HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Jan 13 2026Whatcom County
Council Planning and Development Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
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Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
11:40 AM
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers
HYBRID MEETING - MAY BEGIN EARLY/LATE - ADJOURNS BY 12:00 P.M.
(PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Elizabeth Boyle
Barry Buchanan
Ben Elenbaas
Kaylee Galloway
Jessica Rienstra
Jon Scanlon
Mark Stremler
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC
Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee member Ben Elenbaas called the meeting to order at 11:49 a.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 8 - Elizabeth Boyle, Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jessica
Rienstra, Jessica Rienstra, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler
Announcements
Special Order of Business
I. AB2026-007 Nomination and appointment of Committee Chair
Elenbaas and Rienstra nominated themselves for the position of committee
chair and spoke about why.
Scanlon moved to nominate Elenbaas and Rienstra with a vote of one.
The motion was seconded by Galloway.
Rienstra was appointed as chair by the following vote:
Rienstra: 5 - Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, and Scanlon
Elenbaas: 2 - Elenbaas and Stremler
Rienstra assumed the role of chair for the remainder of the meeting and
Councilmembers discussed the appointment of vice chairs.
Boyle withdrew her name from consideration, and Galloway stated she
would like to be considered for the position.
Scanlon moved to nominate Elenbaas and Galloway for vice chair.
The motion was seconded by Boyle.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, and
Boyle
Nay: 0
This agenda item was APPOINTED.
Appointed Rienstra as Chair and Elenbaas and Galloway as Vice Chairs
Whafcom County Page I
Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final
Committee
Committee Discussion
January 13, 2026
1. AB2026-017 Discussion of an ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Chapter 20.34 Rural
Residential Island (RRI) to allow food preparation for off -site consumption when
accessory to and located within an approved community center
Lucas Clark, Planning and Development Services Department, briefed the
councilmembers and stated the code amendment would allow The Gathering
Place to expand the use of its existing kitchen for off -premise food sales
outside of the community center.
Councilmembers commented on the proposal and thanked Clark for his
work on it.
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 11:58 a.m.
ATTEST:
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Cathy Halka, �� o lti 61 O� -
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Jessica Rienstra-via email 1/26/2026
Jessica Rienstra, Committee Chair
Meeting Minutes prepared by Kristi Felbinger
Whalcom County page 2