HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council May 8 1986WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes -- May 8, 1986
The Special Meeting of the Whatcom County Council was called
to order at 7:12 by Chairman Hansey, with Hansey, Hawley, Muenscher,
Roehl and Warner present.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
CONSIDERATION OF THE FORMAL REQUEST OF THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
FOR DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE NICHOLS -FORUM LITIGATION
Hansey said that although most of the documents involved had
already been released by a Council member, he believed that the
Council as a whole should make a statement.
ROEHL MOVED TO WAIVE THE ATTORNEY - CLIENT PRIVILEGE AND RELEASE
THE INFORMATION.
There was discussion on the motion..
The motion carried unanimously.
Muenscher_ stated that he had not voted.
Chairman Hansey reopened the question, and called again for
the vote.
The motion carried unanimously.
The Special Council Meeting was recessed, and a meeting of the Committee
of the Whole was convened
REVIEW OF THE HEARING EXAMINER'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING
THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION OF TRILLIUM CORPORA-
TION FOR "CORDATA BUSINESS PARK "
Hansey explained that he would ask the staff to give an over-
view of the Hearing Examiner's recommendations, and then would ask
for public comment.
Jerry Mixon of Building and Codes Administration gave a brief
report on the project and the Hearing Examiner's recommendations.
He said that the Hearing Examiner had adopted the majority of the
recommendations of the Technical Committee, and had recommended
approval of the project. Mixon pointed out that the final Environ-
mental Impact statement had been completed and delivered to the
Council the previous day, and final action could not be taken by
the Council until seven days after distribution of that statement.
There was discussion concerning various aspects of -the project.
Whatcom County Council
Special Meeting
May 8, 1986
Page 2
Leonard Anderson of 4529 Guide Meridian presented to the
Council his concerns regarding the dead. - ending of Thomas Road
as a result of the Cordata Project. Ile presented a map illus-
trating his concerns and a letter from Mr. and Mrs. William
Birchall, who are also concerned about the issue. He requested
that the road either be allowed to extend through the Cordata
project, or that an alternate right of way be established on
the eastern border of the Cordata development.
Bill Trimm of the Planning Department responded to Mr.
Anderson's concerns. He said that the plans for the project had
been designed to insure that no property would be land - locked.
Bob Jurica of the Bureau of Engineering and Operations out-
lined his concerns with conditions 20, 21, and 22 of the Hearing
Examiner's recommendations.
Ken Hertz, Farouk Taysi and Patti Rao of the Trillium Corpora-
tion discussed several on -site and off -site issues which they felt
were unresolved. Rao presented the Council with an updated written state-
ment of those concerns.
There was extensive discussion about the issues raised by the
Council, the County staff, the Trillium Corporation, and the public.
The question of the percentage of on -site and off -site improvement
costs to be borne by the County and the developer, and the methods
and deadlines for determining those costs, was a major concern.
Hertz maintained that off -site improvement costs should be the
responsibility of the public because the public would benefit from
the development.
Paul Rushing, Public Works Director, suggested that the Council
develop a general policy concerning these issues, before the staff
attempted to develop solutions.
WARNER MOVED TO ASK THE STAFF OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
TO COME UP WITH LANGUAGE REFLECTING THE POINTS MADE BY KEN HERTZ,
THE COUNTY STAFF, AND THE PUBLIC, TO BE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL
IN THE FORM OF A MOTION TO BE ACTED UPON AT THE NEXT MEETING.
More discussion followed.
Patti Rao informed the Council that in his opinion the major
unresolved question was that of the off -site impacts resulting from
the project. He said that the other concerns were minor or could
be resolved without major policy decisions.
Whatcom County Council Special Meeting
May 8, 1986
Page 3
Warner withdrew his motion.
It was agreed that representatives from the developer, the
Public Works Department, and the Planning Department would develop
proposals to resolve the issues involving the indirect off -site
impacts.
Hansey requested that this information be made available to
the Council not less than two days prior to the May 15 meeting.
Following a five- minute break, the meeti
Whole reconvened at 9:45 p.m.
of the Committee of the
REVIEW.OF,TIiE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A NEW SECTION
TO WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 3.12 REGARDING MANDATORY PUBLIC DIS-
There was discussion concerning the proposed ordinance.
It was suggested that number 1 (.line 23) be amended by adding
"paid by the County as a party" to the end of the sentence. Warner
agreed to discuss the addition of this qualifying phrase with the
Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, and bring the ordinance to the
Council for final action at the meeting of May 15, 1986.
The
of the Committee of the Whole was adjourned at 9:49
ial Meeting of the Council was reconvened.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN
ATTEST:
CAROL EBERGSON
CLERK OF THE C JNCIL
.m.,
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