September 11, 2019 Dena Jensen
The Whatcom County Planning Commission’s town hall meeting on Cherry Point Comprehensive Plan and code amendments is coming up tomorrow night, Thursday, 9/12, at 6:30 p.m. Be there early to sign up to speak! This is a step in the critical direction of avoiding climate collapse!
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August 16, 2017 Wendy Harris Action
The [Whatcom] county staff and council are not including the proper legal standard for CAO [Critical Areas Ordinance] protection. We must protect critical areas and the ecosystems in which they are located against a net loss of ecological function and value. Instead, the county limits review to critical areas to the development site, and maybe a short distance beyond (I am not sure if this has been changed.)
Tell the county to follow the law. Continue reading
Click the graphic above to view the full April 5, 2017 Memorandum from Gary Davis, Whatcom County Senior Planner, “Impervious Surface and Animal Husbandry Proposals”
April 9, 2017 Wendy Harris
While the county continues to seek state legislative fixes to the Hirst decision, and at all costs avoid its obligation to actually plan, the county is still under a court imposed obligation to come into compliance with the GMA, and protect rural water quality and quantity. (Yes, somehow with all the hysterical theatrics that surrounds this decision, it is easy to forget that it is, after all, a GMA compliance case). Continue reading
February 22, 2017 Wendy Harris
Will the council approve a Critical Area Ordinance (CAO) that does not comply with the GMA? It is looking more and more likely. I am sick to my stomach thinking that after just one “general issues” work session, council will be ready to vote on the updated Critical Area Ordinance. It really did not help that few people participated, but how could they when there was no real training provided on such a technical issue? Perhaps if the CAO was not improperly separated from the Comp. Plan update, it would have been easier to obtain public input. Continue reading
Our Whatcom County Planning and Development Services Department (PDS), which is part of our County Administration under the direction of County Executive Jack Louws, needs to start being fully transparent with the public in matters relating to the Gateway Pacific Terminal project. Continue reading
January 10, 2017 Wendy Harris
Dear County Council,
As you are aware, it is a fatal flaw in the CAO that the county lacks baselines standards to help measure and monitor the county’s success in meeting no net loss standards. Thus, I had begun reviewing this information on my own in an attempt to help the county better achieve GMA compliance. Continue reading
October 19, 2016 Sandy Robson
At the September 13, 2016, County Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee meeting, during discussion about the then-proposed contract Amendment No. 5.1 for the preparation of the EIS for the GPT project Whatcom County Deputy Executive Tyler Schroeder did not fully inform, County Council members on the subject of expiring Pacific International Terminals’ (PIT) local permit applications for the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT) project. Continue reading
October 16, 2016 Dena Jensen
| Dear Whatcom County Planning and Development Services Director Ryan, Assistant Director Personious [sic], and Senior Planner Aamot:
I am writing regarding the information presented on your 2016 Docket, Cherry Point Amendments (PLN2016-00012) webpage at this link: http://wa-whatcomcounty.civicplus.com/1612/2016-Docket. I notice that one of the alternatives that is identified, Alternative # 1 – Council Member Alternative (proposed by an individual Council Member), does not meet the criteria listed in the SEPA handbook under 3.3.2 Identifying Alternatives, which is, as follows: Continue reading |
Is there anyone not aware of this $11.5 million project, which involves a pedestrian walkway and bike path on top of and next to a berm being constructed on a 1.6-mile stretch of Birch Bay Drive, beginning at the mouth of Terrill Creek? Continue reading
September 21, 2016 Wendy Harris
At the staff presentation to the county council on the Critical Area Ordinance, staff provided their goals and proposed changes (why are they making changes now?) without explaining how the CAO worked or how the new proposals fit into the CAO requirements. They skipped any mention of the Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas, and only mentioned farm plans with regard to an suggestion for an annual report. I felt this left the council and public uninformed. Continue reading
noisy waters northwest 
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