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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning June 23 1992WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Tuesday, June 23, 1992 The meeting was called to order at 1:35 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 1000 N. Forest St., 2nd floor, by Ken Henderson, _Chairman. Also present: Absent: Larry Harris Dennis Vander Yacht 1. ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ADMINISTRATION, TITLE 16 SECTION 16.08.070 TO INCLUDE CRITICAL AQUIFER RECHARGE AREAS; SECTION 16.08.055, EXTENDING THE TIME LIMITS RELATING TO PROJECT REVIEWAND THRESHOLD DETERMINATIONS; AND SECTION 16.08.160.(4C), ADDING A REFERENCE TO THE PROPOSED CRITICAL AREAS REGULATIONS (AB92 -203) Topics discussed: Purpose; proposed changes; reasons for the changes. Persons speaking: Dan Taylor, Planning; Roland Middleton, SEPA Coordinator; Harris; Henderson. HARRIS MOVED TO CHANGE 16.08.055.(B) FROM FORTY -FIVE DAYS TO NINETY DAYS AND TO DELETE THE REST OF THAT SENTENCE, ADDING "IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION WITH CHAPTER 4321C.SECT1 0N 1, RCW." Motion carried unanimously. HARRIS MOVED TO RECOMMEND PASS OF ORDINANCE AS AMENDED. Motion carried unanimously. 2. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FORMATION OF A CITIZEN COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP A CHARACTER PLAN FOR THE POINT ROBERTS SUBAREA, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT OFAPROCESS FOR FACILITATING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CHARACTER PLANNING PROCESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN GUIDELINES (AB92 -241) Topics discussed: Background; need for committee; make up of committee; liability incurred by Council or County; keeping the membership open. Planning & Development Minutes, 6123192 Page 1 Persons speaking: Taylor; Marilyn Bissell, 347 Evergreen Way; Harris; Henderson; Vander Yacht; Barbara Brenner, Councilmember. Item is to be held in committee until the first regular meeting in July. 3. EMERGENCY ORDINANCE TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM ON NEW SURFACE MINING PERMITS (AB92 -267) Topics discussed: Background; hearing. Persons speaking: Jeff Griffin, Planning; Taylor; Vander Yacht; Henderson. VANDER YACHT MOVED TO RECOMMEND PASS. Motion carried unanimously. Alvin Starkenburg, 7416 Hannagen Rd.: challenged the idea of an emergency, since this has been an "emergency" for so long. Where is this going? When is it going to end? How is everything going to come together? The end result could be the loss of an affordable product. 4. OTHER BUSINESS GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT: CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE (AB92- 058C). Originally removed from the agenda, this item was restored at the request of Taylor in order to share with the Committee the final changes in the CAO. Topics discussed: new positions; departments involved; sources of funds; request to making Agriculture generic (Planning recommends not to do that); reason why the single area not exempted is wildlife; Item 6 change (add "if needed" at end of sentence); 3.10.3 Variances (change from Planning will not be made). Persons speaking: Brenner; Taylor; Henderson; Harris; Chris Piers, Planning; Evelyn Nowicke, 3341 Berg Rd. INTERMODAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ACT: Taylor gave a summary of this plan. N SCHEDULE: Taylor gave a brief overview of coming planning issues and the dates of action. A hard copy will be coming soon. FRIENDS OF SUMAS MOUNTAIN: Topics discussed: Results of the Seattle hearing on June 22, 1992; judge's "strong" Planning & Development Minutes, 6123192, Page 2 support for the Friends of Sumas Mountain and Dr. Easterbrook's report; new legal hearing scheduled September 14 -25, which effectively stops logging this season; request that the Council intervene immediately; Nooksack Tribe's intervention; bond requirements; new affidavits from Drs. Babcock and Easterbrook; request for County to join in the lawsuit; role of the County in the case; Friends' desire for an Environmental Impact Statement on the additional acreage on the mountain; requirements of a reversal of a Council decision; evidence of a major fault between the gorges. Persons speaking: Jean Westgate, 3908 Cabrant Rd., Everson; Henderson; Harry Skinner, Sumas Mountain; Bill Schmidt, DNR; Ken Ryan, Sumas Mountain; Gordon Iverson, Trillium Corp. Henderson suggested that Westgate and Friends of Sumas Mountain present their case during Open Hearing at the regular Council meeting. At that time he would consider bringing their case back before the full Council. Because there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned. ATTEST: PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ", 7 7 (e,, Assistant Clerk Ken Henderson, Chairman c: \nancy\p1annin&623 It Planning & Development Minutes, 6123192, Page 3