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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning and Development June 12 1990WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE June 12, 1990 The meeting was called to order at 1 p.m. by Committee Chairperson Marge Laidlaw in the Council Conference Room. Others Present: Absent: Emily Jackson None. Don Hansey 1. ORDINANCE AMENDING ... TITLE 20 ... TO MODIFY (VARIOUS) SECTIONS ... TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON OFF - PREMISE ADVERTIS- ING SIGNS (AB90 -164) (PAPERWORK ALREADY DISTRIBUTED, 5/22) Taylor said he would fully explain the ordinance at the evening meeting, when a public hearing would take place. He also said some minor changes would be suggested in a memo to be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting. Laidlaw said she and other Council members would have a substitute ordinance prepared for the evening meeting. There was some discussion. Laidlaw said the Committee would not take action on this item, that a recommendation. would come after the public hearing. 2. REQUEST TO AMEND. THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP FROM RURAL -ONE DWELLING PER TEN ACRES (R -10A) TO RURAL -ONE DWELLING PER FIVE ACRES (R -5A) FOR APPROXIMATELY 1350 ACRES IN BIRCH BAY - BLAINE SUBAREA (AB90 -97) In the past, Taylor said, the Planning Commission has not forwarded recommendations of denial to the Council. However, the County Code states the Council shall receive all recommenda- tions from the Planning Commission. The Planning Department is therefore requesting the Council to either uphold the Planning Commission's denial, or to schedule a public hearing in order to con- duct its own review. Discussion ensued. Hansey said apparently the applicant asked to rezone two parcels totalling about 15 acres, and he was told by staff that it would be difficult to rezone such a small area. The applicant was encouraged to get more property owners involved, yet because of the larger area included in the request the applicant's request was denied. This seemed to be a bit of a "catch -22," Hansey said. He also commented that numbers in the report (percentages of density, and parcel sizes) did not appear to be consistent and were in fact contradictory. He noted a typographical error in the vote tally. He asked for clarification, particularly of how a 15 -acre request grew to 1,350 acres. Taylor said the size change was due to the staff encouraging the applicant to increase the size from 15 acres; he didn't know why the applicant expanded to such a large size. Batchelor said the average parcel size was about five acres. Discussion ensued among Hansey and Batchelor. Jackson, Laidlaw, Hansey, Taylor and Batchelor discussed various aspects of the proposal, including the possibility of paring down the request to a more reasonable amount, and some typographical errors. There was some reference to the map of the proposed area, provided at the meeting by Batchelor and Taylor. Taylor eventually suggested that the Council could remand the matter to the Planning Commission, asking them to review a smaller portion of the request. Taylor had to leave the meeting. Discussion continued. P &D Minutes, 6/12/90, Page 1 Haney said the Planning Commission member he spoke with said the public testimony mainly was negative. Laidlaw said the Committee had three options to recommend to the Council: Recommending that a hearing take place; uphold the Commission's recommendation; or it could be remanded to the commission. HANSEY MOVED THAT THE REQUEST BE REMANDED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION OF A SMALLER AREA. Motion failed with Laidlaw and Jackson opposed. Laidlaw said she felt the Planning Commission had. adequately reviewed the matter. There was minor discussion. JACKSON MOVED TO UPHOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMEN- DATION. Motion carried with Hnyey opposed. Laidlaw explained to the applicant, Mr. Lancaster, who was in the audience, that the Council would make the final determination so he still should attend the Council meeting that evening. 3. PRESENTATION OF COUNTY -WIDE ADDRESSING SYSTEM, BY DEPUTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR JOHN TYLER (AB90 -201) Tyler was absent; Henken said he was present to answer questions relating to the Engineer- ing department, and he didn't know why Tyler was absent. The Clerk noted that Mr. Tyler's office had recently requested to schedule the presentation for the June 26 Council meeting. �. REPORT FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, BY PARKS. DIRECTOR ROGER DESPAIN (AB90 -202) Nesset Property: DeSpain showed some slides of the Tom Nesset property, including aerial shots of the South Fork valley. The 106 -acre farm was acquired by Mr. Nesset's family many years ago. Mr. Nesset, 91, said he never wanted to see the hillside above his farm logged. DeSpain said many of the trees are 80- year -old Douglas firs and the farm itself is very reminiscent of the 1910 -1920 era. Whatcom County land trust now has a conservation easement across Mr. Nesset's property, which prohibits the area from being sprayed with pesticides or herbicides. If the area were converted to a park, there would be restrictions on where the entrances and . exits would be. DeSpain said it is possible to take over the Department of Natural Resources park land to the north of Mr. Nesset's property. Mr. Nesset's property would be a real treasure to Whatcom County, DeSpain noted. Some land trading would be needed between DNR and Goodyear- Nelson, the company owning property directly to the north of Nesset's land. This would allow for access into Nesset's property. People could come off Highway 9, onto Mosquito Lake Road, then through the DNR land to the park. DeSpain said there is a great need for camping in the County, as well as access to the river for "tubers." He said DNR is very willing to make some land exchanges in order to accomplish some of this, but they want the County to be very specific in its request for land. DeSpain continued his discussion. If the Council and Executive are willing to- trade with DNR there will be some costs; not only in the form of land exchanges, and in terms of lost timber harvest revenue. Jackson asked. P &D Minutes, 6/12/90, Page 2 some questions about the possible trades. Laidlaw asked why access to the property could not come from the south; DeSpain said the Nessets didn't want to create traffic impacts on their neighbors to the south. Discussion continued. DeSpain said the Park Board and the Executive will be consulted, and he would appreciate the Council's concurrence in pursuing the "fact finding" lase of this project. Discussion continued. The Firs' Property: Next DeSpain discussed the "Firs" property. He said Parks had heard some waterfront property may be available in the Geneva area; one of the properties is the ball field area. He spoke of two other parcels, one is 80 feet, one is 100; he said neither would be suitable for a park. DeSpain said he initially thought the Firs campground would have been available; but that was not the case. He said there really isn't anything worth pursuing at this time. Little Squalicum Park: DeSpain presented the draft of the master plan for Little Squalicum Park, near Bellingham Vo -Tech. Councilman Bob Imhof had asked at one time how much land the County owned in that area; DeSpain pointed out the property on a color -coded map. DeSpain said the County is asking the Port for access to the beach. Port Manager Don Fleming said it will be considered. Other properties: DeSpain discussed other matters. 5. OTHER BUSINESS ATTEST: Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Margaret M. Laidlaw, Member P &D Minutes, 6/12/90, Page 3