HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Feb 20 2024Whatcom 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 20, 2024
1:55 PM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 2:25 P.M., MAY BEGIN EARLY
(PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Jon Scanlon
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final February 20, 2024
Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Ben Elenbaas called the meeting to order at 1:55 p.m. in a
hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, and Jon Scanlon
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Kaylee Galloway, and Mark Stremler
Announcements
Special Presentation
1.-AB2024--134 Report from the Planning and Development Services Department
Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department Director,
gave on overview on the following:
• A permitting overview for last year
• Major permitting projects in the pipeline
• The status of the Comprehensive Plan update
• Personnel and staffing in the Planning Department
Permitting Overview
Permit application numbers remained steady in 2023 compared to the year
before. Commercial building permit numbers remained about the same,
detached structure permits increased, and residential single-family building
permits took a slight dip. Administrative use permits increased
significantly, primarily due to an increase in accessory dwelling units that
were permitted last year. They have a new building code update coming
from the State Building Code Council that will come before this Council in
March, which is driving an uptick in permit applications coming in prior to
requirements that will go into effect after March i5th.
Maior Project Permits in the pipeline
He stated major project permits coming up include ABC Recycling, and
answered whether it is considered a major project permit application. He
stated he believes it is. He updated on activity at Cherry Point, including the
Intalco demolition project. He updated on Petrogas for which they
anticipate permit application submittals in the second quarter of this year, a
sustainable jet fuel project, and improvements at Phillips 66 that will enable
them to import renewable diesel fuels.
He answered what the uptick in permits due to the building code update is
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Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final February 20, 2024
Committee
about, whether we are starting to see anything about the hydrogen hub at
Cherry Point, and whether he thinks by removing additional barriers, they
would see an even greater increase in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in
unincorporated areas. He stated there are a couple of bills in the Legislature
that would promote more of those in unincorporated areas.
Comprehensive Plan Update
He spoke about the upcoming Comprehensive Plan update, including the
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) scooping process, the City & County
Elected Officials meetings, outreach to 17 different advisory committees,
work on the population, housing, and employment technical reports, and
work on the Public Participation Plan. He answered questions about
whether the agendas at the City & County Elected Officials Comprehensive
Plan update meetings will be different every time and when the next
meeting will be, whether they can communicate to the advisory groups that
this will not be their only opportunity to participate, the engagement
framework with the Tribes, and how to help find solutions in the permitting
process.
Staffing Updates
Personius stated they have filled a Natural Resources Manager position
with Garrett Smith and he introduced him. They also reclassed the Senior
Planner position to a Projects Manager position to help manage some of
the big new projects. He answered questions about upcoming projects, and
what kind of permits Petrogas is applying for.
This agenda item was REPORTED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m.
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Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final February 20, 2024
Committee Y;
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
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Beni Elenbaas-via email 3/1/2024
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Dana: Brown�Davig, "Coun" 1cl 1, Clerk M Ben Elenbaas, Committee Chair
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Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
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