Rural Element Worksession Tomorrow Night
The County Planning Commission will be holding a work session tomorrow night to discuss the proposed Rural Element Update. At last week’s planning Commission hearing, more than sixty people testified. Most of the comments were against the proposal and focused on the negative affects of a potential downzone to existing commercial areas in the County.
A number of business owners along the Guide Meridian and Birch-Bay Lynden I-5 corridor testified as to the dramatic and negative effect of Staff’s proposal. These properties are currently zoned for commercial and/or industrial uses. County Staff has proposed to downzone much of this area to R10.
The Planning Commission will discuss the testimony from the public hearing as well as written correspondence received on this matter. It is likely that the Commission will direct Staff to make changes to its current proposal, which will be reconsidered at the Planning Commission’s August 13 work session.
My prior posts have discussed the specific areas affected by the Rural Element Update as well as the possibility of designating these areas LAMIRDS. If you own property in any of these areas you will want to remain updated on this issue. Staff’s Rural Element Proposal as well as public comments received can be found on the County’s website, which you will want to check often for updates.