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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning and Development October 23 1990WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE October 23, 1990 The meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 2nd floor, 1000 N. Forest St. by Committee Chairperson Marge Laidlaw. Also Present: Absent: Don Hansey Emily Jackson 1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP FROM RURAL - ONE DWELLING PER 10 ACRES TO RURAL -ONE DWELLING PER FIVE ACRES FOR ONE PARCEL (10 ACRES) IN THE FOOTHILLS SUBAREA (AB90 -339) (PLAN- NING) 28 -38 Laidlaw noted that Jackson was absent due to her attendance at a meeting in Olympia. Jackson had sent her a memo of support of the first item. No one was present to address the item. HANSEY MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL BY THE COUNCIL. Motion carried. 2. POSSIBLE DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED PUGET SOUND WATER QUALITY LEGISLATION (AB90 -357) Laidlaw said apparently the Association of Counties (WSAC) distributed information about proposed legislation that would tax new automobiles in the state. Jerry Chambers, owner of Chambers Chevrolet, said he didn't know much about it, but he opposes the tax. He would be held accountable for the numbers and the revenue reportable under the legislation. Apparently this is modeled after California legislation and the proceeds there protect the air quality. Chambers said this is just another added expense that will be passed on to the consumer. He said it costs more here than any other state in the nation to do business, in terms of selling cars. Laidlaw said the County is being asked by the WSAC to comment, she didn't know how much good those comments would do. Chambers said they might do some good. Haney asked if the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority was restructured; the response was yes, it is now under the state Department of Ecology. He wondered by proceeds from the proposed tax would be split between PSWQ and D.O.E. No one seemed to know. Chambers said he knew no decision would be made today, but he wanted to comment anyway. It seems the burden always gets laid on the business person, he said. In order to comply with new state licensing divisions, he had to hire an additional person. Laidlaw asked why she hadn't seen information on this new law before, with the documentation being dated in September. Hansey said it was in the Council's correspon- dence file. Planning & Development Minutes, 10/23/90, Page 1 Hansey suggested Laidlaw call Gary Lowe of WSAC and ask him what action the Council needs to be taking on this. Chambers will be notified if this is discussed again, along with others who didn't attend but who probably are interested. Deputy Public Works Director John Tyler said PSWQ just completed a draft study that finds road runoff is hazardous material, and need to be handled as such (dumped at a hazardous waste site after collection). Tyler said Whatcom County has a little over 1,000 miles of County road to maintain and the type of money needed to comply with these programs would be outrageous. Discussion ensued. 3. UPDATE ON PROPOSED COUNTY -WIDE ADDRESSING SYSTEM (AB90 -201) An unidentified woman and Jeana DeVries, address technician for Buildings and Code, were present. DeVries updated the Council on response to the proposed addressing system for the entire county. Those cities who didn't support the program had a wait -and- see attitude. Ferndale's response was negative but they want to be kept advised. Blaine was the most positive. Bellingham was initially reluctant, but did ask to be kept posted. A citizen named Pat Campbell asked if the system would put the cities and the rural area on a single system? Laidlaw said it would be a system by which you could tell by the address what part of the County they're in. Campbell said it was long overdue, he was a crew dispatcher for Puget Power for a long time. Laidlaw said the County is moving slowly toward the solution. Mark Watkinson, Skagit County Public Works, said Skagit County also is looking at working out its addressing problems. He asked for a brief review of the system. DeVries and Tyler talked about designing the grid system. Currently if someone is looking for an address in this County, good luck. Growth has made the problem more obvious. Since the first of the year in the unincorporated area, have developed over 1700 addresses; that's the equivalent of Nooksack and Everson. He explained how the labels "Court," "Loop," "Circle," "Way" and others will be used to determine certain types of roads. In the event of a fire, in some new locations, even residents of the area can't locate the address of an emergency situation. Watkinson said the idea is in its infancy in Skagit County. It has a north -south and east -west grid, allowing for new numbers every 105 feet. This doesn't work well where roads wind, nor for heavily- platted recreational areas- turned- residential. He is trying to gather information to take back to the County Commissioners. Laidlaw said it will cost about $300,000 to $400,000. Watkinson said fire districts, over the last two years, have bought new house numbers and have put them in place; so the County will have to replace those numbers. Discussion continued. Money would cover a physical inventory of all roads and addresses in the County; it allows for overlay and readdressing, re- signing all County roads, etc. Not included is the cost of putting this information into computers. Cost to small cities would be for new signs. The U.S. Postal Service likes the idea, and volunteered to re -route mail for a year to 18 months following the changeover, De Vries said. Tyler said he requested $90,000 in next years' budget; this would give the grid, the first quadrant and signage for that quadrant. Signs are available through the state prison system. If cities order at same time, the volume determines the price. Hansey asked about sharing personnel or technical stuff with Skagit County, in order to save money. Tyler commented. Haney asked which counties have done this in recent years. Tyler said Snohomish is just finishing its review. It took Planning & Development Minutes, 10/23/90, Page 2 Snohomish five years. Discussion continued. Laidlaw talked about the merits of having town meetings within each quadrant so people feel a part of the process. Tyler said that sort of thing is already planned for, in order to educate the public about the plan and give people time to use up materials with pre - printed addresses. Tyler estimated the project will take three to five years. Tyler asked if the Committee would bring it to the full Council for endorsement, and it will be discussed by Finance during budget process to talk about funding. Discussion ensued, including between Tyler and Watkinson. An unidentified woman asked about the mechanics of assigning addresses to new developments. Tyler responded. Old familiar names may be retained by using a smaller sign below the official grid name. To keep the problem from getting completely out of hand, Buildings and Code is using the grid for short plats at this time. The woman said it would seem cost effective to start numbering on the grid as of January 1, 1991, so wouldn't have to re -do anything. There was discussion. 4. OTHER BUSINESS The meeting was adjourned at 2:53 p.m. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk Margaret M.! 'dlaw, Council Member Planning & Development Minutes, 10/23/90, Page 3