HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2019-026Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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Bellingham, WA98225-4038
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2019-296
File ID: AB2019-296 Version: 1 Status: Approved as Amended
File Created: 05/10/2019
Department: Planning and
Development Services
Department
Entered by: CElder@co.whatcom.wa.us
File Type: Resolution
First Assigned to: Council Natural Resources Committee
Agenda Date: 05/21/2019 Next Mtg. Date: Hearing Date:
Primary Contact Email: celder@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Resolution affirming the PDR Oversight Committee ranking and authorizing Whatcom County Purchase
of Development Rights Administrator and Whatcom County Executive to proceed with the acquisition
of a forestry conservation easement on the Seed Orchard application
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
PDR Program update, please see attached staff memo for full summary
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To:
05/21/2019 Council Natural Resources Committee RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL
05/21/2019 Council APPROVED AS AMENDED
Attachments: Staff Memo, Proposed Resolution, PDR Ranked List -May 2019, Presentation for 5-21-2019
Final Action: 05/21/2019
Enactment Date: 05/21/2019
Enactment #: RES 2019-026
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 512212019
SPONSORED BY:
PROPOSED BY: Planning
INTRODUCTION DATE:
RESOLUTION # 2019-026
AFFIRMING THE PDR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE RANKING AND AUTHORIZING
WHATCOM COUNTY PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS ADMINISTRATOR
AND WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO PROCEED WITH THE ACQUISITION
OF A FORESTRY CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE SEED ORCHARD
APPLICATION
WHEREAS, Whatcom County government recognizes agriculture and forestry as major
contributors to the local economy and a high quality of life for Whatcom County citizens; and
WHEREAS, The Growth Management Act and the County Comprehensive Plan support the
retention of agricultural and forestry lands of long term commercial significance and encourage
the use of innovative techniques to do so; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #92-002 enacted a property tax levy known as the Conservation Futures
Tax as authorized by RCW 84.34.230 to provide a funding source to assist in acquiring "open
space land, farm and agricultural land, and timber land, and a significant Conservation Futures
fund balance is available for additional farm land protection efforts ;" and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #2002-054 adopted Whatcom County Code Title 3.25A that authorized
the creation of a Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program that offers voluntary farm
agreements that include the purchase of agricultural conservation easements on farmable land
within Whatcom County, and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #2002-054 and WCC 3.25A established a Purchase of Development
Rights Oversight Committee to provide review and assistance to the PDR Administrator, and
WHEREAS, The Whatcom County Council adopted the PDR Guidelines Document through
Resolution #2002-040 which includes specific direction for program administration and
conservation easement acquisitions, and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #2018-065 amended Whatcom County Code Title 3.25A to direct the
PDR Program to also offer voluntary agreements to purchase forestry and ecological
conservations easements on working forestlands and important ecosystem areas within Whatcom
County.
WHEREAS, Council, pursuant to PDR Guidelines Document, must affirm or modify the
properties as submitted by the PDR Oversight Committee, and
WHEREAS, Council has reviewed the application ranking and background materials at a public
meeting, with input by County staff and PDR Oversight Committee members, and
WHEREAS, Council has determined the ranking in accordance with their policy priorities and
the requirements of Title 3.25A and the PDR Guidelines Document, and
WHEREAS, The Department of Natural Resources has approved matching funds to support
acquisition of the Seed Orchard parcels in coordination with the purchase of development rights
easement enactment.
WHEREAS, The Purchase of Development Oversight Rights Committee met on April 26, 2019
to develop a ranking of all applications received to date and forwarded that ranking to Council;
and
WHEREAS, The Purchase of Development Rights Oversight Committee considered the ranked
list of all current applications and recommended at their April 26, 2019 meeting that County
Council authorize the PDR Program Administrator and County Executive proceed with the title
search and appraisal of the value of development rights on the Seed Orchard application and
proceed with the acquisition of a forestry conservation easement on the Seed Orchard application.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that:
1. The PDR Oversight Committee and Administrator proceed with the acquisition of title search
and appraisal services of the Bishop, VanderVeen, Newell, TeVelde, Seed Orchard,
Rethlefsen, and Kiera-Duffy applications pursuant to the process outlined in the PDR
Guidelines Document.
2. The PDR Oversight Committee and Administrator proceed with the acquisition of one (1)
conservation easement on the Seed Orchard application pursuant to the process outlined in the
PDR Guidelines Document.
The Executive is authorized to enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Seed Orchard
property, provided:
a. Appraisals are completed and conservation easements are drafted which meet the
requirements of the Whatcom County Purchase of Development Rights program,
and
b. Landowners have agreed to the offer price and conservation easement conditions,
and
c. Budget authority has been adopted by the Whatcom County Council.
4. Expenditures of Conservation Futures Funds, within budget authority, are authorized to cover
expenses apsobiditd Ayy th purchase of conservation easement, including title search and
insur�a pfa0pr @ roices, easement monitoring and enforcement fees.
APPRO� t i�� ,day of May , 2019
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Dana )3gwn-Davis, Council.ler Rud B owne, Chairperson
APPROVED as`to brin
Civil Deputy Prose uto
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