HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning and Development December 4 1990WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMPITEE
December 4, 1990
The meeting was called to order at 2 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 1000 N. Forest
St., by Committee Chairperson Marge Laidlaw.
Also Present: Absent:
Don Hansey Emily Jackson
1. RECOMMENDED DENIAL OF REQUEST TO AMEND THE OFFICIAL
ZONING MAP FROM RURAL -ONE DWELLING PER TEN ACRES TO
RURAL ONE DWELLING PER FIVE ACRES FOR AN AREA
SMALLER THAN THE ORIGINALLY REQUESTED 1350 ACRES IN
THE BIRCH BAY- BLAINE AREA (AB90 -197A)
Laidlaw said the hearing on this item was continued from the last meeting; no action
or discussion took place.
2. RESOLUTION ENTERING INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
WITH OTHER COUNTIES OWNING PUBLIC TIMBER (AB90 -418)
Council Chairman Hansey introduced this resolution at the last meeting, seeking to
authorize the Executive to enter into the agreement. There was discussion. Clerk left the
room to seek complete paperwork on this item.
3. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ACCEPT
FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF WETLANDS REGULATIONS AS
PART OF CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE (AB90 -423)
Planning Director Dan Taylor was present to help explain this resolution. Some
discussion followed.
4.
MOVED TO RECOMMEND FOR APPROVAL TO COUNCIL.
Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION AMENDING WETLANDS POLICY TO BE USED UNTIL
SUCH TIME AS WHATCOM COUNTY HAS A WETLANDS
ORDINANCE (AB90 -424, RELATED TO AB90 -316)
Planning and Development Minutes, 12/04/90, Page 1
Deputy Public Works Director John Tyler and SEPA Official Jerry Mixon discussed
the matter. Mixon said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has said single family dwellings
are not worth worrying about at this point, because the amount of fill required for a single -
family dwelling cannot cause much damage; the likelihood that the fill would amount to
more than one - acre's worth is very small.
Marilyn Bissell, 1390 Nigel Road, Bellingham: She questioned regulations on one
acre lots in a development that might be obvious wetlands. Under this proposed
amendment, a whole group of residential homes would be developed without being
regulated. Mixon said if the plat was approved by the County and recorded appropriately,
and if the lots are under an acre, the Corps and the County do not have jurisdiction over
them.
Mixon and Laidlaw discussed the matter further. When rules are drafted in the
future, enforcement and strong penalties need to be in place so people don't do damage and
then get permitted without a fuss if they are caught. Mixon spoke about the possibility of
an "enforcement nightmare." Discussion continued; Tyler joined in.
HANSEY MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE
RESOLUTION TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
ATTESTED:
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Ramona Reeves, County Clerk
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PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
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Marge Lai aw, Chairperson
Planning and Development Minutes, 12/04/90, Page 2