ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS  -  MINUTES OF MEETING

SPECIAL SESSION – MARCH 1, 2001

 

The Board of Island County Commissioners  met in Special Session on March 1, 2001, beginning at  10:30 a.m.,  in the   Island County Courthouse Annex, Hearing Room, Coupeville, Wa., with   William F. Thorn, Chairman;  Mike Shelton, Member; and Wm. L. McDowell, Member, present.

 

The special session was called for the purpose of conducting a public hearing on Ordinance #C-14-01 (PLG-002-01) regarding amendments to Chapters 3.40 and 17.02 of the Island County Code to comply with the Order of the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board relating to certain provisions of the County’s Critical Area Regulations.  The proposed ordinance would designate the Blue Flag Iris as a species of local importance, establish protection standards for the Blue Flag Iris, and add the Blue Flag Iris to the list of features possibly subject to property tax reduction under the Public Benefit Open Space Rating System.

 

PUBLIC HEARING:  Ordinance #C-14-01 (PLG-002-01)

 

Attendance:

Public:              10  [Attendance Sheet GMA record #_____]

Staff:                Phil Bakke, Planning & Community Development Director

                        Jeff Tate, Planning Manager

 

Hand Outs:     Proposed Ordinance #C-14-01 Introduced 2/5/01 [GMA #_____]

                        3/1/01 Exhibit C:  Findings and Legislative Intent [GMA #_____]

 

Mr. Tate summarized from the past several months with regard to hearings related to the Blue Flag Iris, which resulted in ordinance language and amendments to add  the Blue Flag Iris  to the list of protected species of local importance in the County’s  Critical Area  Ordinance (CAO).  Original language proposes that t habitat management plans (HMP) and biological site assessments   (BSA) would be required for development within Grasser’s Hill location, the known  occurrence of Blue Flag Iris.   During public hearings the majority, almost all, of the property owners on Grasser’s Hill  testified about their desire to protect the Blue Flag Iris, but did not know how to do it and had had problems controlling  invasive species that were also  threatening the plant.  Staff met with  a  majority of property owners from Grasser’s Hill, along with Rob Harbour,  representing Ebey’s Landing National Historic Trust Board, to  work out an agreement.  The outcome was that the preferred action over critical area regulations was to   amend the scenic easement administered by the National Parks Service   on Grasser’s Hill.  At the last meeting staff introduced the  revised ordinance, the topic of today’s hearing, listing the Blue Flag Iris as a protected species  but with the statement that all  property owners within the scenic easement need  to comply with that easement [see language contained in Exhibit A to the ordinance #8].  Exhibit B proposes the addition of the Blue Flag Iris to the Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) so it would become a feature on the property and a property owner could receive a tax benefit.   Exhibit C handed out earlier,  Findings and Legislative Intent, includes Findings  #8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 with  new language, and   Findings #17 through 32 have been added.  Mr. Tate reviewed those Findings briefly at this time.

 

Mr. Tate commented that Island County now has an ecologist  on staff in the Public Works Department who will be tasked with  drafting  a habitat management plan.  Interest has been expressed by the Au Sable Institute who maintains two biologists at their site; biologists from the Nature Conservancy; members from WSU Cooperative Extension, members from Washington State Department of Natural Resources-National Heritage program, who will provide peer review for HMP.   The property owners will be heavily involved in the HMP and nothing done without the property owners.   The proposed  provides that the Historic Reserve must have amended the scenic easement by April 30th of this year to make reference to a HMP and by August 31st that a  HMP that is outside of the easement will be finished so that the HMP can remain a fluid document.  

 

Au Sable Institute is committed to native plants and native  habitat and prairie plants and are interested in partnering with the County and WSU Cooperative Extension to create a work plan about how to preserve Grasser’s Hill area  and  encourage propagation of the species in other sites where it may appropriate.  Most property owners on Grasser’s Hill have indicated they had no  problem,  given they are notified and the County work with them, on allowing access to the site for seed collection. The Au Sable Institute is set up in conjunction with a number of other colleges and universities teaching prairie habitat restoration, study of wildflowers, etc. and  are excited about the possibility  to  include in their curriculum something like this – to gather seeds and use other sites in the counties as well as their site.  Also, the  County has a site near Grasser’s Hill that can be used as a transplant site and Au Sable would love to be involved in that.  Au Sable expressed  interest in creating seed packets and providing those seed packets for free or very low cost  making available to people in the community.  He told the Board too that local  nurseries have expressed interest in stocking the  plant in their inventory.  WSU Cooperative Extension has plant give-a-ways and sales throughout the year and are more than willing to provide the plant.  All of those resources would  be used as far as information and care of the plant.    Mr. Tate saw this as a real  opportunity  to not just limit efforts on Grasser’s Hill, but to move out and encourage propagation in other parts of the county, expanding the resource.

 

Exhibit C of the document has changed since the ordinance was set for hearing, however, Mr. Tate’s opinion was that the Board could if it chose take action today inasmuch as the first changes came about as a result of the last hearing, and the remainder do not have as much to do with the listing of the species as it has to do with a work plan, public education and outreach program; therefore no substantive changes.  As far as signing an agreement and being part of the HMP, Mr. Tate thought that would have to be worked out through the easement language itself.  A  protocol should be established in the easement that outlines how to change the HMP.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

Rob Harbour, Manager, Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve,  asked that a sentence in #10, Exhibit C,  be modified or deleted [middle of paragraph]  “The NPS has also contracted with Steve Erickson to complete a field survey of Grasser’s Hill” which is an  incorrect statement NPS has not contracted with anyone to do a complete survey of Grasser’s Hill, but contracted to do a mapping of field notes reserve wide, and suggested that the sentence read:  “The NPS has contracted with Steve Erickson to map botanical field  notes throughout the Historical Reserve”.   Referring to a “fluid document” implies it would be changed in the future and he hoped that as true, that  at some point there are lots of populations of the plant and no need to worry about it.   He did ask that if possible, National Parks Service be given 90 days to actually  modify the easement document.

 

Chuck Walker, Grasser’s Hill property owner, commented that  from what he  read,  the only concern he had was that he hoped not everyone would be out the first year to collect the seeds – could be nothing to propagate locally if they do!

 

Bob Sullivan, Freeland, referred to the comments made at a previous hearing by Duane Spangler who noted there were  many nurseries in western United States where the Blue Flag Iris can be purchased.  If people did that and planted it in yards,  he wondered what liability that property owner might incur – would he be stuck with it on the property forever?  He also recalled that Mr.  Spangler commented scientifically about where the Blue Iris grows in the Western United States and therefore wondered why it was on the endangered species list here if it grows wild in other places such as the islands of Puget Sound, Arizona,  and others.

 

Commissioner McDowell acknowledged that was one of the problems with this type of an ordinance:  suddenly  people are scared about what they can and cannot  do.  Her did recall  that since the  Blue Flag Iris was a type of prairie plant and that most of the prairies were gone, was the reason it made it  more unique in this area, Grasser’s Hill being one of the few  prairies  left in Northern Puget Sound. 

 

Commissioner Shelton pointed out that the information that caused the Blue Flag Iris to rise to the top as opposed to other species clearly was that it was not widely distributed on the West side of the Cascades, that this was a unique location for the Blue Flag Iris.

 

Chairman Thorn added the fact that the plant made the list because it was unique to this site west of the Cascade Mountains.  It can be purchased at some nurseries, but not the native plant.  He then  referred to a copy of the Minutes from the January 22, 2001 hearing when Mr. Spangler gave his testimony:

 

“He looked in the Audubon field guide for information on the Blue Flag Iris and read the following: Blue  Flag Iris:  range,  British Columbia to Southern California, east of the Cascade Mountains,  Sierra Nevada’s and Islands  in Puget Sound; east to New Mexico, Colorado, North and South Dakota.  Further, some of the words used to explain the location of the plants includes words such as:  very common, in all Pacific states, the entire area, most common in many places, frequent, throughout, most popular, wide range of habitats, across North America.

               

June Sullivan, Freeland,  noticed that in Mr. Tate’s  initial presentation he had referred to Blue Flag Iris as  a protected species  yet the paperwork describes it as a species of local importance.

She pointed  out that there are various varieties of Blue Flag Iris, cultivated and wild.  Her opinion was that the  regulation not needed.  She made note of the concern that one could find things on her property that she brought from other parts of the  United States, but that does not mean  they have to be protected or that they are any more than quaint.

 

Mr. Tate explained that  it is a species of local importance – the proposed ordinance would add Blue Flag Iris and if adopted would then be protected under local  regulations. 

 

Chairman Thorn mentioned that there is a native  variety as the Board has been informed.

 

Commissioner  McDowell agreed there were a lot of varieties;  the variety on Whidbey Island, as indicated from  testimony, are  different from those found on east of the Cascade Mountains.  He did see a problem with this  type regulation in that it would tend to squash the desire for people to bring anything unique to their property because down the road someone could say it is local and it is important and should be protected.

 

Commissioner Shelton recalled that Mr. Tate  spent a considerable amount of time attempting to determine that the Blue Flag Iris was not a recently-planted species.  One of the people he talked to said he believed the species was brought here in the 30’s and planted on Grasser’s Hill; however, others told Mr. Tate that the Blue Flag Iris had always been there; other people recalled  their parents and grandparents knowing that the Blue Flag Iris was there. 

 

As far as answering another  concern expressed by Mrs. Sullivan about how binding this would be to  successive landowners in that area, she was advised that it was part of the easement signed by the property owner.    If she were a property owner on Grasser’s Hill, Mrs. Sullivan said she would find that a handicap and asked that the Board reconsider  making this regulation from that  viewpoint.  She lives in Freeland but her property had been originally on the designated list of having something of possible interest and her concern is this is not the end, it could come up again with other things and I think unwise to set a precedent because it is not a rare or endangered plant.

 

Jean Wilcox, Langley, also expressed concern that should she plant  seeds or tubers for the Blue Flag Iris are  on her property  what liability or what designation would she encounter.  The other thing she brought out was that if many people propagate the plant and it becomes quite heavily populated around the Island, would the County then re-visit  this ordinance  and lift the designation. 

 

Mr.  Bakke explained that the proposed ordinance was specific to Blue Flag Iris located only on Grasser’s Hill. 

 

As far as lifting the designation under the circumstances Ms. Wilcox described,  Chairman  Thorn thought that  would be a logical outcome,  although he cautioned that that could   be years from now before it became  apparent.   He personally would like to take the plant to Camano Island.

 

Commissioner Shelton mentioned that Au Sable Institute  purchased the game farm property for promotion of prairie types of species that have become rare in this area, for botany study,  etc.; whether other people will chose on their private property to plant  Blue Flag Iris would be an individual choice.

 

Steve Erickson, speaking for himself and Whidbey Environmental Action Network (WEAN),

opened with a question related to Page A-2 of the Ordinance, Exhibit A, about the footnote mark at the end.  Mr. Bakke was able to satisfactorily explain that was a code reviser note.

 

In light of comments made about where the Blue Flag Iris grows, Mr. Erickson pointed out that it grows from  Northern Alberta into Northeastern Nevada on the east slope of the Cascades; west of the Cascades it grows on Grasser’s Hill and nowhere else now.  Dorothy Lechenby  told WEAN that at one time it did occur where K-Mart and McDonalds in Oak Harbor are now located but destroyed when those businesses were constructed.   As to Duane Spangler’s testimony  citing the  Aububon’s Field Guide, he noted that was not a very specialized book, in fact, rather casual and did not know  anyone who actually used that in the field.  The standard reference is Vascular  Plants for the Pacific Northwest by Hitchcock et. al and that is actually what the Audubon Field Guide  is citing.  Hitchcock also lists Iris  missouriensis as “on the islands of Puget Sound” . 

 

Mr. Erickson offered $100 to anyone who could show him a native population Blue Flag Iris, Iris missouriensis, growing wild west of the Cascade Mountains other than Grasser’s Hill.   There was a rumor of an area near Shelton but when he talked with someone in the forest service who dealt with that area, it turned out it was another iris species.   Pojar [sp] and McKinnon lists Iris missouriensis as being on the outer coast of Vancouver Island, but when Mr. Erickson talked to  Dr. George Douglas, B.C. Data Conversation Center, last Spring, he was told that was not correct, that in fact was another iris variety.

 

Mr. Erickson said that growing the plant elsewhere was an  important strategy for long term conservation but was not the  only strategy.  He did not believe distributing the plant willy-nilly would assure its  cultivation or conservation.  The most essential part of assuring conservation of the plant  to maintain  its evolutionary potential over time would be to  continue to have it in its wild setting.  Introducing it  to other areas where prairie is being restored such as on Au Sable land is important and a very viable conservation strategy,  but having it in gardens  will not do much to conserve the species,  though he would not  discourage that, but thought it was a  very minor part of the conservation program especially in terms of maintaining genetic diversity.

 

Responding to Mr. Erickson’s question about  Page A-1 referring to a map, Mr. Tate clarified that was the same map as posted today on the wall dated 2/5/01, but the map in A-1 has an incorrect date of 1/22/01.  The map identifies the  scenic easement  and was used at the 2/5/01 hearing [GMA #6284].

 

Questions on Finding #8 and #9 were satisfactorily answered by Mr. Bakke and Mr. Tate for Mr. Erickson - covered in detail at previous  hearings,  verified on the table used during those hearings.

 

Mr. Erickson next asked about the reference to a County site near Grasser’s.  Mr. Tate noted that was an old borrow pit.  That location did not strike Mr. Erickson as a very good iris site at this point.  But Mr. Tate explained that the point was there are sites to start looking at to see if appropriate or not.

 

Commissioner McDowell  stated that the borrow pit was located about  ½ mile and facing the same direction as, same climate, as Grasser’s Hill and wondered why Mr. Erickson thought that would that not be a reasonable area [within 30’ of Zylstra].

   

Mr. Erickson said that  looking at a soil map, the Grasser’s Hill and Zylstra Road sites are part of an area just about a square mile of contiguous  kinds of prairie soils and were subject to regular burnings  by the  Indians and since the end of the ice age this management has developed those soils.    He thought it was possible, although he pointed out that in doing  restoration  there a lot of work is needed; it is a possible site and so is the road shoulder along there.

 

With regard to Finding  #14  referring to  “Island County  Public Works Department believes modification of road best management practices will be sufficient to protect these species nominated by WEAN”, Mr. Erickson thought it was  speculative to say that without knowing  what the alterations in the BMPs are or the binding nature  of BMPs .  Finding #15 referring to County initiating  a similar program of native  plants he thought was a wonderful idea but  asked how much money the County would provide for that. 

 

Commissioner McDowell stated that the Board would look at funds during future budgets; the Board has made a commitment – the key word is voluntary program, such as the Beachwatchers or Master Gardner Program; the  County provides fund every year; he was not so sure it would require additional  money as perhaps a difference focus  of what the projects are.

 

Chairman Thorn suggested the most  logical group to carry that forward would be the Master Gardeners Program.   And Commissioner McDowell  stated that the  commitment would be to  continue the  Master Gardeners program and  suggest to that group of volunteers to include it as part of that program [suggest focus to native plants].

 

With regard to Finding #25, Mr. Erickson advised that  in order to  conserve the species there would have to be access  for surveying the plant status and monitoring and studying it, not just for seed collection.  He was also not sure that it had to be that specific so much as to refer to the conservation easement and activities necessary for conservation of the iris.  He suggested  language to say:   “providing assistance and promoting conservation of the species”.

 

Commissioner Shelton said that one of the things the finding was  meant to address as well was that  through this easement  the property  owners would not be  giving wholesale general public access.

 

Chairman Thorn pointed out that the management plan should take care of that – specifically making the point that  people with the permission of the property  owners would be able to come and collect seeds; the  management plan has to address that fact.    Mr. Tate agreed; these are  two separate ideas. Intent here was  continued propagation not the  management plan.  The management plan should address things such as monitoring.

 

Mr. Erickson addressed  Finding #28  referring to propagation of the native Blue Flag Iris at other appropriate locations as the best way to ensure continued prosperity.    He suggested a better word to use here would be introduction rather than propagation:  “introduction to instead of propagation at”.      There is a lot of emphasis on seed collection  but to assure representation of the population in any new populations that are created,  there are other ways to propagate such as from tubers which probably would initially be more important than from seeds because seed production tends to be quite spotty from year to year. and instead of saying “availability of the seeds” say instead “availability of plant material for propagation”.

 

Chairman Thorn did not read the language as eliminating that possibility; that has not been precluded. 

 

On Finding #30 about  providing plants to local nurseries or local nurseries selling the plants or giving them out for free, Mr. Erickson said would l depend on where they are planted  and in which situation planted.  Planting in  someone’s garden he did not believe would do anything  for conserving the species because it would not  persist if the person stops taking care of it;  if it continues to propagate by seed production it will end up shifting the genetic composition of the plant and limit its gene pool and it will lose adaptive fitness.  Suggest “introduction into other appropriate locations” would be a good conservation  strategy but giving it out  willy-nilly to folks although not injurious but it does not necessarily have much to do with conservation.   The  prime author should be someone who is highly experienced in the field.  Mr. Erickson offered that  WEAN would contribute to the National Park Service toward such a management plan.

 

He expressed some concern about the new county ecologist not having the qualifications to write a  management plan for this species or any plant species.  Mr. Tate noted that  included is the fact that there has been substantial interest in peer review by a number of botanists and biologists in the scientific community.

 

Chuck Walker was  not sure exactly what the language change was that  Mr. Erickson seemed t to be  requesting on Finding #29 but as he listened to the suggestion to add the rhizome  he  envisioned people coming to the property with shovels and  digging with or without authorization from the property owners  and it was his opinion that all of the property owners would strongly object to that.  There was no problem with language in the HMP if some of the property owners as individuals wish to donate some of the rhizomes but not make it a part of the ordinance.

 

COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS AND BOARD ACTION

 

Commissioner  McDowell reviewed some  of the history on this issue.  The  Board went through all the species and looked at three criteria found in Island County Code [ICC 17.02.110 page 800 (ii).]   At that point in time if accepted by the County, the Planning Commission was to look at whether they meet those three criteria; that step was done in this case by the Board of County Commissioners because of the direction from the  Growth Management Hearings Board.  The next step is outlined in the Island County Code, page 801, Island County Zoning Ordinance 17.02.(ix) (3) and (5) [GMA #_________] indicating that…” the Board of Commissioners shall designate a Habitat or Species of Local Importance that:

 

(1)                Satisfies the nomination criteria in subsection h) (ii) and includes  the information required  in subsections h) (iii) and (iv); and

(2)                Includes best available science; and

(3)                Protection by other county, state or federal policies, laws, regulations or non-regulatory tools is not adequate to prevent degradation of the species or habitat in Island County; and

(4)                For which management strategies are practicable; and

(5)                Without protection, there is a likelihood that the species will not maintain and reproduce over the long term.”

 

While satisfying items 1, 2 and 4, Commissioner McDowell did not believe items 3 and 5 were satisfied at all.    With regard to Item #3, through  public testimony information  was collected from the property owners that by expanding the requirements of the easement there will be protection  afforded by that easement which mentions the habitat management plan.  As far as Item #5, clearly the property owners have stated their willingness to sign the easement and with that, protection of the Blue Flag Iris.  Therefore, on Exhibit A, he suggested   under A-1 to delete C.1.k. because there is no need to designate the Blue Flag Iris at this time as a species of local importance  because it does not meet sections 17.02.110.h)(ix) (3) and  (5).  Also delete on page A-3 bottom of the page “Iris missouriensis  Blue Flag Iris”  By deleting those, the needs of the  Blue Flag Iris  are met, based on public testimony.

 

Commissioner Shelton  believed that the Board generally  agreed that the Blue Flag Iris was  the  species from the total list that rose to the occasion in terms of requiring some protection because it met those three criteria of the Code listed in 17.02.110 c.1 (ii).   The Board considered those three criteria and based upon that criteria decided that the Blue Flag Iris met the criteria for species of local importance.  As pointed out in this further part of the code whether it becomes a species of local importance or whether protection measures adopted to protect are adequate to protect the Blue Flag Iris becomes the question – whether it is necessary given the fact that property owners have agreed to the management plan and that the National Park Service has agreed to oversee the management plan.  He had zeroed in on the three criteria without reading the  remaining parts of the code probably to some degree because of the process the County had to take to move  faster than normal because of the demands of the Hearings  Board.    He saw that Commissioner McDowell’s point was  valid .

 

Chairman Thorn disagreed with Commissioner McDowell, believing there was adequate testimony demonstrating the plant is unique in the area of Whidbey Island and that nothing onerous has been brought to the property owners; have agreement and concurrence of the property owners to participate under the scenic easement and a protection plan.    Folks admire and value this particular species in that location and want to protect it, have been protecting it and having it on the list of species of local importance is completely appropriate, the least protected least impinging regulation of anything we have and does not create a problem for any of the property owners.  His position is to leave things as presented in Exhibit A.

 

Commissioner McDowell did not see a disagreement on the first two issues:  the plant is unique to Grasser’s Hill, and he did not say the proposal was onerous to the property owners. He just did not think that all five  criteria were met.   

 

Chairman Thorn disagreed thinking there was adequate testimony that there has been some decline in the species, it waxes and wanes, but absent protection it will not survive. 

 

Commissioner McDowell pointed out there were other ways to protect the plant, by property owners signing an agreement and eventually a HMP, those ways are in the works now.  What he is suggesting would  not change the action to the property owners;  essence is that they would sign the easement and live under the management plans.

 

One of the things that Mr. Bakke  pointed out was that Exhibit B specifically calls out Blue Flag Iris.

 

Commissioner Shelton  observed that provided were  all of the protections and all of the advantages of identifying Blue Flag Iris as a species of local importance.    He was  almost ambivalent one way or another because clearly the Blue Flag Iris even if some of the seeds were taken off of Grasser’s Hill and planted in  someone’s garden, unless there is some kind of an easement those who are planting it on their property are willing to sign, he did not think  anything  that has occurred on Grasser’s Hill would be transferred by the seeds to someone else’s property.     The basis of the protection is the species.  The Chairman has expressed the need to  say that it is a species of local importance, but Commissioner Shelton agreed with  Commissioner  McDowell, items #3 and #5 have not been met.

 

Protection is being provided  under a management plan that would accomplish the species of local importance without designating them as such because of the management plan.  The basis of adequacy is not in the designation it is in the management plan being developed.

 

BOARD ACTION

 

Commissioner McDowell moved  approval of Ordinance #C-14-01, PLG-002-01 in the matter of Amending Chapters 3.40 and 17.02 ICC to respond to the order of the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board  relating to certain provisions of the County’s Critical Area Regulations,  Exhibits A, B and C, with the following changes: 

 

            Cover Ordinance

 

            Page 2  -  last paragraph beginning “Be it Further Ordained” change the date in    

            the first sentence from April 30, 2001 to June  1, 2001.

 

            Exhibit A

 

                        Page A-1, delete item C.1.k. “Areas depicted on a map prepared by Island

            County dated    February  5, 2001 that contain Iris missouriensis (Blue Flag

            Iris)”.

 

            Page A-3, bottom of the page, delete “Iris missouriensis      Blue Flag Iris” .

 

Exhibit B

            Page B-1, move b) (ii) “Those areas where Blue Flag Iris (Iris missouriensis)

            can be identified or where the property owner proposes a management  plan to             introduce and maintain a population of Blue Flag Iris.” to d) as (ii).

 

            b) (iii) becomes (ii)

 

            d) would read

(i)                  Those sites where preservation, restoration or enhancement

                                                 of native plant communities is maintained subject to an

                                                 approved management plan; or

 

(ii)                Those areas where Blue Flag Iris (Iris missouriensis)

                                                can be identified or where the property owner proposes a

                                                management  plan to     introduce and maintain a population of

                                                Blue Flag Iris. 

 

            Exhibit C – Revised Version dated 3/1/01 with the following changes:

                        #10   Fifth sentence delete the words “to complete a field survey of Grasser’s

                        Hill” and insert instead “to map botanical field notes throughout the Historical

                        Reserve”.

 

                        #28  Third line in #28 change the word propagation to introduction  and the

                        word “at” to “to”, reading:  “…introduction of the native Blue Flag Iris to          

                        other…”

 

Motion was seconded by Commissioner Shelton, passed by majority vote, Chairman Thorn voting nay.  

 

BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISIONERS

OF ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

IN THE MATTER OF AMENDING CHAPTERS 3.40 AND 17.02 ICC TO RESPOND TO THE ORDER OF THE WESTERN WASHINGTON GROWTH MANAGEMENT HEARINGS BOARD RELATING TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE COUNTY’S CRITICAL AREA REGULATIONS

))))))


ORDINANCE C-14-01

 

PLG-002-01

 

WHEREAS, in 1998-2000 WEAN submitted various documents and maps requesting that the County nominate certain native plants as species of local importance; and

           

WHEREAS, various parties filed petitions with the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board (“Board”) to review Island County’s adopted GMA Comprehensive Plan (“Comp Plan”) and Development Regulations; and

 

            WHEREAS, the Board entered its Final Decision and Order on June 2, 1999; and

 

WHEREAS, in its Final Order the Board directed the County to take appropriate action on the nominations submitted by Whidbey Environmental Action Network (WEAN); and

 

WHEREAS, in 1999 the County requested WEAN to provide more information to process WEAN’s request during the Comp Plan Annual Amendment process; and

 

WHEREAS, in lieu of providing the requested information, WEAN elected to request the Board to order the County to adopt WEAN’s nominations; and

 

WHEREAS, in its Compliance Order dated October 12, 2000 the Board directed the County to make a reasoned analysis, on the record, including best available science and other local factors, and take substantive action on WEAN’s nominations by January 31, 2001; and

 

WHEREAS, the County has again reviewed the information provided by WEAN, completed its own research and determined that certain actions are needed to address WEAN’s nominations; and

 

            WHEREAS, in 1998, the County completed environmental review under Chapter 43.21C RCW, SEPA, on its Comp Plan and Development Regulations including Critical Area Regulations; and

 

            WHEREAS, pursuant to WAC 197-11-600, the County SEPA official has determined that the proposed changes to Chapters 17.02 and 3.40 ICC relating to Critical Area Regulations are not likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts that were not considered in the environmental documents prepared for the Comp Plan and Development Regulations; NOW, THEREFORE,

 

            BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED, the Board of Island County Commissioners hereby adopts the proposed amendments to Chapter 17.02 ICC, attached hereto as Exhibit A; the proposed amendments to Chapter 3.40 ICC attached hereto as Exhibit B; and the Findings and Legislative Intent attached hereto as Exhibit C.  Material stricken through is deleted and material underlined is added.

            BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that by no later than June 1, 2001 the scenic easement shall be amended to include reference to, and compliance with, a Habitat Management Plan for the Blue Flag Iris and that the Habitat Management Plan shall be completed no later than August 31, 2001.  If these dates are not met, the County shall revisit this issue to determine what regulatory measures are appropriate to ensure protection of the Blue Flag Iris.

           

            Reviewed this 5th day of February, 2001 and set for special session public hearing at 10:30 a.m. on the 1st day of March, 2001.

 

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

William F. Thorn, Chairman

Mike Shelton, Member

Wm. L. McDowell, Member

ATTEST:   Margaret Rosenkranz

Clerk of the Board                BICC 01-121

 

            APPROVED AND ADOPTED as amended 3-1-01, this 1st day of March, 2001.

 

[Voted NO - William F. Thorn, Chairman]

Mike Shelton, Member

Wm. L. McDowell, Member

ATTEST:   By Ellen K. Meyer, Deputy

Margaret Rosenkranz,  Clerk of the Board

 

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

DAVID L. JAMIESON, JR.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney

& Island County Code Reviser

 

[Ordinance #C-14-01 as adopted this date, GMA record #_____; exhibits on file

with the Clerk of the Board]

 

There being no further business to come before the Board at this  time,  meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.  The Board will meet next in Regular Session on March  12, 2001, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

 

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

                                                 ______________________________

William F. Thorn,  Chairman

 

 

____________________________

 Wm. L. McDowell,  Member

 

 

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Mike Shelton,  Member 

 

 

ATTEST:    ____________­­­­­___________

Margaret Rosenkranz,  Clerk of the Board