Help us continue the Fourth Corner
The Fourth Corner A Feature Story
Story September 8th
Jared Paben’s article on County Executive Pete Kremen is here
From the Herald Story “Whatcom County is more than two years late updating its urban growth areas under state law, and a state growth board has ordered it to finish the review and changes by Dec. 1”.
So who and what is this growth board written about in the Herald Article? You can go here and find out more
Another article by Jared Paben on the farmland issue appears here.
Whatcom Farm Friends is mentioned in this article as well here are links to their Mission and Board Members :
New proposals from the County staff are out for LAMIRDS (Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development) and other rezoning proposals and are here.
There are also four Forums to be held they can be viewed under “Planning Commission Open Houses” on the Calendar of Events on the fourth corner web site
If you need more information CAPR’s e-mail address is whatcomcaprchapter@gmail.com.
The following discusses the next Land Use Changes concerning Urban Growth Areas proposed by County Executive Pete Kremen. Published here Sept 15th
Whatcom CAPR Member:
YOU MAY BE AFFECTED BY YET ANOTHER COUNTY LAND USE CHANGE: Is your property located within a County Urban Growth Area (UGA)? If you own property nearby (but not within the limits of) Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Everson, Nooksack, and Sumas, or within the environs of Birch Bay, Cherry Point or Colombia Valley, you and your neighbors may be adversely impacted by another major land use decision the County is scheduled to make THIS MONTH. In order to meet a December 1 deadline, the County MUST complete and submit this proposal by October 1 so that other regulatory agencies can have their required review period.
YES, THIS MONTH! Time is running short to take action to protect your rights.
What is this all about? Whatcom County government is preparing to change the zoning (the type of use and density of use of land) in some of the Urban Growth Areas. This looming decision could adversely impact the uses that are allowed on your property, and the market value of your property.
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD: Many property owners are unaware of these looming changes. YOU CAN HELP, by calling any of your neighbors and friends who might have land in the current UGAs and alerting them to take action.
How can someone tell if his or her property is affected? Below we provide the hyperlinks to that portion of the County’s web site that has the relevant maps. Click on the link for your area.
Colombia Valley: http://co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/2031/pdf/9a-cval_zone_august.pdf
For copies of all available documents for the UGA proposal: http://co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/2031/uga.jsp.
You might specifically want to look at the proposal made by the County Executive Proposal:
that contains information about the number of acres to be changed (mostly removed) in each UGA.
Why should I participate? In order to protect all of your rights, and the uses and market value of your property, you should insure that you have legal standing before the County, and before the courts should this decision become the subject of litigation. To attain legal standing, you must have “participated orally or in writing before the county … regarding the matter on which a review is being requested.” If you do not achieve standing, you will not have any further opportunity to directly address this important land use policy decision if it is challenged or appealed.
How do I participate? The County Planning Commission and Council have scheduled a joint public hearing on Thursday, September 17. This is likely to be your LAST CHANCE to gain standing on a decision that could drastically devalue your property. Make sure your voice is heard! To insure your standing you need to submit a letter to the Planning Commission no later than September 17 at 6 PM. You may also testify during the public hearing.
Link to Public Hearing Notice: http://co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/2031/pdf/20090828UGAhearingnotice.pdf
WE CAN HELP YOU PREPARE TO PARTICIPATE: We can help you compose a written letter of testimony to the Joint Commission/Council hearing, or an oral presentation, or both. For further details, please contact Tim Surratt, CAPR Secretary, at: tsurratt@q.com or 303-8160.
Here is a simple letter you might use:
Your NameYour AddressDateWhatcom County Planning Commission
c/o Whatcom County Planning Department
5280 Northwest Drive
Bellingham, Washington 98226
RE: Urban Growth Area Proposal
Commission Members:
My address is given above. I own property with the Parcel Number of nnnnnn.
I am concerned that the changes under the current UGA proposal will adversely impact my property, its value, future use and my taxes. I urge you to retain the existing boundaries until a better study of the issue and more realistic growth projections can be used.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Please send this notice to EVERY person you know who might be remotely impacted by this decision.
Please forward this to your entire email list. It is important this message reaches as many people as possible.
The following from an observer at the September 10th Planning Commission work session. Published here Sept 15th
To All
The Planning Commission work session tonight was focused on reviewing the LAMRID boundary's and making adjustments with consideration of public comment that was received on Tuesday. There was some gives and some takes related to what was to be included inside of the proposed LAMRID. The Planning Commission reviewed approximately half of the LAMRID areas and did not review the zoning inside of the LAMRID's. They had a large agenda for tonight and they only completed about 25%
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU WANT TO HAVE ANY INPUT, YOU NEED TO PUT IT IN WRITING AND GET IT SENT IN ASAP, and with and attorney would even be better. It is especially important to get people to write in who have property that is affected by the down zone of there property from R2A or smaller to R5A or larger. That group of people are highly under represented and if they don't speak up NOW IN WRITING, they will be down zoned to R10A. Please write out your story and submit it to the Planning Department Staff, Planning Commission, and the County Council and ask them to distribute it to each member.
They have scheduled there next work session on the LAMRID's for September 22.
They also are starting the review of the UGA's on Thursday the 17th with a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and the County Council.
YOU MUST STAY INVOLVED AND URGE THE PUBLIC TO GET INVOLVED AND STAY INVOLVED.
Thanks to all those who have attended and who are submitting letters and speaking at the hearings.
Please continue to spread the word.
This web page will change swiftly. Bookmark it and come back frequently.
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Whatcom CAPR thought you would be interested in the following article which appeared in the Oct 28 Bellingham Herald. Note Sam Taylor's observation about "some candidates" (Weimer, McShane, Caskey-Schreiber and Mann) who are worried about the amount of money coming in support of their opponents: Luke, Kershner, Knutzen and Teigrob, respectively. Taylor goes on to say that some or all of the “3 incumbents plus Mann” group are saying that the larger contributions to their opponents are from special interests who want to “pave” rural Whatcom County for private gain.
This is character assassination, plain & simple ---- a vicious, self serving attack on the motives and character of hundreds of long time local residents, farmers, business owners, and land owners. What ever happened to the New Era of Civility, Hope and Change? The incumbents’ real concern may be that they are not used to an election where they do not have the overwhelming financial advantage stemming from their own special interests, such as extreme environmental groups, tribes, and out-of-area funds generated by radical liberal organizations such as "Progressive Majority".
As Kershner noted later in the article, her main contributor, who is not involved in “strip mining” or paving farm land, simply wants more business minded people in local office. Apparently, that is a suspect motive! Fortunately, there are many other concerned citizens who strongly believe that local government needs a better attitude toward large and small businesses, land owners, and farmers. They are willing to put their time and money into the campaigns of “common sense” candidates.
Note McShane’s statement near the end, again negatively characterizing local builders’ motives (those nasty special interests again!) for supporting the challengers as strictly for financial gain. The builders, farmers and a clear majority of the other county residents have repeatedly said that they also want a clean, attractive mostly rural Whatcom County. But when they ask for clear, reasonable, effective and fair rules, McShane and his allies on the Council turn a deaf ear and roll their eyes.
Those who rant again and again about not enough controls on land use have apparently never tried to get a building permit or do a 2 lot short plat! Take a look at the comments on the article on the Herald’s website if you want some additional perspective on what some people perceive......."
To: Honorable Whatcom County Council
From: Whatcom County Chapter for Citizen’s Alliance for Property Rights
Date: November 24, 2009
Re: Whatcom County’s Urban Growth Area Update, Ordinance #AB 2009-052G
1. Introduction
On behalf of the Whatcom Chapter, Citizens’ Alliance for Property Rights (WC-CAPR) is presenting this testimony on the County Council’s proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance, #AB 2009-052G (also called “Whatcom 2031).We are a recently formed local chapter of the state of Washington based Citizens’ Alliance for Property Rights (CAPR), which was founded in Central Puget Sound in 2003, and has now expanded to nine local chapters in Washington State, and one chapter in California. There is growing interest in CAPR in Idaho as well. CAPR’s mission, in short, is to protect (and restore in some cases), our priceless private property rights, as guaranteed by our Federal Bill of Rights and our Washington State Constitution, from unreasonable and substantial infringement by excessive and ill-conceived regulations, and from eminent domain abuse. In our opinion, there appears to be no shortage of these actions by all levels of government.For more information on our mission and organization, please see the overall CAPR website, and our local one at <proprights.org>. As citizens, voters, property owners, and tax payers in Whatcom County, Whatcom County Citizen’s Alliance for Property Rights (“WC-CAPR”) members have vital interests in this Whatcom County Urban Growth Area (“UGA”) Ten-Year Review Update, Ordinance #AB 2009-052G (also called “Whatcom 2031”). While we respect that Whatcom County (“the County”) has a December 1, 2009 deadline, we do not believe.... Click Here for full text.
CAPR gets on the record on UGA decision at November 24th 2009 County Council Meeting. CAPR intent to be an ongoing active participant in the processes of Whatcom County Government concerning the infringements on property rights. Updated November 29th 2009
