HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning August 8 20181
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
August 8, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Tyler Byrd called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Tyler Byrd, and Todd Donovan
Absent: None
Also Present: Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, and Satpal Sidhu
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. REQUEST DIRECTION ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO WHATCOM COUNTY
CODE TITLE 20, ZONING, AND TITLE 23, SHORELINE MANAGEMENT,
REGARDING BED AND BREAKFAST AND VACATION RENTAL UNITS (AB2018-
232)
Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report and
asked how the councilmembers want to move forward. He answered questions.
Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Director, answered questions.
Councilmembers and staff discussed current problems with vacation rental by owner
(VRBO) units, impacts to units in the watershed, whether the existing code allows existing
VRBOs, easements, enforcement, the concerns that motivated the original request in 2014
to create VRBO language in the County Code, impacts to water quality in the Lake Whatcom
watershed, the history of the VRBO situation in Whatcom County, the definition of VRBOs,
licensing and registration requirements, reasons people may rent a VRBO, existing
regulations for inappropriate neighborhood behavior, benefits of VRBOs to the community,
and whether proposed regulations are too onerous.
Donovan moved to recommend option four in the staff report on Council packet
page 137, permitted with license and registration requirements.
(Clerk's Note: This item was not voted on.)
Staff suggested amending the nonconforming use language. All vacation rentals
would be subject to registration requirements.
VRBOs.
Councilmembers and staff discussed the occupancy limits of VRBOs.
Carole Perry spoke about a Planning Commission hearing in 2014 on the issue of
Planning and Development Committee, 8/8/2018, Page 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
Dave Onkels spoke about the history of the VRBO issue locally and how rental
websites handle taxes and other rental issues.
Councilmembers and staff discussed getting updated data information, including
information on number of units, number and type of complaints, and lodging taxes paid by
these types of units.
2. REQUEST DIRECTION ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE WHATCOM
COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, CHAPTER 8, DESIGNATING MARINE
RESOURCE LANDS AND PROVIDING GOALS AND POLICIES THEREOF
(AB2018 -233)
Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report and
asked the councilmembers how staff should move forward. He answered questions.
Brenner moved to remove it from the docket. Anything that changes can be
brought forward next year with the Shoreline Management Plan update.
Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department Director, answered
questions.
Councilmembers and staff discussed responding to the letter from the Lummi Nation
and how to remove the item from the Comprehensive Plan docket.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Byrd, and Donovan (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:47 p.m.
ATTES��
TI�
Dana BF`own-f '6` i's, C46hciI C-aerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
;Ky Committee Chair
Planning and Development Committee, 8/8/2018, Page 2