HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Mar 10 2026Whatcom 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 10, 2026
11 AM
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers
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(PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
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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 March 10, 2026
Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Jessica Rienstra called the meeting to order at 11:07 a.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 7 - Elizabeth Boyle, Barry Buchanan, Jessica Rienstra, Jon Scanlon, Mark Stremler,
Ben Elenbaas, and Kaylee Galloway
Announcements
Special Presentation
AB2026-194 Report from the Planning and Development Services Department
The following people read from a presentation (on file):
• Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department
Director
• Kelly Chamberlain, Planning and Development Services Department
Personius spoke about all types of permit applications received 2016-2025,
building permits just in 2025, land use cases in 2025, calls handled by PDS
administrative staff in 2025, customer service resources available, building
inspections in 2025, the number of public records requests received,
department structure and staff, things that Planning has been working on
recently, and future challenges.
He answered questions about implementation and compliance with Senate
Bill 5290 regarding permit review timelines, the annual permit performance
report that was submitted to the State last month, that they are working on
finding a way in-house to pull timelines for every single permit, what he
would see as the right -sized department for the size of our community and
what impact right -sizing would have on the community, how many phone
calls come through the main phone queue, if there is anything the Council
can do to make sure the department always has a full staff, and if they have
strategies for being competitive for hiring staff.
This agenda item was REPORTED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2026-195 Resolution docketing Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulation amendments
Lucas Clark, Planning and Development Services Department, read from a
presentation (on file) about the docketing process and the 15 new proposals
Whafcom County Page I
Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final March 10, 2026
Committee
for the 2026 docket for Council consideration.
Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department Director,
answered if there is staff capacity to accomplish the docket work and how
they would prioritize the projects if not. He stated they cannot do it all this
year and their priorities are State mandates and legal compliance issues, as
well as the two school district impact fees. He also spoke about the process
for statutory housing amendments that need to be adopted concurrently with
the Comprehensive Plan. He answered whether a property on the north side
of Lincoln Road has come to Planning for review, and stated it came
through the Comprehensive Plan process but neither the Planning
Commission or the Council has recommended including that parcel in the
urban growth area (UGA) at this time. His interest would be in changing that
UGA reserve from a designation to simply an overlay which would signal
that this is an area where this community wants to grow in the future and
give a head start to utility providers to start planning and make sure it is in
their service area if it is not there now. He spoke about implications if they
chose to docket it. He spoke more about prioritization of the docket items.
Elenbaas spoke about proposals he has sent to Planning and asked why
proposed code language the Council sends to Planning does not go right
into the public process and back to the Council to approve.
Personius stated some things do not get done on the docket because the
Planning Department does not have the resources to do them in a given year
and some need to go to advisory committees and the Planning Commission
for recommendation.
Elenbaas stated his ability to function as a council member is being
hampered by proposed code changes dying on the docket. He would request
that those proposals go right into the process of review.
Personius responded to the request and also stated there is no deadline for
this agenda item and they do not have to make a decision on it tonight.
The committee did not make a recommendation to the Council.
This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A
RECOMMENDATION.
Items Added by Revision
There were no agenda items added by revision.
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Council Planning and Development Committee Minutes - Final
Committee
Other Business
Adjournment
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.
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March 10, 2026
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Jessica Rienstra-via email 3/25/2026
Jessica Rienstra, Committee Chair
Meeting Minutes prepared by Kristi Felbinger
Wha(com County Page 3