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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning and Development April 19 1989WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE April 19, 1989 The meeting was called to order at 11 :05 by Chairman Tom Burton with Emily Jackson and Will Roehl present. Also present were Dan Taylor, Carl Batchelor, Planning; Andy Norstadt, Bellingham Herald; Lee Murphy, KGMI; Larry Harris; Marge Laidlaw; Mr. Kiel. 1. ORDINANCE ... (REZONING) TO LIGHT IMPACT INDUSTRIAL ... FOR ELEVEN PARCELS TOTALLING ABOUT 49 ACRES ON THE EAST SIDE OF PACIFIC HIGHWAY BETWEEN HORTON ROAD AND STUART ROAD 2. ORDINANCE ... (REZONING) TO GENERAL COMMERCIAL FOR ABOUT 32 ACRES EAST OF 1 -5, FRONTING PACIFIC HIGHWAY FROM SLATER ROAD SOUTH TO APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET SOUTH OF WALDRON ROAD Taylor passed out a copy of an Item 5 draft - he will continue to work on this until Thursday night's Council meeting. He hopes to have enough signatures on both ordinances by then. Roehl stated he could agree with the spread along the major highways if there was an adequate landscaping buffer required. Taylor stated that the landscape ordinance is doing badly at the Planning Commission. He said this is a compromise - we should have less stringent requirements but do them well. Burton stated that if property owners do not sign this will be stalled until May. Roehl moved to recommend forwarding these two ordinances to Council for adoption subject to fully signed agreements from property owners. Motion carried. 3. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE TO EXECUTE A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF BELLI NGHAM FOR A LAKE WHATCOM RESTORATION PROJECT Taylor handed out substitute pages 62 and 63. Jackson questioned and Taylor explained the funding. He said timesheets will be kept to differentiate time spent on this and time spent on regular duties. This is a pilot project - committing "in- kind" salary time of Taylor, Tyler, Brainard and the new Health Off icer. Roehl moved to recommend approval to Council. Motion carried. Planning and Development, 4- 19 -89, Page 2 4. RESOLUTION REVISING THE PUBLIC BENEFIT RATING SYSTEM USED BY WHATCOM COUNTY TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR OPEN SPACE AND TIMBER APPLICATIONS, PURSUANT TO RCW 84.34 Batchelor explained that there is no possibility of transferring from Open Space -Open Space without withdrawing from Open Space -Open Space and paying penalties. They have recently had a determination which mandates that anyone getting a rate change has a 30 day window of time after getting their notice in which they can get out of Open Space -Open Space without penalties. A transfer is possible from Ag to Timber and Timber to Ag. Woodlots are an Ag practice unless used as an commercial enterprise. Batchelor stated that he would not accept applications for Timber use without a forest management plan, or without a plan for public access and these need to be monitored. Where public access is prohibited because of wildlife habitation of endangered species, there needs to be a documentation by the State Wildlife Department. Open Space - Timber is under 20 acres or Designated Timber is 20 acres and over. Off- street parking is not mandated but certainly improves the applicants chances for approval. Jackson stated there should be no tax break If the person is making money on land. Roehl asked if this will affect previous owners and Taylor answered that we will not change the rules on anyone. Open Space application are down at this time. Taylor stated that we may be catching up to the demand or it is too much hassle for people to bother. 5. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LYNDEN - NOOKSACK VALLEY SUBAREA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MAP ... TO LIGHT IMPACT INDUSTRIAL FOR 9.89 ACRE PARCEL ... NORTH OF TROMP ROAD ON THE WEST SIDE OF GUIDE MERIDIAN Jackson was concerned about the traffic impact on Guide Meridian. Mr. Kiel has 3 driveways into the property and stated the change in zoning would not really change the traffic patterns at this time. Taylor stated Kiel would have to apply to the County if he planned to change the use of the property and could be given conditions at that time. Roehl moved to recommend adoption to the Council. Motion carried. 6. THE TWEED TWENTY /MAGRATH ROAD DISCUSSION Burton had toured the Tweed Twenty area and agrees with the residents that a road going through the subdivision would dramatically alter the quiet neighborhoods they now have. He does feel there should be contact with the developers of the newer section to work with the City and County to coordinate the planning of a connector road to Mt. Baker Highway. Planning and Development, 4- 19 -89, Page 3 7. BLAINE ANNEXATION PLANS FOR ADDITIONAL AREA The residents are totally against this and are currently collecting signatures to prevent it from happening. The meeting was adjourned at 12 :20 p.m. Ba ara Maher, Atqz!rJ4�� WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Tom Burton, Member COUNTY COUNCIL 311 Grand Avenue Bellingham, Washington 98225 April 21, 1989 TO: Planning and Development Committee Members FROM: Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk Tom Burton Donald G. Hansey Emily Jackson C.J. Johnson William P. Roehl Marvin G. Vanderpol Daniel M. Warner SUBJ: Review of and Decisions Regarding Open Space Applications This is to alert you to some policy changes that may affect how open space applications are reviewed and recommended. Also, I've made some procedural suggestions; please let me know what you think about them. Thanks. Time Limit Alert Jean Eastman of the Assessor's Office said she recently has learned of some new interpretations of the open space law that will affect how the applications are processed. Applications that are completed and submitted to her before July 1 will affect property taxes for 1990; those sent to her after July 1 will affect taxes for 1991. Please note that there are at least a dozen applications floating in limbo that possibly could be acted upon before July 1. Some of the applications were filed in late 1987. Where Oh Where Have These Applications Gone We're having some difficulty keeping our records of open space applications straight and up -to -date. I would appreciate your reviewing the list that follows and telling me the status of each application: Application: Date filed: Last action: North Cascades Audobon 12 -30 -87 Sent 2 -88 for review by city - Society (open /open) - county open space committee Gerald Barber 2 -18 -88 Planning Commission denied (timber) it in June 1988(7) Paul Crandall 12 -23 -87 Kept in P&D committee 1/19/89 (timber) Walden Haines (open /open) 12 -30 -87 Planning Commission denied? Kept in P&D 1/19/89 Date and Alice Lee 12 -29 -87 Kept in P&D committee 1/19/89 (timber) (awaiting management plan ?) Page 1 of 2 f e` 5yW�t t � Sir '' 1 \ � �I:� d ',/� Y�� K � K.- a�' 1� p { 5 ✓.�. y � Y� ` {. A_111_1� I � \. a �n K A �r TO: Planning and Development Committee Members FROM: Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk Tom Burton Donald G. Hansey Emily Jackson C.J. Johnson William P. Roehl Marvin G. Vanderpol Daniel M. Warner SUBJ: Review of and Decisions Regarding Open Space Applications This is to alert you to some policy changes that may affect how open space applications are reviewed and recommended. Also, I've made some procedural suggestions; please let me know what you think about them. Thanks. Time Limit Alert Jean Eastman of the Assessor's Office said she recently has learned of some new interpretations of the open space law that will affect how the applications are processed. Applications that are completed and submitted to her before July 1 will affect property taxes for 1990; those sent to her after July 1 will affect taxes for 1991. Please note that there are at least a dozen applications floating in limbo that possibly could be acted upon before July 1. Some of the applications were filed in late 1987. Where Oh Where Have These Applications Gone We're having some difficulty keeping our records of open space applications straight and up -to -date. I would appreciate your reviewing the list that follows and telling me the status of each application: Application: Date filed: Last action: North Cascades Audobon 12 -30 -87 Sent 2 -88 for review by city - Society (open /open) - county open space committee Gerald Barber 2 -18 -88 Planning Commission denied (timber) it in June 1988(7) Paul Crandall 12 -23 -87 Kept in P&D committee 1/19/89 (timber) Walden Haines (open /open) 12 -30 -87 Planning Commission denied? Kept in P&D 1/19/89 Date and Alice Lee 12 -29 -87 Kept in P&D committee 1/19/89 (timber) (awaiting management plan ?) Page 1 of 2 Thomas and Marsha Lyon 1 -8 -88 Sent 6 -88 for review by city - (timber) - county open space committee I've also attached a memo requesting that Planning sniff out some applications that were sent to the Planning Commission a few months ago. Review and Recommendations When reviewing open space applications and making decisions, would it be possible for you to please do the following (it would help keep our records clear and make the applications easier to process): 1. Regardless of the Planning Commission's recommendation, and regardless of the Planning and Development Committee's decision on applications, please forward them to the Council with a recommendation for approval or denial. We need to have on record that the Council took some sort of action on every application, unless it has been withdrawn by the applicant. Otherwise, some files just hang In limbo. 2. When making a motion to approve of an application, please state the special conditions that are to apply. AN EXAMPLE OF WHY THIS IS NEEDED: In a 1987 application by a Mr. Holz, the Council merely voted to approve of the open space classification for timber on his property (about 80 acres). It turns out that 12 acres is not wooded, and this was stated on his application. However, when the Assessor's Office tried to charge him timber rates on 68 acres and regular rates on 12 acres, Holz challenged this, and because the conditions had not been voted on by the Council, he won. Thanks in advance for the help. Enc I . c: Planning Department Shirley Van Zanten Page 2 of 2 /status.421 4W - ��; Qhone6`/6 6690 �* ;•.� Y` Ft 384 1403;:,-" SCAl`q,644.6690 vj Tom Burton COUNTY COUNCIL Donald G. Hansey 311 Grand Avenue Emily Jackson Bellingham, Washington 98225 C.J. Johnson William P. Roehl Marvin G. Vanderpol April 21, 1989 Daniel M. Warner TO: Dan Taylor, Planning Director FROM: Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk SUBJ: Open Space Applications Status Attached is a letter I've given to the Planning and Development Committee members. It is an attempt to remove the murkiness from our open space files. A few months ago, I asked your staff to give a status report on several applications. The report helped out a lot. When you have time, I'd appreciate a similar report on the following files: Name /Application Tye. Filed: Last Status: Davidson, Ian (timber) 11 -16 -88 Sent to Planning Commission 12 -5 -88 Granger, Arthur (timber) 12 -21 -88 Sent to Planning Commission 1 -11 -89 Granger, Robert (timber) 12 -21 -88 Sent to Planning Commission 1 -11 -89 Kiera, Eileen (timber) 12 -20 -88 Sent to Planning Commission 1 -11 -89 Robertson, Thomas (open) 12 -15 -88 Sent to Planning Commission 1 -11 -89 Vaughn, William (timber) 12 -22 -88 Sent to Planning Commission 1 -11 -89 Woolery, A.D. (timber) 8 -3 -88 Sent to Planning Commission 10 -11 -88 Even if the Planning Commission recommended denial of some of the applications, we need to be know. Otherwise our files are incomplete and the application remains in limbo. I know you folks are busy, but if you could get back to me before June I'd appreciate it. As you no doubt are aware, only approved applications sent to Jean Eastman before July 1 will have an affect on 1990 taxes. . ! Thanks in advance for your help. c: Planning and Development Committee Shirley Van Zanten /status.421 -••�Iii7l.l.� _ • . t ...... j""" PLANNING DEPARTMENT 401 Grand Avenue Bellingham, Washington 98225 kI ����1 . MEMORANDUM Scan: 644 -6756 2061676 -6756 TO: Ramona Reeves, County Council Clerk = Jean Eastman, County Assessor's Office Open Space Clerk FROM: Carl F. Batchelor, Planner II DATE: April 24, 1989 Fax: 676 -7727 2061398 -1310 RE: .Procedure for reevaluating Open Space parcels which have been subdivided after. approval under the Public Benefit Rating System. t,Occasionally a parcel of land which has been approved for Open Space taxation ,under the County's Public Benefit Rating System is later subdivided into two or ,more parcels. Since the Public Benefit Rating'is based on the characteristics of'a specific parcel, the question arises as to whether the parcels resulting "from., subdivision should have the same Rating as the original parcel. fIt' -'i s: the Planning Department's opinion that any parcel which is divided after !.Open'.Space approval should be reevaluated to determine if the original Rating is;''`,s:til.l applicable. There are three possible outcomes of such reevaluation: 1.' The resultant parcels are so similar in characteristics that no change or only.;;.a'minor change in the Rating is necessary. One or more of the resultant parcels may be so different in characteristics from the original parcel that a major revision of the Rating is warranted. One or more of the resultant parcels may no longer qualify for Open Space. `In'any case,. it will be necessary for the Planning Department to reevaluate in ,the event of subdivision. In case U. the Planning Staff could administratively Make: minor revisions to the rating. If it is determined that the parcel falls under. 'case #2. or U. it will be iiecessar the r { parcels to reap-ply pace in or er to initiate a complete sta � PTa7iT'c1'ii�GoTlflth3'S'1'arl hrU ng an County ounc action. Please let us know if you concur with our opinion on this matter or if you. have "4 Cadditional suggestions as to how this situation can be handled. 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