Council Planning and Development Committee

**Open Space Taxation Program Overview** Alexander Harris provided background on the 1970 Open Space Taxation Act, which allows counties to tax properties at current use rather than highest and best use to incentivize conservation. The county administers three types: designated forest land and farm/agricultural land (both through the Assessor's Office), and public benefit open space land (through Planning and Development Services). The public benefit program uniquely requires public access as adopted by the county in 1995. **Dual Jurisdiction Approval Process** The committee explored the procedural complexity of properties within city limits requiring both county and city council approval. Harris expla…

**Alexander Harris, Planning and Development Services:** Recommended approval based on the property scoring 48 points on the Public Benefit Rating System. Emphasized the straightforward nature of staff review using established criteria and noted the property's environmental characteristics make it unsuitable for development. **Council Member Ben Elenbaas:** Immediately moved for approval upon hearing the 48-point score, indicating stron…

**Council Member Ben Elenbaas, on the application:** "Yeah, I was just going to move for approval." **Alexander Harris, on the property's condition:** "It is an extremely wet property. There's skunk cabbage and all sorts of other, you know, plant species that are indicative of wetlands." **Alexander Harris, on public access enforcement:** "But then after that, we aren't really enforcing public access. We're not driving around, making sure that people are using the space." **…

The committee advanced the open space application from committee review to full Council consideration, clearing the procedural hurdle for evening consideration. The property moved one step closer to receiving open …

### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Planning and Development Committee met on August 6, 2025 to review an application for open space current use tax assessment for a 5-acre property in Sumas. The committee unanimously recommended approval of the application, which scored 48 points on the county's public benefit rating system. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Open Space Current Use Assessment:** A property tax reduction program that allows qualifying properties to be taxed at their current use value rather than highest and best use value, designed to preserve open space and working lands. **Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS):** A scoring system used by Whatcom County to evaluate open space applications based on natural resource characteristics and current land use, requiring a score of 45 or higher for staff recommendation. **Current Use vs. Highest and Best Use:** Current use taxation assesses property based on how it's actually being used (like farming or open space), while highest and best use would assess it at maximum development potential value. **1970 Open Space Taxation Act:** Washington state legislation that created the framework allowing counties to offer reduced property taxes for agricultural, forest, and other open space lands to prevent conversion to development. **Peat Wetland Soils:** Organic-rich soils formed in waterlogged conditions, typically found in wetland areas and indicating high ecological value for water filtration and wildlife habitat. **Floodplain:** Areas adjacent to rivers and streams that are subject to periodic flooding, as designated by FEMA flood maps. **Habitat Conservation Areas:** Priority habitats designated by the state for protection of fish and wildlife species. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jon Scanlon | Committee Chair (acting), Whatcom County Councilmember | | Ben Elenbaas | Whatcom County Councilmember | | Todd Donovan | Whatcom County Councilmember (absent) | | Alexander Harris | Planning and Development Services Staff | | Barry Buchanan | Whatcom County Councilmember (observer) | | Kaylee …