HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Feb 8 2022Whatcom County
Council Planning and Development Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
1PM
Virtual Meeting
VIRTUAL MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 2 P.M. (TO PARTICIPATE, SEE
INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil OR CALL
360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Kaylee Galloway
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final February 8, 2022
Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Ben Elenbaas called the meeting to order at 1 p.m. in a
virtual meeting.
Present: 3 - Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, and Kaylee Galloway
Absent: None
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Carol Frazey, and Kathy Kershner
Announcements
Committee Discussion
1. A132022 Ob4 Discussion of an ordinance adopting various minor amendments to Whatcom County
Code Titles 20 (Zoning), 21 (Land Division Regulations) and 22 (Land Use and
Development)
The following staff briefed the Councilmembers and answered questions:
• Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department
• Amy Keenan, Planning and Development Services Department
They answered questions about the proposed amendments in Exhibit A
including amendment five (Standardizing Kennel Language) and amendment
three (Rural Forestry Lot Coverage) which would be a policy change.
Strong stated they added one more potential change to this Ordinance.
There are other uses of the word marijuana in the Code, and if
Councilmembers choose to change "marijuana" to "cannabis" as proposed
in Councilmember Galloway's substitute Ordinance (AB2021-648) he has
listed other areas in the Code where that language would also need to be
changed. He has prepared a substitute Ordinance for this item
(AB2022-082) if Galloway's substitute Ordinance is adopted tonight.
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, answered whether that substitute
will be online.
Strong answered and Councilmembers discussed why the Ordinance
adopting amendments to WCC Title 20 (Zoning) regulating the production,
processing, and retail sales of recreational marijuana in Whatcom County
and repealing Ordinance No. 2021-066 is not on the agenda in Committee
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Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final February 8, 2022
Committee
for a work session today.
Galloway asked about where the Ordinance related to this discussion is on
the agenda tonight and Councilmembers and staff discussed whether a
motion is needed from Committee.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
2. AB2021_ -60 5 Discussion on proposed amendments to the Whatcom County Code Title 20 (Zoning)
to provide additional affordable housing options
Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department, updated the
Councilmembers.
Donovan moved that they recommend this to the full Council.
Councilmembers and Staff discussed whether the item is on the agenda
tonight, the motion, and an update on a conversation with the pro -tiny -home
group. The thought is that it would be best to go forward with this and fix
things as the State changes things afterwards.
Curtis Metz, Planning and Development Services Department, stated he
reviewed the websites of other counties regarding tiny homes. He did not
see anything outstanding that would justify something totally different from
what staff has already proposed.
Councilmembers and staff discussed the process for the related Ordinance
to proceed and whether it has had a public hearing, and they discussed the
motion.
Donovan amended his motion and moved to recommend that the related
Ordinance (AB2022-606) be introduced tonight.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Galloway, and Elenbaas
Nay: 0
This agenda item was DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
There were no agenda items added by revision.
Councilmembers discussed whether they could further discuss the
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Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final
Committee
Adjournment
proposed Ordinance regarding marijuana.
February 8, 2022
Brown -Davis spoke about getting more direction from Councilmembers
regarding the topic of vacation rentals.
The meeting adjourned at 1:24 p.m.
ATTEST',,
Dana Brawn' Davis,, Council Clerk g
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Ben Elenbaas-via email 2/11/2022
Ben Elenbaas, Committee Chair
Wkatcom County Page 3