HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2023-042Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Agenda Bill Report
File Number: AB2023-701
File ID: AB2023-701 Version: 1 Status: Approved
File Created: 10/18/2023 Entered by: DBrown@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Council Office File Type: Resolution
Assigned to: Council Planning and Development Committee Final Action: 10/24/2023
Agenda Date: 10/24/2023 Enactment #: RES 2023-042
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: DBrown@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Resolution amending Resolution 2023-033 to docket an additional Comprehensive Plan and zoning
amendment related to County Code 20.68 and other relevant sections of Title 20 to define appropriate
industrial uses and conditions for industrial uses in Heavy Impact Industrial (HII) Districts within a city's
designated urban growth area
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
This resolution amends the docket approved through Resolution 2023-033 to add an additional item for
review related to defining appropriate industrial uses and conditions for industrial uses in Heavy Impact
Industrial (HII) Districts within a city's designated urban growth area
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
10/24/2023 Council Planning and Development
Committee
Aye: 3
Nay: 0
10/24/2023 Council
Aye: 7
Nay: 0
Action: Sent To:
RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL
Byrd, Elenbaas, and Galloway
APPROVED
Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 1012512023
Agenda Bill Report Continued (AB2023-701)
Attachments: Proposed Resolution, Resolution 2023-033 (for reference)
Whatcom County Page 2 Punted on 1012512023
Proposed by: Donovan
Introduction date:
RESOLUTION NO. 2023 - 042
AMENDING RESOLUTION 2023-033 TO DOCKET AN ADDITIONAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AND ZONING AMENDMENT RELATED TO COUNTY CODE 20.68 AND OTHER RELEVANT
SECTIONS OF TITLE 20 TO DEFINE APPROPRIATE INDUSTRIAL USES AND CONDITIONS
FOR INDUSTRIAL USES IN HEAVY IMPACT INDUSTRIAL (HII) DISTRICTS WITHIN A
CITY'S DESIGNATED URBAN GROWTH AREA
WHEREAS, the Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.470) requires the County
to consider the proposed docket of comprehensive plan and development regulation
amendments on at least an annual basis; and
WHEREAS, the provisions of Whatcom County Code 22.10.020 indicate that
Comprehensive Plan and development regulation amendments are to be docketed for
review by approval of a resolution by the County Council; and
WHEREAS, the County Council initiated proposed Comprehensive Plan and zoning
amendments under Whatcom County Resolution No. 2023-005; and
WHEREAS, the Council wishes to add an item to the docket for further review
related to the compatibility of residential zoning with heavy impact industrial uses in
areas zoned heavy impact industrial within a city's designated urban growth area.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council hereby
dockets for formal review the amendments shown on the attached Exhibit A.
APPROVED this 24th day of October 2023.
U
ATTEST��®
r� A
® �1C
c m
Dana Brok-D s, C rg"orthe,Council
APPROVE6'>A5,TO FORM;,,
/s/ Karen Frakes approved via email on 10/19/2023/MR
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
( Avq A
%,.,/
Ba ry uchanan, Council Chair
EXHIBIT A — Docket
PLN2023-
2025
Whatcom
Review and revise the Whatcom County Comprehensive
Countywide
N/A
00001
Comprehensive
County
Plan and development regulations by June 2025 to
Plan, Development
ensure compliance with the requirements of RCW
Regulation, and
36.70A. Review urban growth areas and densities
UGA Update
permitted within urban growth areas by June 2025, in
conjunction with the Cities. If necessary, revise urban
growth areas and/or associated development regulations
to accommodate the urban growth projected for the
succeeding twenty-year period.
PLN2023-
Zoning Code
Whatcom
Amend the text of the Urban Residential District (WCC
Countywide
N/A
00002
Density and Lot
County
20.20), Urban Residential Medium Density District (WCC
Size Amendments
20.22), General Commercial District (WCC 20.62), Resort
Commercial District (WCC 20.64), Supplementary
Requirements (WCC 20.80), and Definitions (WCC
20.97). The text amendments include allowing smaller
minimum lot sizes, requiring minimum net densities,
reducing setbacks, and defining minimum net density.
PLN2023- Whatcom County Whatcom Review and revise the Whatcom County Zoning Code and N/A N/A
00003 Code Amendments County other sections of the County Code to implement
Comprehensive Plan policies and/or address issues
identified in the administration of the codes. Revisions
needed to achieve consistency with the Growth
Management Act may also be considered.
PLN2023- Heavy Impact Whatcom Amend county code 20.68 and other relevant Heavy Impact N/A
000ox Industrial Zones County sections of Title 20 to define appropriate. industrial Industrial (HII)
within city UGA. Council uses and conditions for industrial uses in Heavy
Impact Industrial (HII) Districts within a city's
2
PLN2023-
Allow Propane
Whatcom
Amend Whatcom County Code 20.40.150, Agriculture
Agriculture (AG)
N/A
00004
Reload, Storage,
County
(AG) District, to allow propane reload, storage, and
District
and Distribution
Council
distribution facilities in the Agriculture Zone as a
Facilities in AG
conditional use under certain circumstances
Zone Under
Certain
Circumstances
PLN2022
Cherry Point
Whatcom
Review and, if necessary, revise county code and
Cherry Point Area
N/A
-00005
Shoreline Access
County
the Comprehensive Plan to protect, enhance, and
Council
expand public access to shorelines of Cherry Point.
The review should include but not be limited to
planning to facilitate the development of the Coast
Millennium Trail, land swaps, development
mitigation allowances, easements, and land
purchases.
PLN2022
Lake Whatcom
Whatcom
Amend the Whatcom County Code to allow for an
Lake Whatcom
N/A
-00006
Watershed
County
exemption to seasonal clearing activity closures in
Watershed
Seasonal Closure
Council
the Lake Whatcom watershed for trail maintenance
Exemption
and limited trail construction under certain
circumstances.
PLN2021
Bellingham UGA
Whatcom
Amend the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan by
North of the
N/A
-00007
Expansion
County
expanding the Bellingham Urban Growth Area (UGA)
Bellingham City
(Council
on 339 acres (the site is currently designated as UGA
Limits and west of
Member
Reserve). Rezone this land to Urban Residential -
the Guide Meridian
Kershner)
Mixed (URMX) and commercial zoning.
(State Route 539)
PLN2019
MRL Expansion -
Concrete
Amend the comprehensive plan designation from
Parcel #
No
-00002
Breckenridge Rd.
Nor'West
Rural to Mineral Resource Lands (MRL) and amend
400428 165430
the zoning map to expand a MRL overlay zone on
and a portion of
approximately 22.8 acres off Breckenridge Rd., east
parcel # 400428
254460; Within
3
of Nooksack. The underlying zoning is Rural one
the NW 1/4 and NE
dwelling/five acres (R5A).
1/4 of section 28,
T40N, R4E, W.M.
PLN2018
Wind Energy
Whatcom
Review and, if needed, revise WCC 20.14 Wind
N/A
N/A
-00008
System
County
Energy Systems.
Amendments
Planning
Commission
PLN2017
MRL County-
Whatcom
Through a county -led countywide assessment, seek
County -wide
N/A
-00004
wide Designation
County
to identify and designate potential commercially
Process
significant mineral resource lands, to meet future
demand, compatible with water resources,
agricultural lands, forest lands and other GMA goals
pursuant to Comprehensive Plan Policy 8R-1.
PLN2016
Sign Regulations
Whatcom
Review and revise Whatcom County Code
N/A
N/A
-00009
Update
County
20.80.400 (Sign Regulations), including updating
the code for consistency with the U.S. Supreme
Court's decisions in Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015)
and City of Austin, Texas v. Reagan National
Advertising of Austin (2022).
PLN2014
Vacation Rental
Whatcom
Amend Whatcom County Code Title 20 (Zoning) &
N/A
N/A
-00020
Regulations
County
Title 23 (Shoreline Management Program) to allow
PLN2016
vacation rentals under certain conditions as a use
-00011
within certain zones and shoreline designations.
PLN2015 Code Whatcom Create a new Whatcom County Code (WCC) N/A N/A
-00003 Enforcement County Chapter 22.15, called "Code Compliance
Amendments Procedures" to establish an efficient system to
address enforcement of building, critical areas and
zoning codes. The proposal would consolidate the
existing code enforcement provisions from WCC 15,
16.16, and 20 into a new WCC 22.15. The proposed
11
amendments include provisions that would allow
the County to record a document at the Whatcom
Auditor's office indicating that there is a code
violation on a property.
PLN2014 Weddings and Whatcom Amend the Whatcom County Zoning Ordinance to N/A N/A
-00016 Special Events County allow `Weddings and Special Events" in specific
zone districts through a conditional use permit.
Amend WCC 20.97 to define "Special Events" and
amend the parking space requirements in WCC
20.80.580.
PLN2012 Agricultural Whatcom Resolution 2018-027 was approved by the County Proposal relates to N/A
-00007 Strategic Plan County Council on 8/8/2018 declaring support for the Agricultural and
Implementation updated Whatcom County Agricultural Strategic Rural lands
Plan. Immediate priorities in this plan include
reviewing designation of Agricultural Lands of Long-
term Commercial Significance and the agricultural
zoning code. Reviewing the Rural Study Areas as
listed in the 2007 Rural Land Study and making
recommendations for possible changes in
accordance with Resolution 2009-040 (100,000
acre target), Resolution 2018-027 (Updated
Agricultural Strategic Plan) and RCW 36.70A.170
and .177 will be included. Other short-term and
medium -term priorities in this plan include
development of policies and regulations that
provide for protection of the best agricultural areas
while supporting development at zoned densities
and continued work on development of the Natural
Resource Marketplace. These activities may lead to
proposed changes to the agricultural portions of the
Comprehensive Plan and zoning regulations.
PLN2012 MRL Expansion - Ferndale Amend the comprehensive plan designation from Parcel # N/A
-00009 North Star Rd. Ready Mix & Rural to Mineral Resource Lands (MRL) and amend 390110 212100;
Gravel the zoning map to expand a MRL overlay zone on Within the SW 1/4 of
approximately 19.7 acres on the west side of North section 10, T39N,
Star Rd., south of Brown Rd. The underlying zoning R1E, W.M.
is Rural one dwelling/five acres R5A .
0