Whatcom County  
Council Special Committee of the Whole  
COUNTY COURTHOUSE  
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105  
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038  
(360) 778-5010  
Meeting Agenda  
Tuesday, June 2, 2026  
1 PM  
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers  
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVIEW - HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 4:30  
P.M. (PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT  
REVISED 5.27.2026  
COUNCILMEMBERS  
Elizabeth Boyle  
Barry Buchanan  
Ben Elenbaas  
Kaylee Galloway  
Jessica Rienstra  
Jon Scanlon  
Mark Stremler  
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL  
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC  
Call To Order  
Roll Call  
Announcements  
If you require special assistance to participate, please contact the Council Office at 360-778-5010 at  
least 96 hours in advance. Assistive listening devices are available in Council Chambers, and live  
captions are available through Zoom for those participating remotely. This committee meeting is also  
noticed as a meeting of the Whatcom County Council, with the agenda limited to committee business.  
Public Comment (Comprehensive Plan)  
Public comment is scheduled for 30 minutes with in-person and remote participation available. Each  
speaker will have two minutes to address the Council, and participants are asked to limit comments to  
register for a Zoom link by 12:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. On-site participants will speak first  
followed by those registered to speak remotely. Please state your name for the record before  
addressing the Council. (Members of the public may send written comments to  
council@co.whatcom.wa.us)  
1.  
Public comments on all items related to the draft Whatcom County Comprehensive  
Plan  
ITEM TITLE REVISED 5.27.2026  
Committee Discussion  
1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
5.  
Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive  
Plan Chapter 2, Land Use  
Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive  
Plan Chapter 5, Utilities  
Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive  
Plan Chapter 8, Resource Lands  
Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive  
Plan Chapter 10, Environment  
Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Urban Growth Area (UGA) and  
Rural Lands Zoning Map amendments  
Items Added by Revision  
1.  
Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive  
Plan Chapter 3, Housing  
ITEM ADDED 5.27.2026  
2.  
Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive  
Plan Appendices (Appendix A: Glossary, Appendix B: Acronyms, Appendix D:  
Bibliography, Appendix E: 20-Year Capital Facilities Plan, Appendix G: Airport  
Overlay Zones, Appendix H: Airport Imaginary Surfaces, Appendix I: Housing  
Needs Analysis, Appendix J: Subsidized Housing Needs and Funding) and Foothills  
Subarea Plan Amendments  
ITEM ADDED 5.27.2026  
3.  
4.  
Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive  
Plan Chapter 7, Economic Development  
ITEM ADDED 5.27.2026  
Discussion regarding schedule for Council review of the comprehensive plan update  
ITEM ADDED 5.27.2026  
Other Business  
Adjournment