HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Mar 19 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, March 19, 2024
10:55 AM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY ADJOURNS BY NOON, MAY BEGIN
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COUNCILMEMBERS
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Jon Scanlon
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final March 19, 2024
Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Ben Elenbaas called the meeting to order at 10:46 a.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
Committee Discussion
1. A 112 2ji-;172 Discussion of proposed ordinance adopting amendments to Whatcom County Code
Title 15, Buildings & Construction, to adopt by reference the 2021 Editions of the
International Building Codes
The following people spoke:
• Curtis Metz, Planning and Development Services Department
• Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department
Metz referred to a memo (on file) and updated the Councilmembers. He
answered questions about the proposed permitting changes and how
permitting would be affected if someone does not finish work in the given
timeline or if the code changes in the middle of the process. He answered
whether there are any changes to the proposed ordinance since the last
ulscussloil aita he state' 1t is the same.
Strong stated this ordinance is on the agenda for introduction tonight.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
2. A[12 24-20 7 Discussion of a proposed ordinance to allow as a conditional use the distribution,
reload, storage, and sales of propane in the Agriculture District, and as a permitted
use in the Light Impact Industrial District, Heavy Impact Industrial District, Rural
Industrial and Manufacturing District, and add two new definitions to the Definitions
sections of WCC Title 20
The following people read from a presentation (on file) and answered
questions:
• Lucas Clark, Planning and Development Services Department
• Steve Roberge, Planning and Development Services Department
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Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final March 19, 2024
Committee
They answered questions about where a facility could be built, the intent of
proposed code provision number one in the presentation, the definition of
agricultural use, how the use would be allowable in Rural Industrial and
Manufacturing (RIM) land which is in limited areas of more intense rural
development (LAMIRDs), not changing the language to say it is allowable in
a RIM zone if it is not feasible, and how many zones have an approved use
beyond the ones that are a conditional use.
Royce Buckingham, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, answered whether this
is a spot zone that could be challenged and stated his take on it is that this is
not really a re -zone. It is proposed to be county -wide. And so, it does not
really fit being a spot zone. With that being said, all the evils of a spot zone
are something you should be discussing, and whether you want to do this or
not.
Councilmembers and staff discussed whether there are other potential sites
where people might be interested in this, where the definition for long-term
commercial significance is found and whether it is spelled out enough, that
this had a unanimous vote in the Planning Commission on the second vote,
what the concerns of the Agricultural Advisory Committee were and
whether they were addressed, the fact that this particular parcel is probably
being looked at because of its vicinity to a rail spur and that this type of
facility would probably not "go gangbusters" across the ag land, whether
they are ultimately doing this for a singular applicant for a specific piece of
property, that the use is functionally disallowed in the RIM zone by the
Growth Management Act and the reason that zone was included, and the next
steps for the ordinance and whether there are time constraints.
Donovan stated they are talking about a specific piece of property for a
specific applicant.
Elenbaas stated that is true, but the action they take will affect the entire ag
zone.
Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department Director,
stated this is on for introduction tonight and scheduled for a public hearing
at the next meeting.
Stremler stated it is not just about this property. It is the ability to look at
things in a common-sense way and what is a good move in changing
language that allows us to facilitate good use practices. This is just an
example of what the County can utilize moving forward.
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Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final March 19, 2024
Committee
This agenda item Was DISCUSSED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
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Ben Elenbaas-via email 3/23/2024
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Ben Elenbaas, Committee Chair
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
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