HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning November 12 1996WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
November 12, 1996
The meeting was called to order at 2:35 p.m. by Council Chair Alvin Starkenburg in the
Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present: Absent:
Marlene Dawson None
Kathy Sutter
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ONLY
1. REVIEW OF THE DRAFT WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
(AB96 -051A) (THE COMMITTEE WILL BE ACCEPTING WRITTEN
PUBLIC COMMENT ONLY. PEOPLE WISHING TO SPEAK TO THE
COUNCIL ON THIS ISSUE SHOULD PLAN TO ATTEND TONIGHT'S
SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING)
Staff Also Present:
Michael Knapp, Planning and Development Services
Elizabeth Sjostrom, Planning and Development Services
Dan Gibson, Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Tom Brown, County Council member .
Ward Nelson, County Council member
Bill Geyer
Handouts from Planning and Development Services were provided the committee.. First
discussed was the County -wide planning policies. Elizabeth Sjostrom, Planning and Development
Services, noted this is the draft from the Oversight Committee, which is a representative of the
Planning staff from each city in the County. The purpose of this committee is to meet the Growth
Management Act goals and then be able to have the Comprehensive Plan funneled through this
document to ensure compliancy. Sjostrom stated it was hoped to be able to get this document
formalized before the Comprehensive Plan review was completed. Her department would like to
have a workshop on November 19 with all cities.
Starkenburg inquired of the status of the progress of each of the cities. Sjostrom'replied
that what is before the committee is what has been agreed on by all the cities. She noted that
Council can now make any necessary changes. Each city must then formally adopt this document.
Planning Minutes, 11/12/96, Page 1
I Dan Gibson, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, addressed the legal background by stating
2 that the law provides that Counties are to adopt County -wide planning policies in cooperation
3 with cities. The only ones who can challenge these policies are other cities and the state.
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5 Sjostrom continued by stating that one issue that needs further clarification is K2, which is
6 a broad policy. Her department would like to hold a public hearing on December 10. Gibson
7 stated that K2 refers to water consideration and water resource protection in relation to other
8 natural resource designations. The key is ensuring an appropriate safeguarding of water resources
9 and balancing of relevant factors.
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11 Brown thought all areas of the County are basically included in this document and
12 wondered how potential conflicts could possibly be eliminated. Dawson also thought "potential'
13 could be eliminated and "potable" could be inserted before "water resource ". Sutter thought
14 perhaps a clear definition of "water resource" would solve the problem. Sjostrom confirmed she
15 had requested the cities clarify their interpretation of the language. Dawson referred to L3, noting
16 that the language singled out "marine water bodies ".
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18 Gibson stated many elements corresponding to growth management requirements will be
19 noted as the County -wide planning policies are examined. One item not specifically addressed by
20 way of policy is one relating to resource lands, including agriculture, mineral resources and
21 forestry lands. To some extent, this is addressed implicitly. The appropriate question raised is
22 whether there needs to be a more explicit policy pertaining to resource lands.
23
24 Starkenburg mentioned the impact fees, J, specifically to the words "encourage" and
25 "coordinate ".
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27 Starkenburg requested Council members submit their concerns to Dana Brown - Davis,
28 Council Clerk, for forwarding to Planning for discussion on November 19 prior to that meeting.
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30 Dawson spoke to gravel concentrations and natural water bodies and wondered where the
31 concern about the minerals fits into this plan. Gibson stated this is an area of built -in conflict,
32 which is unavoidable. The challenge is what policies guide Council members in the resolution in
33 that conflict.
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35 Sutter asked about the Interlocal Agreements as they relate to County -wide planning
36 policies - -are these a conflict? It was decided to put this on staff s list to be worked on.
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38 Starkenburg encouraged all Council members to be present at the work session on
39 November 19, noting its importance.
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41 Starkenburg then discussed the Comprehensive Plan schedule (on file) and the proposed
42 format of these meetings. Gibson noted the key word for the Growth Management Hearings
43 Board (GMHB) is "iterative ", which is a back and forth give and take. He briefly elaborated.
Planning Minutes, 11/12/96, Page 2
I Subareas were then discussed. Starkenburg noted it was intended that the subarea
2 chapters of the Comp Plan would "disappear ", being used only for reference. The "guiding light"
3 is the Comp Plan.
4
5 Bill Geyer inquired if the meetings and workshops would allow for appropriate SEPA
6 review and creation of Findings changes in subareas. Knapp responded in the affirmative. Gibson
7 noted that SEPA will continue to be an issue and that staff must be allowed sufficient time to
8 work on Findings as it relates to what has been heard from Council.
9
10 Gibson clarified that the GMHB decision issued in September gives rise to the need for a
11 number of areas to be addressed involving industrial and commercial land supply, which will
12 probably take place in late January.
13
14 Gibson noted that subareas become a very convenient way of examining land use, etc., in
15 "bite -sized chunks ".
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17 The index file was next discussed. Council staff has been creating this file, which contains
18 a master file of all documents and information. This file should be of great assistance when
19 discussing the subareas. Sjostrom stated she would like to be able to have an index for Council
20 members to have as reference for their decisions. There would also be an index for compliance.
21
22 Starkenburg noted the next step in this process would be regulations. Noting that staff
23 will need direction, Sjostrom explained the action plan items (handouts on file). Discussion on the
:4 procedure followed. Gibson noted that critical areas is an area being wrestled with; therefore,
25 compliance in relation to critical areas assumes some importance, and that level is determined by
26 the Council. He further stated he has found much information on all the issues Council is dealing
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with on the Internet and has been and will continue to pull off various pieces of information for
Council's reference as supplemental information.
Starkenburg closed the meeting by mentioning that all meetings will be held in the Council
Committee Room. He also read the ten key goals of the Growth Management Act.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 3:32 p.m.
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Alvin Starkenburg, Council M ber
Planning Minutes, 11/12/96, Page 3