HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources January 26 20161
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
January 26, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
Committee member Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Todd Donovan, Satpal Sidhu, and Carl Weimer
Absent: None
Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Barry Buchanan, Rud Browne
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR (AB2016 -021)
Sidhu moved to nominate and appoint Councilmember Carl Weimer.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Donovan, Sidhu, and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. BRIEFING FROM THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES (DNR) REGARDING RECREATION PLANNING FOR DNR -
MANAGED LANDS (AB2016 -069)
Brock Milliern, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), stated they are planning for
recreation in Whatcom County. He described the DNR recreation program and its benefits.
There hasn't been a DNR recreation plan in Whatcom County. They have a trust mandate
for schools and other junior taxing districts. They held well- attended, positive public
meetings in Bellingham and Lynden.
Dana Leavitt, Recreation Planner, Department of Natural Resources, submitted a
handout (on file) and described the seven - phase, two -year recreation planning process.
The councilmembers discussed the coordination between DNR plans and County
Parks Department plans, funding for the DNR's recreation plans, focusing just on trails,
continuing logging and planting, encouraging international use of trails, who the stakeholder
groups are in Whatcom County, and what the non - stakeholder community as a whole
wants.
Natural Resources Committee, 1/26/2016, Page 1
2. BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION ON WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
CHAPTERS, RESOURCE LANDS (AB2016 -047H) (THE WASHINGTON STATE
GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT REQUIRES PERIODIC UPDATES OF THE
WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND REVIEW OF URBAN
GROWTH AREAS UNDER RCW 36.70A.130, TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF
JUNE 2016)
Karin Beringer, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted and read
from a presentation (on file).
Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department, answered
questions about accessory uses and code updates.
Beringer answered questions about why title lands that support shellfish are not
addressed; why some agricultural use land is not marked; the difference between
agricultural zones and agricultural designations; how to see the recommended changes by
staff and the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) that the Planning Commission did not
approve; making proposed council amendments public before the next briefing.
Forrest Longman, Council Legislative Analyst, stated he could work with Planning and
Development to come up with a process to receive amendments from the Councilmembers
and make them available to the public.
Beringer and Personius continued to answer questions about including a section
about the transfer of development rights program; the meaning of "mitigation" in section
8A -2; the criteria of looking at 40 -acre parcels for agricultural land; the absence of the
Agricultural Water Board; whether the Planning Unit will be a part of the process; whether
agriculture is a priority over other entities for protection of water rights; why agricultural
"waste management" was changed to "nutrient management;" and how to manage the
process for the comments, proposed amendments, and questions from councilmembers.
Linda Twitchell, Building Industry Association, stated be careful about adding
protections to rural lands, take time to hear from the Planning Commission, and be aware of
the concern about mandatory versus optional transfers of development rights (TDRs).
Jim Hanson stated don't underestimate the time it takes to consider all the
amendments.
Henry Bierlink stated they must think about how they define agriculture and rural
areas on the maps. Some areas zoned as rural are predominately used for agriculture and
should be rezoned as such.
Ann Russell, ReSources, thanked the staff for their work and stated she approves of
the addition of goal 8F. It can be made better. There is no resource lands economy without
the environment.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
Natural Resources Committee, 1/26/2016, Page 2
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
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Jilt Nixon, Mind es Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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Carl Weimer, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 1/26/2016, Page 3