2005 Critical Areas Update Process
Three employees from Planning and Development Services were committed to the CAO update process and consultants from Parametrix, Inc. were hired. To seek broad stakeholder advice, two committees were formed in 2004:
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) - The following governments and agencies were invited to participate on the Technical Advisory Committee.
City of Bellingham
Lummi Nation
Nooksack Tribe
Small Cities Caucus
Port of Bellingham
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Washington State Department of Ecology
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Whatcom Conservation District/NRCS
To date there have been ten (10) meetings of the TAC between July and December 2004. The TAC has reviewed and commented on all of the information presented in the Best Available Science Record and, in many cases, has provided scientific studies and data to be included in the BAS review. The TAC has also reviewed and commented on the draft CAO amendments. The TAC meetings have also been open to the public and the meeting times, dates and locations have been posted on the events calendar of the Whatcom County Planning & Development Natural Resource Management website as they have been scheduled. Meeting agendas and summaries are also posted on the website.
Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) – The aim of this committee is a balanced representation of public interests, including:
Agricultural Industry
Forestry Industry
Development Industry (Building Industry Associated of Washington)
Environmental Interests
Key shoreline communities
Cherry Point Industrial Community
Citizen at Large
Thirteen citizens were invited to serve on the Citizens Advisory Committee, Roger Almskaar, Kathy Berg, Elizabeth S. Daly (BP Cherry Point), Robyn du Pre' (ReSources), Richard Gilda, David Haggith, Margaret (Peg) Larson, Tom Pratum, Skip Richards, Aubrey Stargell, Wendy Steffensen (North Sound Baykeeper), and Rebecca O'Brine Willson.
To date, there have been thirteen (13) meetings of the CAC between July and December 2004 to review and discuss the existing Whatcom County CAO, resource materials, DRAFT Best Available Science (BAS) Review and Recommendations, as well as Draft CAO updates. The CAC has reviewed and commented on all of the information presented in the Best Available Science Record, as well as the draft CAO amendments. Each CAC meeting has been open to the public and the times, locations, agendas, and meeting summaries have been posted on the Whatcom County PDS Natural Resource Management website.
Public Workshops were held:
Whatcom County - Shorelines and Critical Areas
Public Workshop and Expert Panel Discussion
- 30 September 2004, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Bellingham High School Commons, 2020 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham
- 6 October 2004, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Lynden Community Center, 401 Grover Street, Lynden
Additional public workshops were held in Bellingham and Lynden on February 15 and 16, 2005 to introduce and discuss important changes and additions presented in the February 4, 2005 draft Critical Areas Ordinance update.
Additional public education and involvement opportunities have included the 2004 Birch Bay and Bellingham Marine Shoreline Stewardship Workshops, and the 2005 Whatcom County Home & Garden Show.
It is also important to note that Whatcom County staff has held meetings with and/or given special presentations to a number of stakeholders such as the Washington Dairy Federation, Washington Farm Bureau, Building Industry Association of Whatcom County, Nooksack Recovery Team (NRT), Whatcom County Association of Realtors, Marine Resources Committee, and the Environmental Community. Additionally, staff has met with the Whatcom County Agricultural Advisory Committee on a number of occasions to discuss provisions of the draft CAO as it relates to agricultural operations.
SEPA: The Whatcom County SEPA Official issued a determination of non-significance under the State Environmental Policy Act on the proposed Whatcom County Critical Areas Ordinance update on February 22, 2005.
Public Hearings
The Whatcom County Planning Commission held a public hearing on March 24 and March 31, 2005, all testimony was considered.
On September 13, 2005 Whatcom County Council held a public hearing and adopted the revised Critical Areas Ordinance.
Whatcom County Objectives of the Critical Areas Update:
- Update critical area inventories by maximizing available information and resources
- Incorporate use of the Department of Ecology-adopted wetland manual for delineation of wetlands regulated under the CAO
- Use Best Available Science in designating and protecting critical areas
- Evaluate and update existing policies and regulations
- Evaluate the classification and designation of critical areas
- Evaluate the development review process
- Review the CAO for consistency with other policy and regulatory documents
- Provide opportunities for public, tribe, and agency involvement throughout the update and adoption process.
Fair and Inclusive Process – Throughout the update process, Whatcom County Planning and Development Services will be working with citizen advisory groups; hosting stakeholder meetings, workshops, public meetings and hearings; posting website and e-mail newsletters; and so on.
Policy Integration – An objective of the process is to update and streamline these regulations to address unnecessary overlaps, inconsistencies and gaps; integrate information from other natural resource planning processes, such as WRIA Planning and Salmon Recovery efforts; as well as integrate these regulations with other regulatory and policy documents.
Compliance with State Guidelines – It is important to keep in mind there are State mandated updates necessary to comply with changes to the Washington State Shoreline Master Program Guidelines and the Washington State Growth Management Act.
Whatcom County encourages you to get involved. If you would like to learn more about critical areas or shorelines, or if you would like to receive periodic progress reports on the update process, please see the Stay Informed page.
|
