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Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee

WHA-CON-PDV-2026-01-13 January 13, 2026 Planning Committee Whatcom County 9 min
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The Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee held its first meeting of 2026, focusing primarily on organizational matters and a brief policy discussion. The 9-minute meeting resulted in the appointment of new committee leadership and initial discussion of a code amendment for Lummi Island food preparation businesses. The committee elected Jessica Rienstra as chair after she defeated Ben Elenbaas in a 5-2 vote. Rienstra emphasized her desire to dive deep into planning issues with the expanded 7-member committee structure. Elenbaas, who had chaired the committee previously, highlighted his extensive experience as both a planning commissioner and end-user of planning services, including involvement in permit applications and legal disputes with the department. The committee also appointed co-vice chairs Ben Elenbaas and Kaylee Galloway by unanimous vote. Elizabeth Boyle initially considered the vice chair position but withdrew her nomination. The substantive policy discussion centered on AB2026-017, a proposed ordinance amendment to allow food preparation for off-site consumption at The Gathering Place community center on Lummi Island. The proposal addresses unique challenges faced by the island community, which has limited access to commercial kitchen facilities due to geographic isolation and septic system constraints. Council Member Jon Scanlon praised the proposal as addressing long-standing needs of island-based food businesses.

**AB2026-007 - Committee Chair and Vice Chair Appointments** - Jessica Rienstra elected Chair: 5-2 vote (Rienstra received votes from Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, and Scanlon; Elenbaas received votes from Elenbaas and Stremler) - Ben Elenbaas and Kaylee Galloway appointed co-Vice Chairs: 7-0 unanimous vote - Staff recommendation: Not a…

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**Committee Leadership Structure** The committee addressed its expanded role as a 7-member body (previously smaller). Both candidates for chair brought relevant experience: Elenbaas highlighted his background as a planning commissioner, permit applicant, and participant in legal disputes with planning services, emphasizing his end-user perspective. Rienstra expressed enthusiasm for diving deep into planning issues and noted the importance of consistent in-person attendance for effective meeting management. **Lummi Island Food Preparation Code Amendment** Lucas Clark presented a targeted code change affecting the Rural Residential Island (RRI) district, specifically Lummi Island. The proposal would allow The Gathering Place community center to expand its kitchen use beyond current community events and Meals on Wheels preparation to in…
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**Council Member Jessica Rienstra (newly elected Chair):** Emphasized desire to dive deep into planning issues with the expanded committee and importance of consistent in-person meeting attendance. Expressed enthusiasm for the role and appreciation for Elenbaas's experience. **Council Member Ben Elenbaas (former Chair, now co-Vice Chair):** Highlighted extensive planning experience including serving as planning commissioner, applying for building permits, and involvement in legal disputes with planning services. Expressed enjoyment of planning work and willingness to continue contributing exper…
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**Ben Elenbaas, on his committee chair candidacy:** "I've been a planning commissioner. I've actually applied for building permits through planning and development services. So I'm an end user. I've been involved in lawsuits with planning and development services on the other side of it, as well as negotiating those resolutions prior to being a council member. So, I really enjoy PDS." **Jessica Rienstra, on seeking the chair position:** "With the change of a 7 member committee, this is an are…
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- AB2026-016 scheduled for introduction at full County Council meeting - Public hearing on the Lummi Island food preparation ordinance scheduled for 2 weeks following introduction - The Gathering P…

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- Jessica Rienstra became Planning and Development Committee Chair, replacing Ben Elenbaas - Ben Elenbaas and Kaylee Galloway appointed as co-Vice Chairs - Committee leadership structure now accommodates the expanded 7-member committee forma…
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# Leadership Change and Lummi Island Kitchen Rules: A Brief Committee Meeting ## Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee convened for an 18-minute meeting on January 13th, 2026, in the County Courthouse's Council Chambers. All seven council members were present for this hybrid meeting that began at 11:49 a.m. and adjourned at 11:58 a.m. The meeting's primary business was organizational — selecting new committee leadership — followed by a brief discussion of a code amendment that would help expand food services on remote Lummi Island. What could have been routine committee housekeeping became a small window into the personal experiences and collaborative spirit that council members bring to their specialized roles. ## Committee Leadership Elections The meeting opened with an unusual situation: no sitting committee chair to run the proceedings. Council member Ben Elenbaas called the meeting to order and immediately moved to the first order of business — nominating and appointing a committee chair. Two council members stepped forward with self-nominations, each bringing different strengths to the role. Elenbaas made his case first: "I will self nominate as committee chair. I would like to continue and in my role as the committee chair, I've been a planning commissioner. I've actually applied for building permits throug…
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### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee met on January 13, 2026, to elect new leadership and discuss a code amendment for Lummi Island. This was the first meeting with a new 7-member committee structure, resulting in the appointment of Jessica Rienstra as Chair and Ben Elenbaas and Kaylee Galloway as Vice Chairs. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Rural Residential Island (RRI):** A specific zoning district that applies to Lummi Island, designed to preserve the island's rural character while allowing limited development. **Conditional Use:** A type of land use that requires special approval through a permit process, typically involving public notice and review by planning staff or hearing examiner. **Off-site Food Preparation:** Commercial food preparation that is packaged and sold away from where it's made, such as catering, food trucks, or retail food sales. **Community Center:** A public or quasi-public facility that serves neighborhood or community functions, often including meeting spaces, kitchens, and recreational facilities. **Septic System:** An on-site wastewater treatment system used in areas without public sewer service, which can be stressed by high-volume commercial food operations. **The Gathering Place:** A community center on Lummi Island completed in 2023 that currently serves community events and prepares meals-on-wheels for residents. **Planning Commission:** A citizen advisory body that reviews and makes recommendations on zoning changes, development regulations, and comprehensive plan amendments before they go to the County Council. **Ferry Service:** The only transportation access to Lummi Island, creating unique challenges for commercial services and supply chains. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Ben Elenbaas | Council member, initial meeting chair, elected Vice Chair | | Jessica Rienstra | Council member, elected Committee Chair | | Kaylee Galloway | Council member, elected Vice Chair | | Elizabeth Boyle | Council member | | Barry Buchanan | Council member | | Jon Scanlon | Council member | | Mark Stremler | Council member | | Lucas Clark | Planning and Development Services staff | | Cathy Halka | Clerk of the Council …
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Government Operations AB 2026 007 AB 2026 016 AB 2026 017 Gathering Place Meals On Wheels Planning Development Services Barry Buchanan Ben Elenbaas Ben Elenbaas Elizabeth Boyle Jessica Rienstra Jon Scanlon Kaylee Galloway Lucas Clark Mark Stremler Place Lummi Island Committee Appointments Committee Chair Community Center Conditional Use Conditional Use Permits Economic Development Food Preparation Lummi Island Planning Commission Septic Systems Vice Chair