Foothills Subarea Update: Timeline for plan’s adoption pushed back

Published Jan. 29, 2010

by Becca Schwarz
KENDALL – The Foothills Subarea Plan Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 3 to discuss and provide input about items relating to the area.
The Subarea Plan Update was initially scheduled to appear in front of the Whatcom County Planning Commission in February/March 2010, however it is being pushed back again. A ruling in mid-December by the State Supreme Court called for Whatcom County to revise its Rural Element of the County Comprehensive Plan, including Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMIRDs). The county must first adopt and apply criteria for designation of LAMIRDS into the County Comprehensive Plan, before adopting individual LAMIRDS within Whatcom County, including within the Foothills Subarea Plan Update.
According to Whatcom County Senior Planner Matt Aamot, there is not yet a deadline for the LAMIRD ordinance, so there is not a firm timeline for the Subarea Plan either.
“We are waiting until after the County Council adopts the LAMIRD ordinance,” he said of the Foothills Subarea timeline. He noted that the Subarea Plan must be adopted along with all the other comprehensive plan amendments at concurrent review, which takes plan once a year. “Therefore, it is likely that the Subarea Plan will be adopted, concurrently with other comprehensive plan amendments, in the first quarter of 2011.”
During the Feb. 3 meeting, the committee will provide input on Planning Commission recommendations for LAMIRDS. The agenda also includes discussion about the  County Council’s decision regarding the size of the Columbia Valley Urban Growth Area (UGA) and associated capital facility issues, such as water and fire/emergency services. The agenda does not include any official presentations from local districts.
The 11-member committee is  down to nine seats, following the resignation of Alan Seid and the death of Sean Wilson, the shooter in the murder-suicide on Jan. 7 in Peaceful Valley. Both seats represent the Kendall/Columbia Valley.
“There are no plans at this time to appoint new members to the FSPAC,” Aamot said, when asked about the seats. “Although we are continuing to ask for committee feedback on emerging issues, their main task – development of a draft subarea plan – has been completed.”
The meeting takes place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Kendall Elementary School. The public is welcome to comment. Background information about the Subarea Plan Update is available at www.whatcomcounty.us/pds/planning/FoothillsSubareaPlanUpdate.htm. For more information, call the Planning Department at 676-6907.