HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning and Development December 2 1987WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
December 2, 1987
The meeting was called to order at 2 :00 p.m. by Committee
Chair Muenscher with all committee members present. Also present
were Dan Taylor, Planning Director; Bert Brainard, Health
Department; Randy Watts, Council Attorney; Neil Clement, KGMI;
Harry Skinner; Fred Johnson; Jerry Libolt; Jens Jensen; and Burt
Germain.
ORDINANCE AMENDING THE TEXT OF TITLE 20, THE OFFICIAL WHATCOM
COUNTY ZONING CODE, TO EXEMPT SEWAGE SLUDGE AS A CONDITIONAL USE
IN THE RURAL, AGRICULTURAL, AND FORESTRY ZONES AND TO ALLOW IT AS
AN ACCESSORY USE WHEN REGULATED BY A UTILIZATION PERMIT ISSUED BY
THE BELLINGHAM - WHATCOM COUNTY DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN
ACCORDANCE WITH WAC 173 -304 -300
Planning Director Taylor reviewed the ordinance with the
committee members, and discussion followed.
Harry Skinner spoke about the need to distinguish among
different types of sludge and identify those high in industrial
contaminants, and stated that sludge spreading was a land use
issue and the county should retain control over it and extend
that control to sludge storage. He also questioned whether the
public hearing mentioned in the Health Department regulations was
actually a requirement; it was determined from a review of the
latest draft of those regulations that it was required.
Fred Johnson said that the Health Department can only use
health issues as a basis for issuing or denying permits, and is
prohibited from involvement in land use concerns. He also stated
that sludge spreading was a land use issue because it could
result in devaluation of property; and discussed the fact that
only one county food processor will accept products grown on
sludge- treated land.
Jerry Libolt pointed out that the new Health Department
regulations require the same sites to be used for sludge
spreading year after year, and that establishing new sites will
be expensive.
Council Attorney Randy Watts discussed some of the issues
involved in the ordinance, including the fact that land -
spreading permits for the spreading of sludge as a means of solid
waste disposal would continue to require a conditional use
permit. The ordinance would only allow utilization permits, for
sludge- spreading as an accessory use for the purpose of
fertilization, as a permitted use.
December 2, 1987
Page 2
WARNER MOVED TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE.
There was further discussion.
The motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
R.W. "Bob" Muenscher, Chair
Planning and Development Committee
ATTEST:
Clerk of the Council