BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Whatcom County originally designated the Ferndale Urban Growth Area (UGA) in the 1997 Comprehensive Plan. The Growth Management Act required the County to review urban growth areas every 10 years. The County completed this review in November 2009 with the adoption of Ordinance 2009-071. This ordinance reduced the Ferndale UGA by approximately 1,556 acres. Ferndale subsequently appealed this ordinance to the Growth Management Hearings Board. In order to settle this appeal, the County Council adopted Ordinance 2010-037 in August 2010. This ordinance, which restored approximately 476 acres to the Ferndale UGA, was appealed to the Growth Management Hearings Board. The Growth Board ruled that the Ferndale UGA was oversized and that adequate sewer and fire capital facility planning had not occurred ( Stalheim et al v. Whatcom County, Case No. 10-2-0016c, Final Decision and Order, April 11, 2011). The Growth Board found that other challenged portions of the 2010 ordinance complied with the Growth Management Act.
Whatcom County undertook a process, in coordination with the City of Ferndale, to amend the Ferndale UGA boundary,
Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan,
capital facilities plan and zoning map to comply with the Growth Board Order in 2011.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL
The County Council adopted Ordinance 2011-034 on August 9, 2011 to address the Growth Board's order. The Growth Board found that this Ordinance complied with the Growth Management Act on October 6, 2011.
WHATCOM COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
The Whatcom County Planning Commission held a public hearing and issued recommendations relating to the comprehensive plan, capital facilities plan and zoning map on July 14, 2011. The Planning Commission’s recommendations can be viewed by clicking the links below:
STAFF REPORT
The Whatcom County Planning and Development Services Staff Report, including recommendations relating to the UGA boundary, comprehensive plan, capital facility and zoning map amendments, can be viewed by clicking the links below:
Other relevant information that is attached to the staff report can be viewed by clicking the links below:
CAPITAL FACILITY PLANS
The draft amendments to the Whatcom County capital facilities plan reference or incorporate information from the City of Ferndale Comprehensive Sewer Plan (2011) and the Fire District 7 Capital Facility Plan (2011). You can view these documents by clicking on the links below:
City of Ferndale Comprehensive Sewer Plan
Fire District 7 Capital Facility Plan
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
You can view the watershed, wetland and stream map for each alternative by clicking the links below:
Alternative 1 map
Alternative 2 map
Alternative 3 map
Ferndale City Council Recommended UGA Map
Whatcom County issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 10-Year Urban Growth Area Review in May 2009. This existing environmental document is posted on the County website at: http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/2031/eis.jsp
Whatcom County completed a Final EIS for the 10-Year Urban Growth Area Review in October 2009. This existing environmental document is posted on the County website at: http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/2031/final_eis.jsp
Additionally, you can view existing environmental (SEPA) documents relating to the subjects
listed below by clicking these links:
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Harris Comments 4-29-11
Robertson Comments 7-12-11
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