County Executive Kremen Presents Urban Growth Area Recommendations

Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen has presented his recommendations for revising the county’s urban growth areas, moving the County closer to compliance with the Growth Management Act. The County is responding to a growth management hearings board order to review and revise UGAs by December 1, 2009.

The County Council asked Kremen to develop an “Executive’s Preferred Alternative” after they deferred a decision on the three options they were presented with in July, from the Growth Management Coordinating Council and County staff. His proposal considers the County’s issues holistically, suggesting changes to the UGAs based on input provided by city mayors, the public, the requirements of GMA, and the desire to bring the County into compliance. Most importantly, Executive Kremen’s recommendations demonstrate the County’s commitment to proper UGA sizing for balanced growth, and protection of rural and agricultural lands and sensitive watersheds.

Recommendations are based on some key principles:

Protect our water supplies and environment
The Urban Growth Area proposal includes removal of some areas currently designated for Urban Growth within the Lake Whatcom, Lake Padden, and Drayton Harbor Watersheds.

Emphasis on Infill
The proposal reduces the size of the Urban Growth Areas in Whatcom County by 7,815 acres, while at the same time providing for a population increase of 11,664.

Conservation of Agricultural Land
While the proposal allows for modest expansion of Lynden into agricultural lands, agricultural lands in other Urban Growth Areas are removed and placed back into resource protection.  This results in a net gain of agricultural lands.

Balanced Distribution of Growth
The requests for allocation of growth from cities must be balanced with market reality and land use patterns.  Consideration should be given to ensuring that low density sprawl does not place increased pressure on surrounding rural and resource lands.
 

County Council and Planning Commission members received the proposal yesterday and it was posted to the county’s website today. The complete packet of information — including the proposal, background information and suggested amendments — is now available at http://www.whatcomcounty.us/pds/2031/uga.jsp

The public will have an opportunity to provide input at a joint hearing of the Planning Commission and the County Council on Sept. 17 at 6:00 pm in the council chambers.

Prior to the hearing, the county will be hosting a series of open houses to allow an opportunity to review and ask questions about the proposal. Dates, locations and times for these open houses are as follows:

•    Aug. 31 – Ferndale WECU, 5659 Barrett Road (4:00-7:00)
•    Sept. 1 – Birch Bay Bible Community Church, 7039 Jackson Rd (4:00-7:00)
•    Sept. 3 – Lynden Community Center, 401 Grover St (4:00-7:00)
•    Sept. 17 – Whatcom County Courthouse Rotunda, 311 Grand Ave (3:00-7:00)

For more information, please see the website above or contact Kate Blystone, via email at kblyston@co.whatcom.wa.us or phone at (360) 676-6907.

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