HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Feb 25 2020Whatcom County
Council Planning and Development Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
ESTIMATED TIME - MEETING MAY BEGIN EARLIER/LATER THAN 2:45 P.M.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
2:45 PM
Council Chambers
COUNCILMEMBERS
Rud Browne
Tyler Byrd
Ben F,lenbaas
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final February 25, 2020
Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Ben Elenbaas called the meeting to order at 2:45 p.m. in
the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: 3 - Rud Browne, Tyler Byrd and Ben Elenbaas
Absent: None
Also present: Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey, and Kathy Kershner
Committee Discussion
1. AB2020-099 Discussion regarding the Whatcom County Business and Commerce Advisory
Committee's recommendations on housing
Councilmembers discussed a history of the recommendations; a request
from the advisory committee to have Planning and Development Services
Director, Mark Personius, come to give his perspective about what is
viable; and an email response (on file) from Personius on the six stated
recommendations; whether the recommendations could potentially cause
other unintended consequences or are geared more to the cities; whether
further discussion should happen with Personius present; what it would
mean to declare a housing crisis; and what growth is currently taking place
and how it is meeting the demand.
The following people spoke:
• Don Goldberg, Port of Bellingham
• Matt Aamot, Planning and Development Services Department
The speakers answered questions about and Councilmembers discussed the
number of units that are currently permitted; historical data about how many
houses have been built over the years and how many are needed to
accommodate growth; extending City utility services into the County where
the County borders the Cities so that some of the density is within County
property; annexation rules and rules about putting services into urban
growth areas (UGAs); a map being developed that shows infrastructure
around the county; hearing first from the Planners from the small Cities; the
possibility of working on a housing plan; creating a County or City wetland
mitigation bank; and looking at the County's fee schedule for wetland
mitigation banking and associated building fees.
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Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final February 25, 2020
Committee
Other Business
Adjournment
Byrd suggested having Karen Frakes, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, and
Mark Personius come speak to the Committee before deciding whether to
declare a housing crisis.
Browne suggested finding out what language has been used by other
jurisdictions that have chosen to declare a crisis.
Byrd moved to recommend that the full Council draft a letter to the
Business and Commerce Advisory Committee stating that they are in the
process of reviewing their recommendations and will get back to them
shortly with a response.
Councilmembers discussed the motion.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd, and Elenbaas
Nay: 0
This agenda item was DISCUSSED AND A MOTION WAS APPROVED.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 3:48 p.m.
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- Be Elenbaas-via email 7/16/2020
Dana own -Da j� U�acil`Clerk' Ben Elenbaas, Committee Chair
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
SIGNED COPY ON FILE
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