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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning and Development June 17 1987WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE June 17, 1987 The meeting was called to order at 2:02 p.m. by Committee Chair Muenscher with all committee members present. Also present were Council Chair Tom Burton; Dan Taylor and Carl Batchelor of the Planning Department; Roger DeSpain, Parks; and several citizens concerned about the ORV Park issue. RESOLUJION IN THE OF UNC IL REQUE51 AND ADVICE THE PARK BOARD Muenscher reviewed the two resolutions before the Committee: The.original which had been introduced by Warner and a substitute introduced by Johnson. Warner discussed his resolution, stating that the concerns which lead him to develop it were separate from those addressed by the environmental impact statement, which was not sufficient to address the county -wide impact of the project. However, he said that he would be willing to amend his resolution to state that statement the Parks Board would be requested and advised to refrain from further planning for the ORV Park at Sumas Mountain until the adoption of the Foothills Subarea Comprehensive Plan. Johnson discussed his substitute resolution, which specified that the environmental impact statement hearing process should proceed but that upon its completion the issue would be brought before the Council for a decision. Committee Chair Muenscher then advised those present that they could briefly address the Committee about the resolution. Phil Serka 1400 N. Commercial Attorney for ORV Users Association Spoke in opposition to Warner's resolution; urged that hearing process on environmental impact statement proceed as planned; stated that it was not possible to make a determination that establishment of an ORV Park would have a strong impact on the area without evidence such as a completed environmental impact statement; zoning ordinance currently in place is sufficient for protection of area residents. Juft 179 1987 Page 2 Larry Harris Kendall Spoke in support of delaying a decision on the ORV Park until permanent zoning for the area has been completed; stated that Park Board has been unresponsive to area residents' concerns and they are tired of being told to shut up. Karen Drafs 1321 Birch St. ORV Users Association Spoke in support of allowing the process to continue under the zoning currently in place in the area; stated that ORV Park would have insignificant impact on foothills area; suggested need for a constitutional amendment prohibiting discrimination on the basis of recreation. Peter Rasmussen Kendall Spoke in support of Warner's resolution; stated that area residents should have a share in determining their own destiny; County's planning process should be designed to plan for the future rather than react to proposals or events. Bob Hughes 6895 South Pass Road Stated that area residents want their concerns to be heard; environmental impact statement only addresses short -term impact; County should plan ahead for the long -term future. Harlan Kelly 8980 Kendall Road Said he had called three local insurance companies to ask about the liability aspect of the ORV Park and companies had all stated that they would not consider insuring such a facility. Reminded the Committee that because the County is self - insured, county citizens are the underwriters of the County's liability insurance. Phil Serka 400 N. Commercial Stated that a statute regarding outdoor recreation lands would exempt the County from liability for unintentional injuries. Jwkek 17, 1987 Page 3 Vic Teshera Stated that liability insurance for the ORV Park would be available from European countries. There was further discussion on the resolutions. JOHNSON MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF HIS SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION. The motion carried. WARNER MOVED TO RECOMMEND AMENDING THE RESOLUTION TO ADD THAT FOLLOWING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PROCESS THE PARKS BOARD BE REQUESTED AND ADVISED TO REFRAIN FROM FURTHER PLANNING FOR THE ORV PARK UNTIL ADOPTION OF THE FOOTHILLS SUBAREA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. There was discussion on the motion to amend. Warner withdrew his motion. WARNER MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. The motion carried. M• M i • ► •• i 1 JOHNSON MOVED TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE. There was discussion on the motion. The motion carried. ORDINANqE AMENDINQ THE TEXT OE WCC 1,24, THE IJUAICQM COUNT INIERIM ZQNING QRPINANCE, CQRRECT ELAWS IN JHE H A EXAMINER APEEAL PROCESS JOHNSON MOVED TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE. The motion carried. Jul 17, 1987 Page 4 ORDINANCE AMENDING IHE OF IIILE H OFFICIAL WUAICQ COUNJY ZONJN9 ORDINANCE ORDINANCEi 10 C R ECT S IN THE HEARINE, EXAMINU AP ROC SS• AND 10 ERQYIDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL EXCEPTION N 0 CLARIEX AND STREN91HEN IHE S I C ONS IQ 1HE EO 40) ACRE MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR LAND DIVISIONS IN THE AGRICULTURE ZONE 9 "IaftM Dan Taylor and Carl Batchelor explained the effect of the ordinance on the 40 -acre minimum lot size in the agriculture zone district. JOHNSON MOVED TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE. There was discussion on the motion. The motion carried. Phil Serka told the Committee that he and a group of his neighbors wanted an amendment to the zoning of the Geneva area which would eliminate boarding and convalescent homes and rehabilitation centers as conditional uses in their neighborhood. The Planning Commission had already considered such an amendment and voted against it. He explained to the Committee that he and his neighbors were requesting this prohibition because they had determined that such facilities would be inappropriate in their area. JOHNSON MOVED TO CONSIDER THIS REQUEST AT THE NEXT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. The motion carried. REQUES1 FOR ERASURE 0 LINE BEIWEEN LOTS 44 AND 45, DIMISIO 7, PLAT OE SUDDEN VA E D PX BEN AND VE N T D CK NSO REQUES1 FQH ERA5URE OF LQj LINE BEIWEEN LQJS N DIVISION L OF SUDDEN VALLEY, FILED BX RIC RD AND MERLE KM I�,,T JOHNSON MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF BOTH LOT LINE ERASURES. The motion carried. June 17, 1987 Page 5 The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON < <r R.W. "Bob" Muenscher, Chair Planning and Development Committee ATTEST: Carol Ebergson Clerk of the Council