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Commissioners hear committee reports: code enforcement clarifications and TDRs seen as a long-term option
Summary
At the May 27 meeting commissioners discussed recent committee meetings with county code officials, clarified that 'A-exempt' forms do not remove critical-area reviews, and heard that transfer-of-development-rights (TDR) programs are complex and unlikely to be an immediate fix for ag-land protection.
Commissioners at the Clark County Agricultural Advisory Commission’s May 27 meeting reviewed committee work on code enforcement, economic development and agricultural-land protection and heard that transfer-of-development-rights (TDR) will require preparatory steps before it is viable.
A staff liaison said the code-enforcement committee met with planning and building officials and the fire marshal on May 14 to clarify procedures. "We were finally able to get Brent Davis from the planning department and the building official and the fire marshall slash code enforcement manager Donna Goddard all together," the liaison said, summarizing the meeting.
Commissioner Isaiah Irish reported that the meeting clarified the scope of A-exempt structures: the exemption applies to building-code permitting but does not remove land-use requirements tied to critical areas such as stormwater, floodplains or geologic hazards. "It only exempts them from the building code and the building permit process. As far as critical areas, storm water, flood plains, geological areas — they still apply," Irish said. Commissioners emphasized the need to update county website documentation and forms so landowners and staff can understand the boundaries of the exemption.
On TDRs and farmland protection, the commission heard reports from members who met with Whatcom County and conservation partners. Commissioners were told TDR programs are often complex and have failed where underlying supports are absent; attendees recommended first establishing a land-trust partner, clearer zoning protections for agricultural land and dedicated agricultural staff. One commissioner summarized the advice: zoning and easements often provide more immediate protection than TDRs.
The commission asked committees to document meeting takeaways and to prepare higher-level summaries for cross-committee sharing. Bart (commission member) reminded committees that if their proposals will require consultants or funding, the commission can facilitate taking requests before the county council.
Attribution: Quotes and attributions in this article are drawn from the May 27 meeting transcript of the Clark County Agricultural Advisory Commission.
