HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning March 5 1996WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
March '5, 1996
The meeting was called to order at 3:06 p.m. by Committee Chair Alvin Starkenburg in
the Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present: Absent:
Marlene Dawson None
Kathy Sutter
CONMUTTEE DISCUSSION ONLY
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING PROPOSED CHAPTERS OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN (AB 96 -051 A) (PLEASE NOTE. CHAPTERS ARE
STILL SUBJECT TO CHANGE BEFORE THE PLANMNG COMMISSION'S
FINAL RECOAAMVDA HON IS FORWARDED TO COUNCIL)
Starkenburg stated a work session was held February 13. Staff was requested at that time
to bring forward those chapters completed under the Planning Commission's discussions and
hearings. Vickie Woods, Planning Director, noted Council now has four chapters of the
Comprehensive Plan.
Starkenburg noted staff will shortly be receiving direction from Council regarding these
chapters. He also stated Council is in the process of selecting someone for the legal review of the
Comprehensive Plan. He acknowledged that Council will be soon receive a letter from this
committee regarding information received.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING LAND CLEARING REGULATIONS IN TITLE 20,
THE OFFICIAL WHATCOM COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE (AB96 -074)
Terry Galvin, Planning & Development, presented maps and gave some background of the
land clearing regulations.
Dawson addresssed a question regarding conversion, which refers to the Forest Practices
Act, which is outside the County's jurisdiction.
Bill Florea, Planning & Development Land Use Services, spoke to the issue of fines. He
noted the proposal is to divide fines into two categories: major ($251 -1,000 per violation) and
minor (up to $250 per violation) impact violations.
Planning Minutes, 3/5/96, Page 1
I Sutter brought up various concerns, including site specific requirements and winter
2 clearing (too general and arbitrary); moratorium issue (confusing); open -ended language (e.g.,
3 "but not limited to "); special districts (the regulations apply across the board for any development
4 activity); review thresholds (buffer requirements for streams also covered under CAO); land
5 disturbance definition; timetable reference needed (packet page 140); any overlap regarding
6 assurance of performance; and the definition of stream.
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8 Brown was concerned about the following topics: land maintenance language regarding
9 "clearing"; special districts should not be mentioned by name (change in ordinance); debris
10 removal; notice of violations (no evidence of an immediate right of appeal); and hazard to one's
11 own property wording should be amended. He noted he had general language changes to the
12 above and would pass them to the Chair.
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14 Pat Jones, on behalf of the Technical Advisory Committee, commented certain
15 -housekeeping matters, as well as other language changes recommended by the TAC, should be
16 made.
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18 Nelson requested language clarification regarding buffers within special districts being tied
19 in with the CAO and also a clarification regarding the moratorium.
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21 Brenner stated she thought the City was to review thresholds in urban and suburban
22 zoning. Vickie Woods responded. Brenner also questioned the fines covering the costs of the
23 County's costs. Galvin commented.
24
25 Dan Gibson, Council's counsel, responded to a question regarding the County mitigating
26 work on private property and the owner being charged for it. Bob Woods, Council Budget and
27 Program Analyst, also commented.
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29 Brenner's last comment regarded the remission of fines (20 days instead of 30).
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31 Dawson wanted to know if landscaping could be included as maintenance.
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33 Bob Andersen spoke to a procedural matter, as well as to special districts. He was unsure
34 there is a cause /effect relationship.
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36 Anthony Robb requested an exemption clarification (Class IV Special and Class IV
37 General). He also requested language changes regarding qualifying site containment, hazards, six -
38 year moratorium, conversion option harvest plan, cover protection plan and financial assurance of
39 performance.
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41 Lesa Starkenburg commented regarding oversighted activities that should be exempted.
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Planning Minutes, 3/5/96, Page 2
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10 Motion carried unanimously.
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12 2.
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15 Vickie Woods, Planning Dire ct
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19 Dawson moved to recommen d
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21 Motion carried unanimously.
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23 ADJOURN
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25 The meeting was adjourned at
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30 Eliz eth Bennett, Recording Secielui
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32 ATTEST:
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38 Dana Brown- a : , ounce erk
Sherilyn Wells voiced several concerns, including scriveners errors; education element;
land clearing ordinance and Charter Amendment 2; prevention emphasis; sensitive resource areas
(Lummi); minimum disturbance of the watershed; agricultural exemption; and clearing definition --
no timeline.
Starkenburg moved to hold in committee for two weeks and work on language changes
discussed today. He requested written comments be submitted no later than Friday, March 8, by.
5 p.m.
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FOR THE VESTING OF
PROJECT PERMITS AND PROJECT PERMIT APPLICATION (AB96 -076)
or, stated this needs to be codified.
Florea responded to language concerns by Sutter. Donovan Kehrer also commented.
approval.
4:50 p.m.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Alvin dalfren-16—di7g-, • erp.
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Planning Minutes, 3/5/96, Page 3