HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning February 26 20191
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning and Development Committee
February 26, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Tyler Byrd called the meeting to order at 3:00 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 and Carol Frazey
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. AB2019-044 DISCUSSION REGARDING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO
WHATCOM COUNTY CODE TITLE 20, ZONING, AND TITLE 23, SHORELINE
MANAGEMENT, RELATED TO VACATION RENTAL UNITS
Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report and
answered questions.
Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department Director, answered
questions.
Staff and councilmembers discussed accurately calculating the number of vacation
rental units; renting a room versus renting an entire dwelling unit; defining a short-term
rental; existing regulations that address noise and other problems; draft requirements for
registration; existing State licensing requirements; regulations in areas with conservancy
shorelines; ensuring adequate sewer or septic capacity; conditional use permits (CUP)
versus shoreline permits; potential new State regulations; whether any changes pertaining
to shoreline areas would have to be approved by the Department of Ecology, and how long
that would take; home occupation rules; and enforcement policies and procedures.
Byrd moved to hold in Committee, and then withdrew his motion.
2. AB2019-077 DISCUSSION WITH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES ABOUT POTENTIAL ZONING CODE AMENDMENTS RELATING TO
THE DENSITY CREDIT PROGRAM; DISCUSSION TO INCLUDE WHICH
AMENDMENTS SHOULD BE DOCKETED FOR FURTHER REVIEW
The following staff answered questions:
• Matt Aamot, Planning and Development Services Department
• Karen Frakes, Prosecutor's Office
Councilmembers and staff discussed factors that exacerbate housing crises; potential
issues with the Growth Management Hearings Board; density credit programs in other
jurisdictions; rezoning certain areas instead of density credits; the possibility of increasing
Planning and Development Committee, 2/26/2019, Page 1
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the square footage of accessory dwelling units (ADUs); the formula related to calculating
development rights; development right costs, and current conditions for having an ADU.
Donovan moved to not docket the item regarding the rural area density credit
program for one dwelling unit per two and a half acres, as listed on Council packet page
271.
Councilmembers and staff continued to discuss the timeline of potential appeals,
areas in the county that can be used for density credits, and buildout in the urban growth
areas (UGAs).
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner and Donovan (2)
Nays: Byrd (1)
Brenner moved to docket bullet items one and two on Council packet page 271
regarding:
area.
• Birch Bay UGA/UR4 Zone
• ADU Size Limits
Councilmembers discussed whether it's feasible to transfer density to another rural
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Byrd, and Donovan (3)
Nays: None (0)
Staff and councilmembers discussed how to make sure proposed docket items are
compliant with the Growth Management Act.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:37 p.m.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Planning and Development Committee, 2/26/2019, Page 2