City Council Meeting Special Budget Session @ 2 p.m.

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON Thursday 7:00 PM June 16, 2022 City Council Chambers Video Recorded www.cob.org Call to Order / Roll Call Present: Mike Estes (Chair), Barbara Plaskett, Jed Ballew, Mike McAuley, Russ Whidbee, Scott Jones Absent: Rose Lathrop Approval of Minutes Public Comment Period Opportunity for citizens to speak informally to the Planning Commissioners on any subject not listed on the agenda. Speakers are allowed a MAXIMUM of three (3) minutes to address the Commission. Speakers will not be required to disclose their address. PUBLIC HEARING Mobile Home Park Preservation Staff Presentation: McKayla Dunfey provided some background information on the City’s preservation efforts and reviewed the proposed preservation strategies and staff recommendations being considered. She reviewed the Overlay and Advanced Noticing/Tenant Opportunity to Purchase options in more detail. Staff has recommended that the Commission recommend the City Council adopt the draft ordinance, which includes an overlay that would apply to some or all of the existing MHPs along with regulations related to ownership and closure of MHPs. Public Comment Victoria O’Banion, Resident Owned Communities (ROC) Northwest spoke to how they could assist the residents in organizing a resident owned community if they chose to take advantage of the tenant opportunity to purchase. Wes Frysztacki expressed support for the proposed strategies. He also pointed out that some of the residents do not understand what is happening and are becoming fearful. He spoke to the misinformation that could occur during this process. Ishbel Dickens expressed support for the proposed strategies and acknowledged that it will provide some slight protection. She commented on some of the Growth Management Goals that the proposed amendments would meet. She suggested a couple of changes to the draft ordinance. Connie Perez asked for more clarification on the required parking spaces and expressed her support for the proposed amendments. She also wanted to encourage including ways to require the property owners to talk with the owners of mobile/manufactured homes in future updates to the ordinance. Joy Rain wanted to know what would happen to the mobile/manufactured home structure if the property owner decided to sell to someone other than the tenants and they needed to vacate the site. Oren Gaskill spoke to the “good faith” language in the ordinance. He wanted to know if there was a definition of “good faith,” what enforcement might look like for those owners that do not negotiate in “good faith,” and who will be making that determination. Jean Brechan expressed concern for some of the infrastructure in her park that are not being repaired (clubhouse, streets, etc.) and hoped that the overlay would contain some requirements for the owner to keep the park in good condition. Mary DeLassus wanted to know if the tenants were provided the opportunity to purchase the land – would it transfer to the next owner of the mobile/manufactured home. Michael Reams, Owner of Samish Mobile Home Park requested that they be exempt from the zoning overlay. He provided reasons for the request, including the location in an urban village and designated as a Federal Opportunity Zone. He shared some of the goals and policies from the Comprehensive Plan that support his request for exemption. Ed Epstein, Owner of Robin Lane Mobile Home Park wanted to know what the city is doing to encourage new manufactured home parks be developed, as this would greatly expand affordable housing. He suggested staff consider this in their study. Rebecca Treat expressed concern about the loss of equity if the land is sold. Staff responded to the concerns and questions voiced in the public comment period. Commission Questions / Discussion There was a brief conversation about the development capacity analysis included in the staff report. The Commission also expressed interest in learning more about the “reasonable use” and “economically viable” language, including examples from other jurisdictions that have gone through challenges if there are any. There was also interest in expanding the “Opportunity to Purchase” clause to include non-profit or governmental agencies, and discussing how the City could encourage more parks be developed. There was interest in hearing if other owners had any issues with the overlay, similar to the ones expressed by the Samish Mobile Home Park owners. There was a brief discussion on if a compensation section should be added in the event the property is sold and relocation of tenants is necessary. Staff spoke to additional regulations that would affect all MHP owners, regardless of their inclusion in the Overlay. Staff also clarified that new MHPs would not automatically be included in the Overlay, and they would need to go through a rezone process to be considered. There was interest in discussing sunset clauses to protect existing tenants while retaining growth opportunities for the future. In addition to clarifying key discussion topics addressed during the hearing, the Commission requested more information on the methodology used to determine the potential unit count in the development capacity analysis. It was determined that the written record will remain open until June 30, 2022. Public Hearing closed. Old/New Business Commissioner Jones would like to know more about the proposed development on E. Bellis Fair Parkway. Greg Aucutt advised the next meeting would be the MHP work session on July 7, 2022. Adjournment Minutes prepared by: ____________________________________________ Heather Aven, Recording Secretary Minutes edited by Planning Commission members and various Planning Staff.