The Whatcom County Council is conducting the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and the urban growth area (UGA) review, which are both required by the Growth Management Act under RCW 36.70A.130. At the same time the County will consider amendments to development regulations (including the official zoning map) and subsets of the Comprehensive Plan in order to ensure consistency with the Comprehensive Plan. It is anticipated that the County Council will adopt an ordinance amending the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and development regulations by July 2016.

The County Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed development regulation amendments related to the Comprehensive Plan on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at 7 p.m. at the Whatcom County Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham. This hearing will give the public the opportunity to provide comments to the County Council relating to the following amendments to Whatcom County Code (WCC) Title 20 (Zoning), Title 21 (Land Division Regulations), Title 22 (Guide Meridian Improvement Plan), and the official zoning map:

• Title 20 amendments include amending WCC Chapter 20.36 to require reclamation plans for surface mining uses in the Rural zone, amending Chapter 20.43 revising the maximum percentage of lot area that can be removed from production of forest products in the Commercial Forestry zone, amendments to WCC Chapters 20.72, 20.80. 20.97 and the Point Roberts Character Plan involving sign regulations and permit review in the Point Roberts Special District, amending WCC Chapter 20.82 concerning new sewer lines and amendments to WCC Chapters 20.24, 20.65, 20.66, 20.68, and 20.80.210 to update references to the Urban Fringe Subarea Plan. WCC 20.80.210 is adopted by reference in the WCCP and amendments to that section are also a WCCP amendment. The Point Roberts Character Plan is a part of the Point Roberts Subarea Plan, which is a subset of the WCCP, therefore the amendment is an amendment to the WCCP.

• Title 21 amendments consist of amending WCC Chapters 21.03, 21.04, 21.06, and 21.08 to change standards for required disclosures for plats near significant pipelines.

• Title 22 amendments consist of repealing Title 22, the Guide Meridian Improvement Plan. The plan is a component of the Urban Fringe Subarea Plan, which is a subset of the WCCP, therefore the amendment is also an amendment to the WCCP.

• The changes to the official zoning map consist of amending the zoning maps for all urban growth areas to reflect changes to urban growth area and urban growth area reserve boundaries, and rescinding the short term planning area zoning.

Draft amendments are posted on the County’s website at: http://wa-whatcomcounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/19207.

The public is invited to submit written comments and/or attend the public hearing to provide oral comments. Written comments may e-mailed to [email protected] or be submitted to:

Whatcom County Council
311 Grand Avenue
Suite 105
Bellingham, WA 98225

Agendas for future County Council meetings and public hearings on the Comprehensive Plan Update and UGA review will be posted on the County Council website at: http://www.whatcomcounty.us/268/County-Council


Copyright 2015 Whatcom County, Washington. All Rights Reserved.
311 Grand Ave. Bellingham, WA 98225
Unsubscribe