HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works March 23 20041
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Safety Committee
March 23, 2004
Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in
the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present:
Sam Crawford
Also Present:
None
Absent:
L. Ward Nelson
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 12.44 TO CLARIFY
PROCEDURES FOR FILING OF APPLICATION SUMMARIES AND OTHER
MISCELLANEOUS CLARIFICATIONS (AB2004-104)
Joe Rutan, County Road Engineer, stated Council packet page 101 is his
memo to the Council and Executive that highlights the changes. The first two are
the major changes. They tried to include all the comments that Councilmember
Crawford made.
Crawford stated he suggested that the assessment be triggered by new
development. He wasn't thinking about the subdivision, which is his intent. He
asked if doing a subdivision would trigger an assessment. Rutan stated land
division and building permits are still in the language. He recommended adding
language regarding land division in subsection .080(D).
Brenner moved to amend section .080, page 109 of the packet has (d)
"The County shall not approve a division of land or issue a building permit for any
residential dwelling units..."
Motion carried unanimously.
Rutan stated they should introduce the ordinance to the Council tonight for a
public hearing in two weeks.
Crawford stated he is still concerned about the issue Sam Ryan brought
forward about the County's responsibility to find out if folks are in the assessment
area. Rutan stated he met with Ms. Ryan. There is a process by which staff flags
properties in the Tidemark system with the reason for the flag. They will continue
that process, which meets her concern.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 3/23/2004, Page 1
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Crawford moved to recommend to the full Council introducing the amended
ordinance tonight.
Motion carried unanimously,
David Miller, 4975 Mission Road, stated his concern is that this system apply
to existing process.
Brenner stated this ordinance won't apply to Mr. Miller's property, according
to Mr. Rutan.
Rutan stated he discussed this question with legal counsel. The ordinance as
it stood when that developer agreement was signed was how the County is to apply
the assessment. Any changes to the ordinance would not apply to Mission Road.
Brenner asked if they are sure that's what they did. Councilmember
McShane wasn't sure that's what the Council did. Rutan stated the concern was
about the existing five -acre lots with existing houses that won't develop anymore.
The Council decided to take existing houses on five -acre lots out of the assessment
area. That left ten -acre lots with existing lots, which would get one assessment
because it would have a potential new lot. An empty ten -acre parcel would have
gotten two assessment.
In this situation, the new ordinance wouldn't have changed the assessment
area. The new ordinance would have changed when the assessment is collected.
Right now, if a building permit is let on the house, the assessment is triggered.
Under the new ordinance, a permit for a bathroom remodel, for example, wouldn't
trigger the assessment. This ordinance changes the time the assessment is
collected.
Miller stated his house should be subject to the same rules as the other
existing houses.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Safety Committee, 3/23/2004, Page 2
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Dana Brown -Davis, Council Clerk Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works and Safety Committee, 3/23/2004, Page 3