HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2025-013Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2025-194
File ID: AB2025-194 Version: 1 Status: Substitute Approved
File Created: 02/26/2025
Department: Planning and
Development
Services Department
Entered by: Iclark@whatcomcounty.us
File Type: Resolution
Assigned to: Council Planning and Development Committee Final Action: 03/25/2025
Agenda Date: 03/25/2025 Enactment #: RES 2025-013
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: lelark a whatcomcounty.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Resolution docketing Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulation amendments
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Each year the Council adopts a docket wherein anticipated comprehensive plan and development
regulation amendments are listed, which becomes the work plan for Planning and Development
Services.
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
Action:
Sent To:
03/11/2025 Council Planning and Development RECOMMENDED FOR
Committee APPROVAL
Aye: 2 Elenbaas, and Scanlon
Nay: 1 Donovan
03/11/2025 Council REFERRED TO Council Planning and
COMMITTEE Development Committee
Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
03/25/2025 Council Planning and Development SUBSTITUTE
Committee RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL
Aye: 2 Elenbaas, and Scanlon
Nay: 0
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 3/26/2025
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2025-194)
Abstain: 1 Donovan
03/25/2025 Council SUBSTITUTE APPROVED
Aye: 6 Buchanan, Byrd, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Abstain: 1 Donovan
Attachments: Staff Memo, Proposed Resolution, Substitute Resolution for 3.25.2025, Application -Birch Bay
UGA Expansion 7850 Blaine Road, Application -Birch Bay UGA Expansion Koehn Road Area,
Application -Impervious Surface Code Amendments -Wade King Elementary, Application Maps,
Presentation on 3.11.2025
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 312612025
Proposed by: Planning & Development
Services
Introduction date: March 12'L', 2025
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-013
DOCKETING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION AMENDMENTS
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 WCC 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 Whatcom County Planning and Development Services
Department has forwarded a docket of proposed Comprehensive Plan and development
regulation amendments to the County Council for consideration.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council
hereby dockets for formal review the amendments shown on attached Exhibit A.
APPROVED this 25th day of
ATTEST
C
i
n
Cathy Ialka; C`le°nl sq f1ie�Council
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
approved via email by Kellen Kooistra/LB
Kellen Kooistra, Civil Deputy Prosecutor
March 2025.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY,
WASHINGTON
Ka lee Mlloway, Council Chair
Exhibit A — Docket
File # `
File Name
Applicant
Description .
:Location
Fee Waiver
,
Granted? ,
PLN2025-
Birch Bay UGA
Arnie Properties
To designate a 4.77-acre parcel as Birch Bay Urban
7850 Blaine Road
No
00001
Expansion (7850
LP
Growth Area. The parcel is currently designated Birch
Blaine Road)
Bay Urban Growth Area -Reserve.
PLN2025-
Birch Bay UGA
Calluna
To designate six parcels in total 37.66 acre, as Birch Bay
3951111285570000,
No
00002
Expansion (Koehn
Properties LLP
Urban Growth Area. The parcels are currently designated
3951111285340000,
Road Area)
R5A.
3951111285470000,
3951111415220000,
3951111415100000,
3951111455010000
PLN2025-
Impervious Surface
Bellingham
The Bellingham School District (District) is requesting a
Countywide
Yes
00003
Code Amendments
School District
Development Regulation Amendment that
(Bellingham School
#501
exempts public schools from the limitation of impervious
District Application)
surfaces in the Water Resource Protection
Overlay District.
PLN2025-
Whatcom County
Whatcom
Review and revise the Whatcom County Zoning Code and
Countywide
N/A
00004
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.
PLN2025-
CIP Capital Facilities
Whatcom
Amend the capital facilities element of the Whatcom
Countywide
N/A
00005
Planning
County
County Comprehensive Plan, including the Seven Year
Capital Facilities Program Appendix F.
PLN2024-
Clean Energy Code
Whatcom
Amendments to the Whatcom County Code to support
Countywide
N/A
00005
Amendments
County Council
solar energy, geothermal energy, and hydrogen energy in
accordance with Resolution 2023-044.
PLN2023-
2025
Whatcom
Review and revise the Whatcom County Comprehensive
Countywide
N/A
00001
Comprehensive
County
Plan and development regulations ensure compliance
Plan, Development
with the requirements of RCW 36.70A. Review urban
Regulation, and
growth areas and densities permitted within urban
UGA Update
growth areas 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.
File #
File Name
Applicant
Description
Location
Fee Waiver .
Granted?
PLN2019-
MRL Expansion —
Concrete
Amend the comprehensive plan designation from Rural to
Parcel #
No
00002
Breckenridge Rd.
Nor'West
Mineral Resource Lands (MRL) and amend the zoning map
400428 165430 and a
to expand a MRL overlay zone on approximately 22.8
portion of parcel
acres off Breckenridge Rd., east of Nooksack. The
#400428254460;
underlying zoning is Rural one dwelling/five acres (R5A).
Within the NW % and
NE Y. of section 28,
T40N, R4E, W.M.
PLN2017-
MRL County -wide
Whatcom
Through a county -led countywide assessment, seek to
Countywide
N/A
00004
Designation Process
County
identify and designate potential commercially 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 811-1.
PLN2015-
Code Enforcement
Whatcom
Create a new Whatcom County Code (WCC) Chapter
N/A
N/A
00003
Amendments
County
22.15, called "Code Compliance 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.
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 updated
Agricultural and Rural
Implementation
Whatcom County Agricultural Strategic Plan. Immediate
lands
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
3