Objectives of the Rural Element Updates:
Fair and Inclusive Process – Throughout the update process, Whatcom County Planning and Development Services has been working with citizens; hosting stakeholder meetings, workshops, public meetings and hearings; posting web site and e-mail newsletters; and receiving written comments from residents and property owners.
Compliance with State Laws– The Washington State Growth Management Act has specific requirements counties must follow when planning land uses in their rural areas.
Whatcom County encourages you to get involved. If you would like to learn more, or if you would like to receive periodic progress reports on the update process, please see the get involved page.
This page last updated: April 5, 2012
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Documents To view the current proposed draft being considered by the Planning Commission, go to the "Proposed" page.
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Public Comments All public comments sent to the Planning Commission or Planning and Development Services are posted on the comment tracker in chronological order.
Project Timeline
- July 10, 2012: Growth Management Hearings Board compliance deadline.
- April 12, 2012: Planning Commission work session on proposed amendments
- March 22, 2012: Planning Commission Public Hearing on proposed amendments
- January 9, 2012: Growth Managements Hearings board issues its Final Decision and Order in case # 11-2-0010c, finding parts of Ordinance 2011-013 out of compliance and invalid.
- November 9, 2011: County Council adopts Ordinance 2011-043 changing minimum lot size in density overlay and other amendments
- July 26, 2011: County Council adopts Ordinance 2011-028 correcting an error on one map
- July 26, 2011: Growth Management Hearings Board compliance hearing.
- June 21, 2011: County Council adopts Ordinance 2011-023 repealing subdivision moratorium imposed by Ordinance 2011-002. Ordinance 2011-023 takes effect July 3. A similar moratorium imposed by Ordinance 2010-066 expired on June 19. 2011.
- May 12, 2011: County Executive signs Ordinance 2011-013; ordinance takes effect 10 days after Executive signature.
- May 10, 2011: County Council adopts Ordinance 2011-013.
- April 26, 2011: Public Hearing by County Council -- ordinance introduced incorporating some of the Planning Commission's recommended changes
- April 25, 2011: Planning Commission meeting to consider changes made to the draft Comprehensive Plan amendments since the October 2009 recommendation -- Planning Commission recommends changes
- April 15, 2011: Growth Management Hearings Board issues an order granting an extension of the compliance deadline until May 24, 2011
- April 12, 2011: Work session Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole; revised ordinance introduced at regular County Council meeting.
- March 30: 2011: County files motion for extension of compliance deadline
- March 29, 2011: Compliance date set by Hearings Board order of December 22, 2010. (Motion for extension of previous December 29, 2010 compliance deadline was submitted by Whatcom County November 2010)
- March 29, 2011: Public Hearing by County Council - ordinance not adopted.
- March 15, 2011: Work session Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole; ordinance introduced at regular County Council meeting.
- March 9, 2011: Public Hearing by County Council
- March 4, 2011: Work session Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole to consider proposed amendments to the zoning code WCC Title 20
- February 15, 2011 - March 1, 2011: work sessions Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole to consider proposed amendments to zoning and Comprehensive Plan maps
- January 11, 2011 : County Council adopted Ordinance 2011-001, imposing an emergency interim moratorium on subdivisions and short subdivisions in affected areas outside areas proposed for LAMIRDs in the Planning Commission recommendations. Interim moratorium adopted January 25, 2011 (Ord. 2011-002) imposes the moratorium until July 2011.
- October 26, 2010: County Council adopted Ordinance 2010-053, imposing an emergency interim moratorium on subdivisions and short subdivisions in affected areas outside areas proposed for LAMIRDs in the Planning Commission recommendations. Interim moratorium adopted December 7, 2010 (Ord. 2010-066) imposes the moratorium until June 2011.
- September 14, 2010 - February 8, 2011: work sessions Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole to consider proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan text
- September 7, 2010: Revised proposed draft posted and sent to County Council
- July 13, 2010: work session Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole
- June 22, 2010: work session Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole
- June 8, 2010: work session Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole
- May 25, 2010: work session Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee
- May 11, 2010: work session Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee
- April 27, 2010: work session Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee
- April 13, 2010: work session Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee
- March 30, 2010: work session Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee
- January 26, 2010: work session Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee
- October 8, 2009: work session with Whatcom County Planning Commission on proposed ordinances
- October 1, 2009: work session with Whatcom County Planning Commission on proposed ordinances
- September 22, 2009: work session with Whatcom County Planning Commission on proposed ordinances
- September 10, 2009: work session with Whatcom County Planning Commission on proposed ordinances
- September 8, 2009: public hearing with Whatcom County Planning Commission on proposed ordinances
- August 13, 2009: work session with Whatcom County Planning Commission on proposed ordinances
- July 23, 2009: work session with Whatcom County Planning Commission on proposed ordinances
- July 9, 2009: public hearing with Whatcom County Planning Commission on proposed ordinances
- July 1, 2009: 6:00-8:30 pm: Public meeting was held at Meridian High School, 194 W. Laurel Rd, Bellingham
- July 1, 2009: 9:00-11:30 am: Public meeting was held at Whatcom County Council Chambers, 311 Grand Ave, Bellingham
- June 30, 2009: 6:00-8:30 pm: Public meeting was held at Mount Baker High School, 4936 Deming Rd, Deming
- June 30, 2009: 1:00-3:30 pm: Public meeting was held at Fire Station 61, 9408 Odell Rd, Blaine
- May 14, 2009: Planning Commission work session continuation on deliberation and recommendation on policy issues
- April 28, 2009: Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee overview and update
- April 23, 2009: work session with Whatcom County Planning Commission
- April 16, 2009: public hearing with Whatcom County Planning Commission
- March 4, 2009: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. a public meeting was held at Meridian High School Cafeteria, 194 W. Laurel Rd.
- March 5, 2009: 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. a public meeting was held at Whatcom County Council Chambers, 311 Grand, Bellingham
- March 5, 2009: 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. a public meeting was held at American Legion: Peace Arch Post # 86, 4580 Legion Drive, Blaine
- March 5, 2009: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. a public meeting was held at the Rome Grange, 2821 Mt. Baker Hwy.
- December 11, 2008, work session with Whatcom County Planning Commission
- November 12, 2008, a public workshop was held at Meridian High School from 6pm-8:30pm.
- November 13, 2008, a public workshop was held at the Bellingham Public Library from 9am-11:30am.
- November 13, 2008, a public workshop was held at Mount Baker High School from 6pm-8:30pm
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