HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning March 17 20151
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
March 17, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Ken Mann called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(3:09:20 PM)
Present: Ken Mann, Barbara Brenner and Rud Browne.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Carl Weimer.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1, DISCUSSION REGARDING PROPOSED ORDINANCE ALLOWING MARIJUANA
PRODUCTION, PROCESSING AND RETAILING AS AUTHORIZED BY
WASHINGTON STATE INITIATIVE 502 (AB2015 -099)
Nick Smith, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted a substitute
version of Exhibit A (on file) and gave a staff report on the proposed changes. He
submitted and read through the presentation.
The committee discussed concerns about applications in mixed use areas, including
the resort commercial zone; the zones where marijuana retail is allowed; setbacks from
those retail operations; whether there are setback restrictions on liquor stores or bars in
these zones; the level of law enforcement involvement so far in production, processing, and
retail; requiring setbacks in rural residential areas; getting feedback from law enforcement
and others on the implementation of the interim ordinance during the past year; proximity
to school bus stops; and treating grow operations as if they are greenhouses or nurseries.
Kelly Jansen, Terrell Creek Condominiums, stated change the allowed zoning so it
doesn't include mixed use zones and the resort commercial zone.
Greg Brown stated retail shop signage is a big concern, also. That's been the largest
complaint.
The committee discussed the rules for advertising alcohol and other similar
substances; measuring the distance as the shortage strait line distance from the applicant
property line to the neighboring property; whether the liquor control board is still accepting
applications or will expand the number of licenses; and whether there is a lack of supply or
oversupply of product and retail establishments.
Planning and Development Committee, 3/17/2015, Page 1
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Browne moved to recommend approval of the revised ordinance. He moved to
amend to:
• remove marijuana production from being a permitted use in the rural
residential (RR), rural residential - island (RR -I), and rural commercial (RC)
zones
• remove marijuana processing from being an administrative approval use in
the rural residential (RR) and rural residential - island (RR -I) zones
• prohibit retail marijuana in the rural commercial (RC) zone
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Brenner and Browne (3)
Nays: None (0)
The motion to recommend introduction of the amended and revised ordinance
carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Brenner and Browne (3)
Nays: None (0)
Browne indicated the numbering needs to be fixed.
Mann asked that the version being introduced only track the changes from the
existing interim.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:02 p.m.
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Darla Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATC M COU
WHAT OM CPU
COUNCIL
WASHINGTON
Ken Mann, Committee Chair
Planning and Development Committee, 3/17/2015, Page 2