HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole July 26 20161 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Special Committee of the Whole
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4 July 26, 2016
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7 CALL TO ORDER
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9 Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in the Council
10 Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
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13 ROLL CALL
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15 Present: Barbara Brenner, Satpal Sidhu, Carl Weimer, Rud Browne and Barry
16 Buchanan.
17 Absent: Ken Mann and Todd Donovan
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20 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
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22 1. DISCUSSION OF THE LAND CAPACITY ANALYSIS REPORT PREPARED BY
23 PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (AB2016 -047N)
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25 Gary Davis, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted and read
26 from a handout (on file). He answered questions on the Office of Financial Management
27 (OFM) recommendation for the ideal occupancy rate and the reason for the change in
28 household sizes, including buffer areas in the residential density calculation, the approved
29 land capacity analysis methodology, and who determines buffer size requirements.
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31 Linda Twitchell, Building Industry Association, stated the land capacity analysis
32 doesn't account for critical area buffers in residential areas, but it should.
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34 Browne stated do a more detailed land capacity analysis that includes regulations
35 that remove land from development potential, such as buffer and infrastructure
36 requirements.
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38 Roger Almskaar, consultant, stated that even low density lots can lose development
39 ability from wetlands and buffers.
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41 Browne moved to request that Planning and Development Services staff determine
42 how much it would cost for a new land capacity analysis based on current buffers and
43 setbacks.
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45 The motion was seconded.
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47 Brenner suggested a friendly amendment to find out from the cities what their
48 factors are, the difference in their buffer requirements, and what factors they use to
49 determine their buffers.
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51 Browne accepted the friendly amendment and stated he wants to know what staff
52 resources are required to find out that information. He would like the Planning staff to
Special Committee of the Whole, 7/26/2016, Page 1
report on what's involved in terms of time and cost to adjust for setbacks, parking,
impervious surfaces, and buffers and how that affects the land capacity analysis.
Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department, answered
questions about the complexity of the request for more information.
Weimer stated don't delay approval of this update while they review that
information.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, and Weimer (5)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Mann and Donovan (2)
2. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE ADOPTING DEVELOPMENT
REGULATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS RELATING TO
THE 2016 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PERIODIC UPDATE (AB2016 -047M)
Gary Davis, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report.
There is no new information. It is scheduled on the Council agenda for introduction.
3. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE ADOPTING WHATCOM COUNTY
COMP PLAN AMENDMENTS RELATING TO THE 2016 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
UPDATE AND URBAN GROWTH AREA REVIEW, INCLUDING DISCUSSION OF
PROPOSED FINDINGS (AB2016 -0470)
Matt Aamot, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report
and referenced additional information submitted earlier with three proposed amendments
(on file). He asked the Committee to recommend introducing with these amendments:
1. Appendix E, "draft CWSP"
2. Chapter 8, add note to Map 8 -1 regarding agricultural lands designated as natural
resource lands of long -term commercial significance
3. Ordinance finding #8, regarding information that the County submitted materials
to the State on July 22 that reflect recent Council changes.
He answered questions about giving the State 60 -days' notice, the areas on map 8-
1 that have no designation, the different areas with prime farmland soil and agricultural
lands of long -term commercial significance, and designating agricultural areas with poor
agricultural soil in terms of the transfer of development rights (TDR) program areas.
4. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN DESIGNATION IN THE SMITH ROAD /GUIDE MERIDIAN AREA FROM
RURAL TO RURAL COMMUNITY AND AMENDING THE OFFICIAL WHATCOM
COUNTY ZONING MAP FROM RSA TO RIM (SPECIFIED FITTINGS) (AB2016-
242)
Gary Davis, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report.
The order of invalidity has been lifted. The County can now consider this with other
Comprehensive Plan items.
Special Committee of the Whole, 7/26/2016, Page 2
1 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
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3 1. RESOLUTION INITIATING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ZONING
4 AMENDMENTS BY AMENDING RESOLUTION 2016 -009 (AB2016 -232)
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6 Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report.
7 They will add this to the public participation plan at a level 3, which is the highest level of
8 public involvement and includes town hall meetings.
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10 Councilmembers discussed applying the bullet items one and five in policy 2CC -2
11 countywide, not just for Cherry Point; how much longer it would take for the staff and
12 Planning Commission to do that expansion; the fact that policy 2CC -10 doesn't address the
13 1999 settlement agreement; whether policy 2CC -13 should be amended in terms of possible
14 conflict with 33 USC Sec. 476; the negative tone of the language in the proposed
15 amendments, and; when the Planning Commission will have time to consider the proposed
16 amendments.
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18 Karen Frakes, Prosecutor's Office, stated the Planning Commission review will
19 address many of the issues. These proposed Cherry Point amendments are being severed
20 from the original Comprehensive Plan process, which will proceed as scheduled. She
21 answered questions about the legality of the docketing process.
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23 Sidhu read a statement into the record (Clerk's Note: See July 26, 2016 County
24 Council meeting minutes for a full transcript of the statement.)
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26 Forrest Longman, Council Office, answered questions on timing of Comprehensive
27 Plan amendments.
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29 Linda Twitchell, Building Industry Association, stated not all Cherry Point proposed
30 amendments are in this resolution. She asked about scheduling and the timing of the
31 proposed amendments.
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33 Brooks Anderson stated the Council needs to give everyone an equal opportunity to
34 speak to the Council.
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36 Sandy Robson stated correct the information in Chapter 2 regarding aquatic land
37 leases at Cherry Point.
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39 Paula Rotundi stated don't remove the proposed amendments regarding Cherry Point
40 from the Comprehensive Plan. Allow legal input from other groups.
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42 Amy deVera, Environmental Resource Management, referenced and a read a letter
43 submitted from the BP Cherry Point Refinery (on file).
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45 Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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47 The motion was seconded.
48
49 The motion carried by the following vote:
50 Ayes: Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, and Weimer (4)
51 Nays: Brenner (1)
52 Absent: Mann and Donovan (2)
53
Special Committee of the Whole, 7/26/2016, Page 3
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2. RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE WHATCOM COUNTY COORDINATED WATER
SYSTEM PLAN 2016 UPDATE (AB2016 -192)
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, gave a staff report.
Councilmembers discussed the correct form for addressing the Tribes and including
language that indicates changes were made to the resolution after it was recommended to
the Council.
Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion was seconded.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, and Weimer (4)
Nays: Brenner (1)
Absent: Mann and Donovan (2)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
They gq.Jifyg adjourned at 3:46 p.m.
w� ,Tr Q5uAcJl 'app,r6:ved these minutes on January 24, 2017.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Special Committee of the Whole, 7/26/2016, Page 4