HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning January 24 20171 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Planning and Development Committee
3
4 January 24, 2017
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6 CALL TO ORDER
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8 Committee Member Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. in the
9 Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
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11
12 ROLL CALL
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14 Present: Carl Weimer, Barbara Brenner, and Rud Browne
15 Absent: None
16 Also Present: Todd Donovan, Barry Buchanan, Barry Buchanan, and Ken
17 Mann
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19
20 SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
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22 1. NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR (AB2017 -021)
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24 Browne moved to appoint Weimer.
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26 The motion carried by the following vote:
27 Ayes: Weimer, Brenner, and Browne (3)
28 Nays: None (0)
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30
31 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
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33 1. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO
34 WHATCOM COUNTY CODE TITLE 20 ZONING, PERMITTING KENNELS IN THE
35 AGRICULTURE ZONE AS A CONDITIONAL USE AB2017 -038)
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37 Gary Davis, Planning and Development Services Department, referenced and read
38 from the staff report in the Council packet. He answered questions on whether the Hearing
39 Examiner case regarding border patrol dogs was challenged, the Planning Commission vote
40 on this item, noise requirements of the conditional use permit, making sure ingress and
41 egress are safe, the agricultural protection overlay (APO) soils, compliance with fire code
42 and fire suppression, and the geographic information system (GIS) property size.
43
44 Jamie White submitted and read from a handout (on file) and spoke about the Rover
45 Stay Over kennel property and answered questions on the property size, the number of
46 animals allowed in the kennel, salary of kennel employees, and whether or not the business
47 is a legally existing business.
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49 Dannon Traxler, attorney, submitted handouts (on file) and spoke about considering
50 the request based on the merits of the proposed text amendment, not the historical
51 background of this one business; the ability to make a living on a five -acre parcel;
52 preventing conversion; consistency with the right -to -farm ordinance; compatibility with the
Planning and Development Committee, 1/24/2017, Page 1
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agricultural zone compared to other uses already conditionally allowed in the same zone;
and the Hearing Examiner's ability to impose restrictions when necessary.
Carole Perry stated the Planning Commissioners didn't know the background of the
case when they considered this proposal.
Staff answered questions on whether they can limit the total number of kennels in
agricultural land, the total size of the buildings at the Rover Stay Over kennel, and whether
horse stables are allowed.
2. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE PROVIDING LOCAL PROCEDURES
TO PROCESS DEVELOPMENT PERMIT APPLICATIONS EFFICIENTLY AND TO
PROMOTE FINALITY OF DECISIONS (AB2017 -041)
Weimer reported on the proposed ordinance. It provides a path to get out of a State
Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process when appropriate.
The following staff answered questions:
• Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office
• Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department
Staff answered questions on the situation in which this language would be useful,
concerns that this would become a tool of the Council, early notice of a determination of
significance, and the process for denying an application for a use that is prohibited.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
Th,6 I,e inch adjourned at 3:48 p.m.
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Dana Brown- Davis, C- runcil Clerk
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Carl Weimer, Committee Chair
Planning and Development Committee, 1/24/2017, Page 2