HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2025-011Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2025-224
File ID: AB2025-224 Version: 1 Status: Approved
File Created: 03/06/2025 Entered by: THelms@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: County Executive's File Type: Resolution
Office
Assigned to: Council Committee of the Whole Final Action: 03/11/2025
Agenda Date: 03/11/2025 Enactment #: RES 2025-011
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: apennucc@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Non -binding multi -jurisdictional resolution regarding population, housing and employment allocations
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
See attached
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
Action:
Sent To:
03/11/2025 Council Committee of the Whole RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL
Aye: 6 Buchanan, Byrd, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Abstain: 1 Donovan
03/11/2025 Council APPROVED
Aye: 6 Buchanan, Byrd, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
N ay: 0
Abstain: 1 Donovan
Attachments: Resolution, Letter - Whatcom Environmental Council
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 311212025
Proposed by:
Introduction date:
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-011
NON -BINDING MULTI -JURISDICTIONAL RESOLUTION REGARDING
POPULATION, HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT ALLOCATIONS
WHEREAS, the Growth Management Act (GMA) requires Whatcom County and the
cities to review and, if needed, update their respective comprehensive plans by December 31,
2025; and
WHEREAS, the GMA requires county and city comprehensive plans to be
coordinated and consistent; and
WHEREAS, the GMA states that urban growth areas (UGAs) must be revised to
accommodate the urban growth projected to occur in the succeeding 20-year planning period
by December 31, 2025 (RCW 36.70A.130); and
WHEREAS, the GMA, county -wide planning policies and inter -local agreements
indicate that review of UGAs should be coordinated between the County and the cities; and
WHEREAS, population, housing, and employment allocations are a critical
component in the comprehensive plan update and UGA review process; and
WHEREAS, while final decisions on population, housing, and employment
allocations will not be made until the comprehensive plan is adopted in 2025, it is important
for the County and cities to agree upon preliminary allocations in order to coordinate
transportation modeling, capital facility planning, environmental review, and UGA
recommendations; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council hereby
agrees to utilize the population, housing, and employment growth allocations shown on
Exhibit A as the preliminary allocations for initial review of urban growth areas by the
County and cities. It is acknowledged that a range of population, housing, and employment
allocations will also be studied in the environmental impact statement and UGA review
process and the final UGA growth allocations may be different than set forth in this
Resolution.
APPROVED this 1 1 th day of
t°®%IWIY!IIII11?1
ATTEST��®�° '`m���
R
c IJN
Cathy Ha�ka, C ex ct f6�(;�.Council
6.1 m�
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
/s/ approved by Kellen Kooistra via email/lb
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
March 2025.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Kaylee Noway, Council Cha r
Exhibit A
Population, Housing Unit, and Employment Growth (2023-2045)
Population Housing
Population Share Units
;Bellingham City & UGA
'Birch Bay UGA
Blaine City & UGA
Cherry Point UGA
Columbia Valley UGA
;Everson City& UGA
;Ferndale City& UGA
Lynden City& UGA
:Nooksack City & UGA
Sumas City & UGA
Rural & Resource Lands
Total
Notes:
30,310
44.8%
18,390
2,662,13.9%
1,051
3,500,
5.2%;
1,774
0 _
0.0%.
0
1,137
1.7%
502
1,408
21%
610
10,961 i
16.2%
4,659
6,665
9.9%
3,535
_
9951
1.5%
433
1,000,
1.5%
643
9,000
13.3%
4,416
67,6381 100.0% 36,013
ising
Employment
Share
Employment
Share
51.1 % ;
_2.9%450
19,384,
59.9%'
1.4%',
4.9%
1,092
3.4%
0.0%
1,200
3.7%
1.4%
350
1.1%
1.7%;
602'
1.9%'
12.9% 1
_ 3,337
10.3%'
9.8%,
1,799
5.6%
1.2%,
232
0.7%'
1.8%
500,
1.5%i
12.3% .
3,403
10.5%'
100.0%
32,349`
100.0%'
1. The population, housing, and employment allocations represent, for preliminary
planning purposes, the additional growth anticipated between 2023 and 2045. The
housing figures are from the Housing for All Planning Tool (RAPT).
3
Exhibit B
Housing Unit Growth by Income Band (2023-2045)
%° of Tota l
Tota l
Bellingham City & UGA
51.06%;
18,390
Birch Bay UGA
2.92%
1,051
Blaine City & UGA
4.93%
1,774
Cherry Point UGA
0.00%-
0
Columbia Valley UGA
1.39%,
502
Everson City & UGA
1.70%
610
Ferndale City & UGA
12.94%
4,659
Lynden City & UGA
9.82%'
3,535
Nooksack City & UGA
1.20%°'
433
'Sumas City & UGA
1.79%<
643
Rural & Resource Lands
12.26%`<
4,416
Total
100.00%:
36,013
Notes:
0-30%
Emergency
Non-PSH
PSH
>30-50%
>50-80%
>80-100%
>100-120%
>120%
Housing
Needs
4,978
1,944
4,158.1,197'
989:
1,400
3 725
299
285
111:
238.68
56'
80
213_
17
480
188
401
115
_. 95;
135
359
29'
0
0
0
0
0.
0
0
0
136
53
113
33
27
38
102:
8
165
65
_..
138
40
33
46
124.10;
1,261
492':
_.
1,053:
303.
250
355
944
76_
957
374
799
230
190
269
716.58
117
46
98
28
23
33
88
7
174.
68
145.42
35
49
130.10
O
0
45:
855.
304
307
2,905
72
8,553
3,340
7,189
2,912.
2,002
2,712
9,305
586.
The housing figures are from the Housing for All Planning Tool (RAPT) and
represent, for preliminary planning purposes, the additional growth anticipated
between 2023 and 2045. PSH means "Permanent supportive housing." This term
is defined in the Growth Management Act at RCW 36.70A.030(31)). The 0-30%,
30-50%, 50-80%, etc. figures refer to Area Median Income (AMI). Emergency
housing needs represent the beds needed.