HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning March 10 1992WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 10, 1992
The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 1000 North
Forest, 2nd floor, by Chairperson Ken Henderson.
Also present:
Larry Harris
Absent:
Dennis Vander Yacht
Barbara Brenner sat in for Dennis Vander Yacht.
1. CONSIDERATION OF A DOWN ZONE FROM GATEWAY INDUSTRIAL
TO RURAL ZONE TO ALLOW BANK FINANCING FOR A SINGLE
FAMILY HOUSE WHICH THE COUNTY INCLUDED IN INDUSTRIAL
ZONING AS PART OF AN AREA -WIDE PROCESS (AB92 -123)
Issues discussed: County's policy of batching rezone requests; maps of the property
in question (Clerk did not receive a copy; the property was indicated in purple); property
was homesteaded in 1870's by the Holtzheimer family; B. Holtzheimer got permits from
Buildings and Code to drill a well and build a home; started to get a loan, but Northwest
Mortgage Co. Inc. rejected the loan because the land is zoned industrial; why T.
Holtzheimer's reasons for thinking his land is not industrial, and about eight acres of that
land should be rezoned (outlined in red on the map); Planning initiated this rezone to
gateway industrial in 1987, but did not get proper notice to property owners; the Young
estate next to this property could be included; very soonest the Council could possibly
consider this would be June, if people who already have paid and been scheduled are
bumped; can't guarantee the rezone would be successful; whether this is an emergency
situation; fee waiver; fairness to the Holtzheimers; desirability of down- zones.
Persons speaking: Henderson; applicant, Ted Holtzheimer, on behalf of his son Brad
Holtzheimer; Harris; Planning Director Dan Taylor; Brenner.
HARRIS MOVED THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL
THAT THE REZONE REQUEST BE PROCESSED IN THE NORMAL WAY, AND HAVE
IT GO BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH THE REZONE BATCHING
PROCESS.
Brenner spoke against the motion.
Motion carried 2 -1, with Brenner opposed.
2. REPORT ON POSSIBLE SCHEDULE FOR TOWN MEETINGS AND
REVIEW REGARDING THE CRITICAL AREAS PORTION OF THE
Planning & Development Committee Minutes, 3110192, page 1
GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT (AB92- 058)(NO ACTION ANTICIPATED)
Issues discussed: Small changes to the schedule discussed by some Council Members
and staff members (by Taylor, copy of schedule on file); media advertisement of the town
meetings (memo on file).
Persons speaking: Taylor; Henderson; Bob Woods, Budget Analyst; Brenner.
MOTION TO RECOMMEND THAT THE MEETING DATES BE MARCH 31,
APRIL 1, AND APRIL 2.
Motion carried unanimously.
3. PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION OF COUNTY -WIDE PLANNING POLICIES
PORTION OF THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT (INFORMAL REVIEW
OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS)
Issues discussed: (Copies of the policies were distributed to Council Members on an
informal basis prior to the meeting) Taylor sought input to the proposed policies; formal
process (Council of Government review, city councils will have hearings in May, Planning
Commission will have hearing, Council will have hearing); changes suggested by citizens;
affordable housing, myth vs. reality; discouraging urban growth density outside urban areas;
coordinated water plan; annexation rules; purpose of the policy; clarification of terms used
in the policy; development standards; open space and greenbelt corridors;
Ferndale /Bellingham's growing together; affordable housing; county -wide transportation
service; development near transportation corridors; Fourth Corner Economic Development
Group.
Persons speaking: Taylor; Harris; Henderson; Brenner; Monty MacIntyre, 585
Pleasant Bay Road (letter on file); Roger Almskaar, land use consultant (letter on file).
4. OTHER BUSINESS
Forest Practices (AB92 -014): Tom Gaines, North Cascade Audubon Society, works
with timber, fish, and wildlife issues and wants to speak specifically to forest practices permit
application number 1911344. Apparently he is having difficulty with the Department of
Natural Resources, renewal and first -time application review and approval. Wants Council
to submit a letter to DNR asking for revocation of this permit and whether or not rain and
snow evaluations are being done. The Cornell Creek cut, FPA numbers 1914199 and
1914200 were determined not to need additional conditioning for rain on snow; he finds this
hard to believe. Harris commented.
Martin Keeley, Point Roberts, wants the County to look into the track records of
specific logging practices as per specific loggers within Whatcom County.
Gaines also wants the County to require a written evaluation of how analyses are
done, to investigate the gap in enforcement in forest practices (such as additional staff to
monitor and evaluate complaints), and to ensure that applicants follow the letter of the law.
Planning & Development Committee Minutes, 3110192, page 2
Henderson responded.
Because there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
ATTEST:
Ramona Reeves, Clerk
nc
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT CONIlV =E
Ken Henderson, Chairman
Planning & Development Committee Minutes, 3110192, page 3