Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Jessica Rienstra called the meeting to order at 11:48 a.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
7 -
Present:
Elizabeth Boyle, Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jessica
Rienstra, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler
Announcements
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
Resolution approving recommendations on Open Space applications
Rienstra stated one of the applications was removed.
1.
Alexander Harris, Planning and Development Services Department, read
from a presentation (on file). He gave an overview of the open space land
program, how the public benefit rating system (PBRS) works, and that they
are in the process of updating it (after 35 years). He spoke about the open
space criteria and how it is relevant to the application they will be
considering today. When there is a property that has documented
endangered species, the department automatically recommends approval
and with no public access.
He spoke about the applications that were submitted and stated the
OSP2025-003 application for the BP property was withdrawn. For the
OSP2025-002 Lane application, the landowners submitted a petition for
waiver of public access and the petition was supported by the Whatcom
Land Trust. He spoke about the property, the landowner’s request, and how
this case intertwined with other processes (fish passage barrier culvert
removal) happening in Public Works.
Elenbaas stated, as he looks at the State law, it does not look to him like
public access is required, even for this type of scenario.
Harris answered questions about the scoring formula, whether any other
mechanism was considered in order to conserve this land, if there is a
mechanism in place that, once approved, they can come up with a public
access plan for a property, and whether approving this prevents building a
trail. Harris stated that will be something they consider in the open space
update.
Galloway moved and Scanlon seconded that the SUBSTITUTE Resolution,
which approves the Lane open space application with waiver of public access
requirements, be RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL. The motion carried
by the following vote:
