Whatcom County Adopts Rural Element
On May 10, 2011 the Whatcom County Council adopted its Rural Element Ordinance. The Ordinance, which goes into effect on May 22, 2011, establishes residential, business, and mixed use LAMIRDs in certain areas of rural Whatcom County. Most rural areas outside of LAMIRDs have been downzoned to only allow for the development of one house per five acres. My prior posts have discussed the specific LAMIRD areas as well as the new zoning to be implemented therein.
The Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board will be holding a hearing on July 6, 2011 to determine whether the newly adopted Ordinance is compliant with the Growth Management Act. The Board’s Order, which includes the compliance hearing schedule can be found here. Undoubtedly, there will be compliance challenges and likely future appeals of the Rural Element ordinance.
For now, however, it appears that the Whatcom County Planning Department will be applying the LAMIRD designations and zoning regulations as set forth in the new Rural Element Ordinance. Consequently, property owners within the affected areas should review the new Rural Element amendments to determine the impact of these regulations on their property.
