was also concerned about the inconsistency of language in the Comp Plan and the
Development Regulations regarding the cluster and 20 percent requirements of the ag protection
zone. There was no history of ag uses. Goodwin stated the language was more generalized and
would be made more specific for consistency.
Nelson was concerned with the language regarding Custer, specifically requesting
"private" be added to "...buffers, minimizing or mitigating transportation conflicts and assuring
adequate public/private facilities, including water..." at the last sentence of the first paragraph on
packet page 176. Discussion followed with Gibson stating that the language should read "public
or private ". Goodwin replied the language will be changed to "public or private ".
Planning Minutes, 4/22/97, Page 2
Another concern of Nelson's was the size of the light industrial areas regarding the 40-
acre minimum planning block. On packet page 177, the second paragraph reads: "...parcels
should not be developed in units of less than 100 acres... ". Discussion followed on whether this
figure had previously been mentioned and everyone's understanding on the process of the master
plan. Gibson suggested removal of this language, as it is already addressed in the Development
Regulations and the Comp Plan. Starkenburg requested staff clean up that language and delete
that specific sentence.
Starkenburg then reviewed the process for tonight's meeting.
Sutter moved to bring Brown's two concerns as above forward at tonight's meeting.
Motion carried 2 -0 with Dawson out of the room.
Nelson questioned the process for tonight's meeting. Starkenburg stated this committee
will send forward a recommendation for approval of the Findings as corrected.
Sutter moved Nelson's concern as stated above be brought forward at tonight's meeting.
Motion carried 2 -0 with Dawson out of the room.
Michael Knapp, Planning and Development Services Director, commented regarding the
Planning Commission's progress, which has been slow. An extension may be necessary.
Gibson pointed out the item of the rural industrial classification needs to be clarified.
Sutter moved to recommend approval of the amended Findings and Facts with the
exception of the rural industrial areas.
Motion carried 2 -0 with Dawson out of the room.
Goodwin stated the final review draft of the Comp Plan contains a few errors and will be
reviewed on a staff level. She left one copy for Council review and comment. She stated the
plan was to have the final to the printer by Friday, June 6.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:10 p.m.
Planning Minutes, 4/22/97, Page 3
Nadean Hanson, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Dana Brown- Davis, Council Clerk Alvin Starkenburg, Council Member
Planning Minutes, 4/22/97, Page 4