HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning May 4 2021Whatcom County
Council Planning and Development Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
VIRTUAL MEETING - ESTIMATED END TIME OF 2 P.M. (TO
PARTICIPATE, SEE INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil OR CALL 360.778.5010)
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
12:45 PM
COUNCILMEMBERS
Rud Browne
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final
Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
May 4, 2021
Committee member Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 12:49 p.m.
in a virtual meeting.
Clerks' note: Committee Chair Ben Elenbaas joined the meeting after the
reading of the first item but Browne continued to act as Committee Chair
for the duration of the meeting.
Present: 3 - Rud Browne, Ben Elenbaas and Todd Donovan
Absent: None
Also Present: Barry Buchanan and Carol Frazey
Committee Discussion
1. AB2021-269 Discussion with Planning Department staff on a proposal to hire a consultant to
develop a feasibility study for creating an offsite buffer mitigation program
The following staff briefed the Councilmembers:
• Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department
• Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department
Director
They answered whether the County could put specific questions in the
feasibility study, whether mitigation has to be done in sub basins or just in
the primary watershed, doing consolidated density in different parts of the
county, whether density can be transferred between non-contiguous parcels,
what the consultant will be doing, and whether there will be a record of
whether net loss or net gain is possible.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
2. AB2021-270 Discussion on potential affordable housing amendments, including tiny homes, to the
Whatcom County Code
The following staff briefed the Councilmembers and discussed the item
with them:
• Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department
• Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department
Director
Curtis Metz, Public Works Department
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Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final May 4, 2021
Committee
• Satpal Sidhu, County Executive
They answered questions about changing the definition of tiny homes so
that people can get financing to buy them, expanding zoning areas where
mobile homes can be placed, and what is involved in selectively allowing
rural zoned areas to be rezoned to another zone.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2021-257 Discussion and Council motion to approve the Public Participation Plan for Whatcom
County Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulation Amendments
The following staff briefed the Councilmembers and answered questions
about whether they are rethinking the newspaper as mentioned in level one
as the best way to get notice out, whether Vacation Rentals by Owner
(VRBO) regulations are on this list, and whether D-2. TDR Receiving Area
(PLN2021-00002) as listed on the Docketed Amendment Requests is spot
zoning.
• Matt Aamot, Planning and Development Services Department
• Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department
Director
Donovan moved that the Request for Motion be FORWARDED TO
COUNCIL WITH A RECOMMENDED MOTION to approve. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Browne, Elenbaas and Donovan
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adiournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 1:36 p.m.
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Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final
Committee
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Ben Elenbaas-via email 5/8/2021
Ben Elenbaas, Committee Chair
May 4, 2021
Wlfatcom County Page 3