Turning Straw Into Gold
Turning Straw Into Gold
Allowing residential development on farmlands is turning straw into gold. Like most land use decisions, it is distributing wealth. So it is very much of interest who is granted this power, and how t
Allowing residential development on farmlands is turning straw into gold. Like most land use decisions, it is distributing wealth. So it is very much of interest who is granted this power, and how they are selected.
Most understand that one of the greater abuses that was allowed in the creation of Whatcom county's zoning map was the classification of substantial amounts of resource land, entirely suited and historically utilized for agriculture, as rural, with a 5 acre minimum lot size. A golden opportunity for a few, a prospectively huge financial burden now for the many.
And in other areas, such as the old Wilder Ranch, that the Caitac corporation would like us to refer to as Larrabee Springs, what was previously farmland was zoned R10 in recognition of its suitability for agriculture. Caitac purchased the property from Trillium, who were so fortunate that it was not designated resource lands (like the lands on the other side of Smith Road) when the Comprehensive Plan was so carefully crafted.
Perhaps the abuse was so naked that subsequently some restrictions were put on development on lands whose soils were deemed prime agricultural soil (the so called ag overlay) in order to feign an effort to preserve some for agriculture. Well with the drive to cluster it ain't accomplishing the goal.
Well, here we go again!
We now have deemed it necessary to address the problem once more. The vanguard of that effort is a “technical review committee” who will be charged with bringing forth a plan to rationalize this rural zoning with the need to preserve the richest of our farmlands and protect them from nearby incompatible uses. (that would be residential development)
Their plan will probably be based on some purchase or transfer of development rights scheme, since no one has the political guts to just fix the original zoning. Then they will be looking for a receiving zone for development rights in some area they will then up zone. (does Larrabee spring to mind? Hell we're already running the water out the Guide!)
If things go as usual (and as I expect planned) their rationalization will be rubber stamped by the Agricultural Advisory Committee, who will pass it on to be rubber stamped by Planning & Development Services, and based on all this work and public input, the county council will praise motherhood, apple pie and the preservation of farmland, and turn it into law (or gold for someone).
No one seems to know how the members of this technical review committee were selected, who selected them, what criteria was used to balance the group etc etc etc. At least one member of the county council is awe struck, still under the illusion that the council is to review and approve the individuals on such advisory panels.
And whoever did select them did an amazing job. The head of the local building industry association, that well known guardian of our county's rural character and champion of agriculture and the environment, will be there to help.
And, in an act of the utmost magnanimity, the attorney for Caitac has “volunteered” his acute understanding of the law at no charge to us taxpayers. Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch!
Earth to Pete. We ain't mushrooms and those aren't rose petals. Say it ain't so, Joe.
Most understand that one of the greater abuses that was allowed in the creation of Whatcom county's zoning map was the classification of substantial amounts of resource land, entirely suited and historically utilized for agriculture, as rural, with a 5 acre minimum lot size. A golden opportunity for a few, a prospectively huge financial burden now for the many.
And in other areas, such as the old Wilder Ranch, that the Caitac corporation would like us to refer to as Larrabee Springs, what was previously farmland was zoned R10 in recognition of its suitability for agriculture. Caitac purchased the property from Trillium, who were so fortunate that it was not designated resource lands (like the lands on the other side of Smith Road) when the Comprehensive Plan was so carefully crafted.
Perhaps the abuse was so naked that subsequently some restrictions were put on development on lands whose soils were deemed prime agricultural soil (the so called ag overlay) in order to feign an effort to preserve some for agriculture. Well with the drive to cluster it ain't accomplishing the goal.
Well, here we go again!
We now have deemed it necessary to address the problem once more. The vanguard of that effort is a “technical review committee” who will be charged with bringing forth a plan to rationalize this rural zoning with the need to preserve the richest of our farmlands and protect them from nearby incompatible uses. (that would be residential development)
Their plan will probably be based on some purchase or transfer of development rights scheme, since no one has the political guts to just fix the original zoning. Then they will be looking for a receiving zone for development rights in some area they will then up zone. (does Larrabee spring to mind? Hell we're already running the water out the Guide!)
If things go as usual (and as I expect planned) their rationalization will be rubber stamped by the Agricultural Advisory Committee, who will pass it on to be rubber stamped by Planning & Development Services, and based on all this work and public input, the county council will praise motherhood, apple pie and the preservation of farmland, and turn it into law (or gold for someone).
No one seems to know how the members of this technical review committee were selected, who selected them, what criteria was used to balance the group etc etc etc. At least one member of the county council is awe struck, still under the illusion that the council is to review and approve the individuals on such advisory panels.
And whoever did select them did an amazing job. The head of the local building industry association, that well known guardian of our county's rural character and champion of agriculture and the environment, will be there to help.
And, in an act of the utmost magnanimity, the attorney for Caitac has “volunteered” his acute understanding of the law at no charge to us taxpayers. Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch!
Earth to Pete. We ain't mushrooms and those aren't rose petals. Say it ain't so, Joe.
