Whatcom County Planning Commission

**Middle Housing and Infrastructure Requirements:** The late introduction of HB 2269 requiring public sewer connections for middle housing in LAMRDs forced staff to withdraw key provisions. Commissioner Rud Brown argued for keeping the allowance with infrastructure requirements, suggesting market forces might eventually justify private sewer systems. Staff expressed concern about housing allocation targets in rural areas without infrastructure. **Family Definition Modernization:** Commissioners debated whether to completely overhaul terminology from "family" to "household" throughout county code versus simply updating the family definition. The commission chose the practical approach of modifying the family definition to match Bellingham's language while noting long-term code cleanup may be needed. **ADU Size Flexibility:** Staff explained conflicts between county requirements that ADUs be smaller than primary …

**Amy Divera, Environmental Resources Management:** Supported Cherry Point industrial buffer amendments on behalf of BP. **Tamara Lindhart, BP Cherry Point Refinery:** Expressed support for proposed industrial buffer language, stating BP has no requested changes and supports moving forward as presented. **Planning Commissioners:** Multiple commissioners (Brown, Hansen, Noel, Gray) expressed strong opposition to substance abuse facility restric…

**Mark Clark, on comprehensive plan schedule:** "Council's goal is to introduce the ordinance and all the chapters on April 26th and then hold final public hearing and take action on the whole kitten kaboodle on June 9th." **Commissioner Rud Brown, on middle housing restrictions:** "If you leave it in as the legislature says, you may trigger the economic viability of putting in public sewer if the code allows it. If you don't have it in there, then no one will attempt it." **Commissioner Bro…

The meeting significantly modified proposed housing code amendments from their original form. The family definition was simplified and made more permissive, removing numerical limitations on unrelated persons. ADU size restrictions were eliminated, providing more flexibility for development. Parking standards were relaxed with broader tree retention exemptions. Two major sections …

### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Planning Commission met on April 9, 2026, to review eight proposed housing and concurrent code amendments required under the Washington State Growth Management Act as part of the periodic comprehensive plan update. The main focus was reviewing state-mandated changes to promote affordable housing and address gaps in rural community services. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Growth Management Act (GMA):** Washington state law requiring local governments to manage urban growth and protect rural and natural resource areas while accommodating growth. **LAMIRDs (Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development):** Special rural areas designated to allow more intensive development while preventing sprawl, established in 1999 as part of the Growth Management Act. **Middle Housing:** Housing types between single-family homes and large apartment buildings, including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, and cottage housing. **Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU):** A secondary residential unit on the same lot as a primary residence, also known as granny flats or secondary units. **Essential Public Facilities:** Services that are typically difficult to site but necessary for public health and safety, such as juvenile detention facilities and substance abuse treatment centers. **Urban Growth Area (UGA):** Areas designated for urban development where public services like water and sewer are available or planned. **Buffer Requirements:** Mandatory distances between incompatible land uses, such as between industrial facilities and residential areas. **Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS):** County program that provides property tax reductions for landowners who provide public benefits like open space or farmland preservation. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Matt Barry | Planning Commission Chair | | Dan Den | Planning Commissioner | | Rud Brown | Planning Commissioner | | Nicholas Gray | Planning Commissioner | | Jim Hansen | Planning Commissioner | | Selena Noel | Planning Commissioner | | Domi…