HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning October 11 20161 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Planning and Development Committee
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4 October 11, 2016
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8 CALL TO ORDER
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10 Committee Chair Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 3:08 p.m. in the Council
11 Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
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14 ROLL CALL
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16 Present: Carl Weimer, Barbara Brenner, and Todd Donovan
17 Absent: None
18 Also Present: Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Satpal Sidhu, and Ken Mann
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21 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
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23 1. ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CURRENT STATE BUILDING CODE AND
24 REPEALING THE EXISTING TITLE 15 OF THE WHATCOM COUNTY CODE
25 (AB2016 -289)
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27 Wain Harrison, Planning and Development Services Department, referenced and read
28 from the staff report on Council packet page 301 and described the changes. He answered
29 questions on providing a written explanation of approval or denial of alternative material,
30 design, or method of construction.
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32 Harrison stated they could add language to 15.04.020(A)(2), 15.04.030(A), and
33 15.04.040(E), "The building official will respond to all requests made in writing."
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35 The Committee concurred.
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37 Weimer stated this item has been removed from the Council agenda and will be held
38 for a public hearing at a later date.
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40 Councilmembers discussed the ability to store fire flow, the increased expense due to
41 increased fire flow requirements, and the types of buildings that are covered in section
42 Whatcom County Code (WCC) 15.04.040(M)(7).
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44 Brenner moved to remove the amendment to WCC 15.04.040(M)(7) and to
45 maintain the 500 gallon per minute fire flow for Group F occupancies.
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47 The motion was seconded.
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49 Councilmembers discussed the increased cost to provide additional water storage for
50 fire flow, mitigation for the lack of fire flow, and the ability for water districts to provide
51 adequate water for fire flow.
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53 Brenner withdrew her motion to amend.
Planning and Development Committee, 10/11/2016, Page 1
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2 Harrison continued the staff report and answered questions.
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4 Weimer stated amend section 15.04.040(0)(x)(5), "...and turnaround legs forty -five
5 feet (45') long. in all eases, _tTurnarounds shall be located within...."
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7 The Committee concurred.
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9 Harrison concluded the staff report and answered questions about what happens
10 when emergency responders encounter a gate that prohibits access.
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12 Councilmembers discussed the timing of the public hearing.
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14 Roger Axelson, architect, spoke about misinformation about fire flow, the appendices
15 of the fire code, the antiquated formula for determining fire flow that doesn't consider
16 building construction types, and other changes. It's inappropriate to apply the fire code to
17 rural Whatcom County, because the methodology for calculating fire flow requirements is
18 based on areas that have municipal water sources. Establish an alternate method for
19 determining fire flow using the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard NFPA
20 1142. Change the 20 pounds per square inch (psi) delivery requirement.
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22 2. RESOLUTION FORWARDING DRAFT SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM
23 AMENDMENTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY FOR REVIEW (AB2016-
24 270A)
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26 Gary Davis, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report.
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28 Councilmembers discussed the possibility of scheduling a public hearing on this item
29 before sending it to the Department of Ecology.
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31 Brenner moved to recommend having a Council public hearing before sending it to
32 the Department of Ecology.
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i4 Tho mntinn %niac cornnrlcrl
36 Councilmembers discussed having a public hearing before it goes to the Department
37 of Ecology, the Planning Commission public hearing, and a future public hearing planned
38 after the Department of Ecology review.
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40 The motion to recommend a public hearing carried by the following vote:
41 Ayes: Brenner and Donovan (3)
42 Nays: Weimer (1)
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44
45 OTHER BUSINESS
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47 There was no other business.
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Planning and Development Committee, 10/11/2016, Page 2
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:16 p.m.
ATTEST:
r
Dana _� ,>zGncaoVi ; Council C=1'erk
Jill Nixpri, Minutes Tra_ns�r-lption
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Carl Weimer, Committee Chair
Planning and Development Committee, 10/11/2016, Page 3