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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning and Development April 10 1990WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE April 10, 1990 The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by Committee Chairperson Marge Laidlaw in the Council Conference Room. Also present: Absent: Emily Jackson None. Don Hansey 1. DISCUSSION OF TOM YANKE OPEN SPACE APPLICATION DISPUTE It was explained that Mr. Yanke and Linda Zander, who represented the Farm Bureau, asked that this matter be delayed. Assessor Keith Willnauer said he has agreed to discuss the matter with Mr. Yanke and his counsel, which is being provided by the Farm Bureau. JACKSON MOVED TO DELAY THIS MATTER UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. Motion carried. 2. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE TEXT OF THE OFFICIAL ZONING ORDINANCE, GATEWAY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO ALLOW TOURIST COMMERCIAL RETAIL SHOPS UP TO BUT NOT TO EXCEED 35,000 SQUARE FEET WITHIN ONE QUARTER MILE OF A FULL FREEWAY INTERCHANGE (AB90 -58) Council had considered this a couple of weeks ago, then agreed to advertise the matter for public hearing to determine the square footage issues. Phil Serka, attorney for the applicant, was present, and said he would speak at the hearing that evening. HANSEY MOVED TO SEND THE MATTER FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION SUBJECT TO THE OUTCOME OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. Motion carried. 3. DISCUSSION OF ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM ON PROCESSING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR OFF - PREMISE ADVERTISING SIGNS FROM APRIL 30, 1990 TO JUNE 30, 1990 (AB90 -135) (BEING INTRODUCED, WILL BE REFERRED TO PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT) Laidlaw explained this will be introduced at the 4/10 meeting, and an emergency ordinance will be presented at the April 24 meeting in order to enact an immediate extension to the moratorium. Planning Director Dan Taylor said the Planning Commission voted 4 -3 to send revisions to the sign ordinance forward. The emergency Planning & Development, 4/10/90, Page 2 ordinance would carry a 60 -day moratorium that would cover the period of April 30 to May 4; Council may only need to pass the emergency ordinance. Because the Commission is split, a minority report will be forthcoming, he said. Jackson asked if Commission members unable to attend work sessions would be reviewing the tapes so Council would know what all members think about the issue. Laidlaw noted that no action was needed on this item at this time. 4. UPDATE ON URBAN FRINGE Taylor said Planning has worked with the City of Bellingham on proposed annexation issues since November. Planner Carl Batchelor posted a map showing the urban fringe area, including the West Bakerview area that has generated much interest of late. A focus of a partial urban fringe study would be from the Guide Meridian east and north. Jackson asked about the King Mountain area, which is generating a lot of interest on the part of developers /speculators, she said. Taylor said if the Council wants Planning to do a study less than the whole urban fringe, some areas can not be included. Haney asked if it would be easier on Planning to just have direction to study a very small area, like West Bakerview. Taylor agreed, but noted that an annexation further north and east is just as critical; and the King Mountain area is another important area. Laidlaw asked about the need to go further north. Taylor said Planning could cut it off at Stewart or Horton roads rather than to Smith Road. Discussion ensued. Jackson said she would be reluctant to pursue this without taking on some of the land between Guide Meridian and Hannegan. Laidlaw asked what the City has said about that area; Taylor said no one has mentioned King Mountain, but there has been some speculation in that area. Discussion continued. Jackson suggested the border be Horton Road, she said. Laidlaw asked if this would be a workable compromise, and if King Mountain should be done soon, as well; Taylor said the compromise was fine, but that King Mountain probably was not too urgent. Jackson again said she was concerned about the people in that area who are zoned R5 but are abutting URM18 property, and also noted dissatisfaction with the City's Economic Development Department planning for growth into the County. Taylor said developers go to the city rather than to Buildings and Code or Planning, which is sometimes frustrating. But he thinks everything the City's done has been safely within the urban area. He said he didn't think the City would be courting anyone in the Hannegan Road area. Taylor noted that state law will have some real implications for County /City planning. Getting back to the limits of the urban fringe study, Taylor said it would make sense to address the area west of the freeway, near the airport entrance. There was discussion about the annexation timetable. Tyler, Haney, and Laidlaw discussed the matter of boundaries for the mini -urban fringe study. Haney said keeping it small, setting a limit of Stewart to the west then to Horton to the east would be a good idea. There was discussion. Tyler asked if phasing the plan would be a good idea. He discussed his concern, saying an R.I.D. would be necessary in the Bakerview area in order to get proper traffic flow. Gas tax funding for such improvements probably won't be available until 1994, he said. Hansey recapped the boundaries, saying the following will be included: The URM just east of the Guide; the immediate area of the airport entrance and the freeway Planning & Development, 4/10/90, Page 3 interchange. Jackson, Tyler and Laidlaw discussed road funding and road improvements. Taylor said street improvements should be independent of Planning process; in fact, he said a solution other than an R.I.D. would be appropriate. The final solution should wait until the transportation study is completed, which will be in about 1991, he said. Tyler commented further. Taylor distributed a sheet showing the work program that will be needed for the mini -urban fringe study. Taylor recommended the Committee schedule a discussion on the state land use law and its impact on Planning and Building & Codes. Except for not having the South Fork and the Reservation areas done, Planning is pretty much doing what the law requires. Taylor said he could be available in a few weeks; Laidlaw suggested May 22. Taylor said he and Tyler could work together on a presentation. 5. DISCUSSION OF GROWTH RETREAT FOR COUNCIL IN EARLY MAY (TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR MAY 8) Laidlaw said council decided at its February retreat to schedule this. Facilitators have given us tentative bids, and it is tentatively scheduled for May 8 from 9 to 1, lunch included, with the facilitator speaking to different Department heads prior to that to get an idea of what issues are before the Council. She said Finance will be discussing this at 3 p.m. Jackson noted that WWU is having a growth conference that she will be attending, along with other Council members. She also said the Bar Association is having a growth conference and perhaps getting away (TAPE CHANGE) to learn about how other areas are doing things would be beneficial. Would the Council be better off to spend the $245 apiece to attend that Bar Association conference instead? It would have a Canadian development focus. Laidlaw said she agreed with Jackson, but possibly the Bar Association conference would not be as useful for non - lawyers. The Council has not sat down and listened to one another to decide what issues need more study. Discussion continued. The Executive is committed to sharing the cost of hiring the facilitator, Laidlaw said. Jackson asked if full Council should investigate the cost effectiveness of the Bar Association conference, which will be at the end of May or the first of June. Laidlaw said it would be appropriate to discuss that at the May 8 meeting. Laidlaw said research into the matter would be unnecessary. 6. DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE NEED FOR POLICY REFINEMENT REGARDING OPEN SPACE Laidlaw said this does not specifically relate to the Yanke situation, but is arising from discussions at the Joint City - County open space committee meetings. Laidlaw asked Jackson to work with the City on this matter. Hansey said coordinating the City and County public benefit ratings would be very helpful. Jackson said probably within six weeks something could be ready for review. Discussion ensued. Staff was asked to include in the Council update that this subcommittee is being set up so the Council will know that Jackson will be leading the subcommittee and that various departments will be working with that subcommittee. Planning & Development, 4/10/90, Page 4 7. OTHER BUSINESS Address System: Tyler said his staff has been working on an addressing system, and would like to arrange a "dog and pony" show to the Committee on the matter. The problems have been identified and there are budget implications to the solutions, he said. He asked that this be scheduled in May, if possible. Jackson asked questions about the system, and asked if a series of town meetings should be set up, since the change will likely scare some people. Tyler talked about the concerns expressed by fire departments and others who need to respond to emergencies; and last year, 300 new roads were named, he said. Tyler said an early June meeting would be acceptable as well. Planning Commission: Laidlaw said the Council's Planning and Development Committee will meet with the Planning Commission at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Assessor's Budget: Taylor talked about an amendment to the Assessor's budget to finish up zoning changes in their computer system. The meeting was adjourned at 2:35 p.m. ATTEST: Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Margare . Laidlaw, Mem er PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE APRIL 10, 1990 ATTENDANCE LIST Name Organization jAddress Patricia K. Smith 189 Van Wyck Road Cyndia Anderson 347 Van Wyck Road Larry Harris Planning Commission Dan Taylor Planning Department Director Carl Batchelor Planning Department