Education: United Way partners with Ferndale schools 5A
March 20, 2013
SINCE 1885
Garbage tax hike proposed Ferndale plans to fund library gap through half percent solid waste tax hike By Mark Reimers news@ferndalerecord.com
FERNDALE — On April 23, voters in Ferndale will decide whether to add the final cost of a new Main Street library to their property tax bill. But the City Council went into its Monday meeting still unsure of how it would cover its earlier commitments to the library through matching campaigns. About half of the $1.05 million commitment, according to Finance Director Mark Peterson, can come from good returns on the city’s real estate excise tax. However, that still leaves about $50,000 each year in financing that the city will need to come up with. At Monday’s meeting, the Ferndale City Council voted to adopt a half-percent increase in its tax on solid waste. That would apply to all waste brought to the city’s two transfer stations. The measure would bring the tax up from 12 percent to 12.5 percent, overall. Peterson noted in his prepared figures that the extra half-percent will bring in about $53,000 annually. The other options mapped out as possibilities by Peterson include tapping into $65,000 in annual banked property tax capacity and a 1 percent increase in the city utility tax, bringing in an estimated $50,000 each year. The city’s preference for using a solid waste tax increase as the means of covering the commitment shortfall was tempered by several council members’ statements that they don’t want the tax to be a constant, go-to pot for anything that needs funding. See Waste Tax on 2A
Business
Absorption Corp gets new owner Local managers of a Ferndale manufacturing company are optimistic about what a new German-based ownership group means for U.S. market share, as well as possible expansion. 3A
FERNDALE, Washington • $1
Red tape to green light
Ferndale is thinking outside the box to promote a healthy climate for growth. Below is an overview of some of the many lean initiatives and rule changes undertaken by the city to encourage business and development.
Deferring impact fees until final inspection In 2011, the Ferndale City Council suggested that the city provide an option to developers that would allow them to pay up to 50 percent of the impact and connection fees on projects at the time of final inspection, rather than at the permit stage. While not decreasing the total fees, this does allow developers to delay payment of some fees until projects 50% are closer to being sold/rented. It also fees implicitly recognizes that the majority of impacts do not occur until the structure is occupied. According to Community Development Director Jori Burnett, the deferment plan hasn’t opened up the city to more risk from defaulting builders since the point is to help viable projects become even more viable and certain. “We aren’t trying Although the same amount is paid to the city, a smaller initial bank loan can be secured, saving the builder significant interest during the building to take unviable projects and make process.
them work. The goal is to take projects that are viable and make them more viable.”
Repeat plan review
—Jori Burnett
According to Burnett, custom “spec” homes have become the exception and not the rule. Today, most land use developers build based on building templates that they are familiar with, often cycling between four to eight home designs within a single subdivision. Reviewing building designs becomes redundant, especially in a 100-lot development, where one building design may be used 10-20 times. Ferndale has instead created a program that allows contractors to submit a home design once and re-use it on an unlimited basis for significantly reduced building review costs. Those costs can drop by up to 50 percent. Now, not only do developers save on permit costs, but the program also allows city staff to process building permits much more rapidly — in many cases issuing a building permit within 24 hours of its submittal, Burnett said. Similar discounts can be enjoyed if contractors submit several identical building permits at once.
Water and sewer: Equivalent Residential Use For years, the City of Ferndale charged uniform rates for water or sewer connections, regardless of whether the connection was for a single-family residence or a large shopping mall. In 2011 the Ferndale amended its policies to reflect anticipated water and sewer use, otherwise known as an “Equivalent Residential Use” or ERU. The program has three primary goals: first, to accurately reflect the actual impact on the city’s infrastructure; second, to end the disproportionate burden that had been placed on residential development; and third, to incentivize conservation measures — projects that use high efficiency plumbing or other demonstrated conservation measures may decrease their expenditures significantly. Lower usage can also be demonstrated as past practice through a previous billing statement. For example, the builder of an actual recent project was able to reduce the anticipated water and sewer connection fees from nearly $100,000 to about $5,000 by providing previous billing information and proposed conservation measures.
50% fees
Downtown improvement guides many efforts By Mark Reimers news@ferndalerecord.com
FERNDALE — It’s not that downtown has been the only thing on the city’s collective mind. But improving it has certainly been a driver for a lot of actions over the last two years, as Community Development Director Jori Burnett is happy to admit. Downtown Ferndale is one of the few places that hasn’t seen substantial growth in the last decade. That is partly because of inherent obstacles such as the floodplain, newer retail expectations and perhaps some impressions of current less attractive land uses in downtown. Efforts by the city to promote downtown Ferndale equal a rare effort to create a market, Burnett said. However, he isn’t under any illusions about replicating past forms of success, like what was in place between the 1950s and ‘80s. Downtown efforts emphasize mixed-use, dense residential units within walking distance of downtown businesses. The theory is that once someone gets into a car, other parts of the Ferndale or Whatcom County are just as accessible. Bringing development costs down has gone hand-in-hand with city investments such as the River Walk, Pioneer Pavilion, a new library and Main Street paving — it all adds up to over $20 million over a decade. Those efforts are at least seeing some fruit since downtown Ferndale is currently at its lowest vacancy rate in over decade. “There aren’t a whole lot of vacant stores now,” Burnett said. See Downtown on 2A
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2A • ferndalerecord.com • Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Friday lightning hits Lynden home Downtown Continued from 1A “The ones that do go vacant don’t stay there long-term typically. Hopeful that is where this is going.” While the city is always looking for new ways of streamlining the process, Burnett said, the next step still needs to be private investment. Overt examples of efforts to spur include the following:
Lynden firefighters responded to a home on Aaron Drive on Friday evening after it filled with smoke following a lightning strike. The strike ripped a gash at the top of the two-story home, about 10 inches wide and over 3 feet high. The home owners reported that their power outlets turned black with char, but there seemed to be no significant damage to the electrical system. Only the garage door stopped working. Lynden Fire Chief Gary Baar said this was the first time he had seen a lightniing strike on a home. (Randy Fleming/FlemingPhotoStudio.com)
Farm Bureau offers scholarships WHATCOM — The Whatcom County Farm Bureau is offering $3,000 in scholarships to qualified Whatcom County students. A minimum of $500 will be awarded to each winner. These are the eligibility requirements for applicants:
Waste tax Continued from 1A Council member Brent Goodrich wondered aloud whether a cap could be set, an idea colleague Mel Hansen
Chelsey Rae Ebert
rettyin ink 13 Walk 20
• High school senior or planning to be a full-time college, technical school or university undergraduate student in the 2013-14 school year. • A Whatcom County Farm Bureau member or the son, daughter, legal dependent or spouse of one, with membership dues paid prior to Oct. 1, 2012 and kept current through May 15, 2013. • Not a winner of this scholarship previously. A copy of the application form can be found at www.
wsfb.com. Go to Programs and Scholarships and scroll through the list of counties to Whatcom. Application must be completed and returned by April 5, 2013 to: Whatcom Farm Bureau Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 703, Lynden WA 98264. The committee will review the applications and make final decisions by May 15, 2013. For more information, contact Leslie Honcoop,
said would be unlikely to last, since it has no binding effect beyond future councils’ preferences. Council member Jon Mutchler did add an amendment to the original ordinance motion, stating that the half-percent increase should
sunset at the conclusion of the library funding commitment it is earmarked for. City staff members noted that no actual steps toward selling bonds for the commitment have been taken, nor will they be taken until the library is being built, since that will be when the city starts to accrue interest charges. However, due to the upcoming expiration of several grants and private matching commitments for the library, building this year is dependent upon city voters’ approval of the April 23 $550,000 capital construction bond. Otherwise, the lost grant funding will push library construction back by at least a few years.
Sat. March 30th 9:00 AM - Noon Ferndale Haggen 1815 Main Street $25 entree fee Proceeds Donated to
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2013 SPRING Home Improvement
Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of this very popular special section in the Ferndale Record and the Lynden Tribune!
Featuring a look inside local Whatcom County homes and their owners along with tips and articles pertaining to remodeling, new construction, decorating, gardening,finance, energy efficiency and more! Don’t miss your chance to be included!
• Discounts for development on vacant downtown land — In 2012, the Ferndale City Council created incentives that would reduce or eliminate administrative fees for the development of vacant properties or redevelopment of non-conforming uses in the Urban Residential and City Center zones (the downtown core). Ferndale has already invested nearly $22 million in infrastructure improvements in the core area since 2003. The incentive programs bring the average downtown permitting fees to their lowest level in over a decade. • Downtown parking requirement reduction: In 2012, the Ferndale City Council re-examined off-street parking requirements for multifamily development in the downtown core. The reWhatcom County Farm Bureau Scholarship chairperson, at 354-1155 or lesliejhon@ clearwire.net.
County surface mining committee needs members BELLINGHAM — The Whatcom County Council seeks applicants for vacancies on the Surface Mining Advisory Committee. This committee reviews and recommends changes to the mineral resources section of Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 8 regarding resource lands. This section is a guide for Whatcom County in land use decisions involving land with mineral resources. Seven positions on the 11-member committee are vacant. Candidates must be one of the following: geologist, ecologist, environmental consultant, a person in the surface mining industry, a representative of potable groundwater supply, or someone with knowledge of the forestry industry. To gain a permit, a surface mining operation must be located on land designated as mineral resource land. The Surface Mining Advisory Committee will consider a proposal to change the permit application process from an administrative approval use to a conditional-use permit that requires a public hearing. “The council is considering substantive changes to our surface mining policies so that surface mining permit applicants and neighbors will have adequate information in the first stages of the permit process,” said council member Barbara Brenner. Also, the committee will help the Planning Department do a review and update of the Comprehensive Plan, development regulations and
quirement was reduced from a minimum of 2.25 spaces per multifamily unit to 1.5 spaces per unit, not including potential on-street parking. Burnett noted that parking is a significant expenditure for development and also creates more hard surfacing that must be treated using stormwater ponds. The city also allowed a further reduction for studio apartments, requiring a minimum of only one space per unit. These changes promote greater development density. The city also allows developers throughout the city to submit independent calculations demonstrating a reduced need for parking. • Traffic impact fee discount — In 2012, the Ferndale City Council reduced traffic impact fees in the downtown core based on studies showing that, on average, downtowns generate less traffic than most commercial development areas. The city now also allows credits toward these fees for developments that include pedestrian-friendly features such as outdoor seating, picture windows, street-level landscaping and more. That step was based on evidence from other jurisdictions, showing that attractive pedestrian environments lead to more pedestrian use — and fewer vehicle trips.
urban growth areas. The plan update must be done by June 30, 2016, representing the county’s vision for the next 20 years. Applications should be submitted to the County Council office, 311 Grand Ave., Suite 105, Bellingham, WA 98225. Forms are available at the County Council office and on the county website at www.whatcomcounty.us/ boards/boards.jsp. Vacancies will be filled as the council office receives applications. For more information, contact Jill Nixon at 676-6690 or jnixon@co.whatcom.wa.us.
Appliance Depot takes old appliances BELLINGHAM — The Appliance Depot offers free job site removal of old appliances to contractors working on laundry and kitchen remodel projects. The job training business is seeking washers, dryers, ranges, refrigerators and freezers to support its nonprofit mission of creating jobs from waste. “There’s a double benefit for remodel projects,” said executive director Duane Jager. “By making one phone call, the contractor can avoid hauling expenses, and the homeowner can get a tax deduction for the donation.” The donated appliances provide work for Appliance Depot’s low-income clients who help run a business where appliances are tested, repaired, cleaned and sold to low-income households at about half the cost of new. Appliance donations are welcome regardless of condition, Jager said. Units that cannot be saved for reuse are stripped for parts and then recycled. A freon recycling fee is charged for fridges and freezers, but is refundable if the unit is saved for reuse. Contractors or home owners who want to donate
Other actions: n Discounts on small business development (citywide) n Water and Sewer rate reduction (residential, close/medium proximity to treatment plant) n Townhouse allowances n Increase in height limits – multifamily n Reduction in setbacks – multifamily n Ability to provide documentation/ proof of water/sewer/traffic/ parking use n Conversion from septic to sewer/public water discount n Removal of Floor Area Ratio restrictions (downtown) n Residential height limit increase (32-35’) n Park Impact Fee Reduction (pending new parks plan) n Building Permit Inspection/ Expiration Guidelines – increased flexibility for keeping a project active n Technical Review Committee checklist creation n Planned Action EIS – completed SEPA review for projects in this area n Subdivision regulations: streamlined process, removed unnecessary regulations n General code scrub items: Made more uses “permitted,” removed many uses from Conditional Use requirements n Amended Planned Unit Development chapter; removed many regulatory obstacles/ requirements (20-foot buffers on all sides, reduced minimum size for existing lot) n Cottage Housing Ordinance an appliance can call 5272646 or bring it to 802 Marine Dr. between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Peace Arch Business Center opens CUSTER — The Peace Arch Business Center, located in the Windermere Real Estate Building at Interstate 5 Exit 270, opened its doors on Monday, March 4. Adjacent to the Birch Bay Square Shopping Center, the business center will offer a number of services including virtual and physical offices, reception, printing, event planning, meeting rooms, state-of-the-art telephone and Internet. It will also provide a virtual business mall for those interested in promoting their business to a wide range of audiences. The public is invited to attend a grand opening on Thursday, March 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. To learn more, call Katrina at 366-8500 or visit www. peacearchbusinesscenter. com.
DEADLINE: April 4 PUBLICATION DATE: April 17
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