Whatcom County Council unanimously voted 7-0 during its June 20 meeting to change zoning code regulations to increase residential density in Birch Bay after the urban growth area (UGA) was found to be growing slower than anticipated.
County council adopted the zoning changes to require increasing the minimum residential densities, allowing smaller minimum lot sizes, reducing setbacks and requiring water and sewer in certain areas. The change will also set a minimum net density to ensure the land is being sufficiently used, Whatcom County senior planner Matt Aamot said, adding that the maximum density won’t change.
“If you have a lower density, then you don’t accommodate all of the housing in the UGA and can sprawl into more rural areas,” Aamot said after the council meeting. “We’re trying to make the best use of land.”
The Whatcom County Planning Commission requested council approve the ordinance following its May 11 public hearing on the changes. The planning commission began looking at changing zoning regulations after the county’s 2022 Buildable Lands Report showed that Birch Bay residential development grew slower than the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan had predicted between 2016 and 2021.
The report found current density regulations in the Birch Bay UGA wouldn’t support future growth. Single-family unit capacity would not be sufficient for the anticipated number of dwellings needed between 2021 and 2036, according to the report.
The buildable lands report indicated Birch Bay had a residential density of 4.5 units per acre between 2016 and 2021, while the comprehensive plan anticipated 5-10 units per acre, according to previous reporting from The Northern Light. Birch Bay development needs to support another 1,254 people through 2036.
County council held a public hearing at the June 20 meeting before voting that drew two residents.
Laurie Poms Nelson told council during the hearing that she was concerned there were already a lot of people moving to Birch Bay but the unincorporated area didn’t have sufficient fire or public safety services in place.
“You’re talking about changing the zoning so that more can be built on these lots and we don’t have what we need to sustain the people in this area,” Nelson said.
Birch Bay resident Carol Donovan said she was concerned about increased traffic with the zoning code changes.
Councilmember Ben Elenbaas, who represents Birch Bay, said he agreed with the speakers that Birch Bay had the density of a city without some city resources. Elenbaas said he voted in favor because the county needs to increase its housing but that it was council’s responsibility to improve Birch Bay’s services, such as through increased law enforcement presence and evacuation routes.
“I’m supporting this with the acknowledgement of the issues that the callers brought up were absolutely valid and that will fall on us to think about as we’re budgeting and making land-use policy in the future,” Elenbaas said.
Birch Bay is one of 10 urban growth areas and one of three unincorporated areas in Whatcom County.
The zoning code changes are expected to go into effect in July, Aamot said.
This article was updated on June 26 to clarify Aamot's quote. We regret the error.
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