Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee

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 applicable (organizational matter) **AB2026-017 - Lummi Island Food Preparation Ordinance** - Committee Discussion only (no formal action taken) - Item scheduled for introduction at full Council meeting (AB2026-016) - Public hearing scheduled for 2 weeks following introduction - Staff recommendation: Support the code amendment to allow conditional use

**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 area that I would like to dive deep into. And I believe stepping into the role of chair would allow for that to happen with the knowledge that all members retain seats on this committee." **Jon Scanlon, on the Lummi Island proposal:** "This is something I've been hearing about a lot from folks on the island... there are a number of also home base, um. Food businesses where there were some folks who previously traveled, um, to Bellingham or Ferndale, um, to do that work." **Lucas Clark, on Lummi Island's unique challenges:** "Lummi is a unique area with geographic barriers to typical services, such as grocery stores and restaurants. As I'm sure, you know, the only access to Lummi is via ferry service."

# 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 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. We'll put it that way, or maybe I don't enjoy it." His experience was comprehensive — he had sat on both sides of the planning process, understanding it from the perspective of applicants, commissioners, and even legal adversaries. The comment about enjoying (or not enjoying) Planning and Development Services drew chuckles but underscored his deep familiarity with the department's complexities. Council member Jessica Rienstra then offered her own nomination: "I also self nominate and I do so, with the change of a 7 member committee, this is an area that I would like to dive deep into. And I believe stepping into the role of chair would allow for that to happen with the knowledge that all members retain seats on this committee and initially had thought about submitting for vice chair. But I do think it is important to be able to chair a meeting in person and just think that being here consistently in person could be beneficial to the group. But certainly would be very, very grateful to learn from your deep experience in this council member." Rienstra's pitch emphasized commitment and consistency — particularly her ability to chair meetings in person, which she saw as beneficial for the group dynamic. Her acknowledgment of Elenbaas's "deep experience" showed the collegial respect that would characterize the entire proceedings. After some brief parliamentary procedure clarification about motions and seconds, the committee voted. Rienstra was elected chair by a 5-2 margin, receiving support from council members Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, and Scanlon, in addition to her own vote. Elenbaas received votes from himself and Stremler. The vice chair selection followed immediately, with Rienstra now presiding. Council member Boyle initially expressed interest but then withdrew from consideration. This left the field to Elenbaas and Galloway, who had indicated her interest in serving. Council member Scanlon moved to nominate both as co-vice chairs, and the motion carried unanimously 7-0. The leadership team was now set: Rienstra as chair, with Elenbaas and Galloway as co-vice chairs. The transition was smooth and collaborative, with Elenbaas graciously supporting his former rival and all members working together to establish the committee structure. ## Lummi Island Food Preparation Code Amendment With leadership settled, the committee turned to its single substantive agenda item: a discussion of code amendments that would allow expanded food preparation services at The Gathering Place on Lummi Island. Lucas Clark from Whatcom County Planning and Development Services presented the proposal, reading the full ordinance title into the record: "AB 2026-017 discussion of an ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Chapter 20.34 Rural Residential Island to allow food preparation for offsite consumption when accessory to and located within an approved community center." Clark explained the unique challenges facing Lummi Island, Whatcom County's most geographically isolated community. "Lummi is a unique area with geographic barriers to typical services, such as grocery stores and restaurants. As I'm sure, you know, the only access to Lummi is via ferry service. Lummi Island is generally rural and its rural character is important to the community." The Gathering Place, completed in 2023, serves as Lummi Island's community center and already operates a kitchen for onsite events and Meals on Wheels preparation. The proposed code change would allow food service retailers — food trucks or restaurants — to use the facility's kitchen for off-premise food preparation, essentially creating a shared commercial kitchen space. Clark highlighted a critical infrastructure constraint that makes this amendment particularly important: "One of the main challenges to citing prep kitchens is the lack of public sewer system on Lummi. Typically, all users have septic systems. Generally speaking, restaurant uses are hard on septic systems. This has created challenges when citing restaurants and commercial kitchens on Lummi." The Gathering Place, however, has "a new modern septic system that can support, due to the soils, the commercial kitchen and uses described previously." This makes it an ideal location for expanded food preparation services that would otherwise be difficult to accommodate on the island. The proposal would allow food preparation for offsite consumption as a conditional use — meaning it would require special review and approval — when associated with a community center. This targeted approach preserves the island's rural character while addressing a genuine community need. Council member Scanlon, who represents the area, expressed strong support for the amendment: "Lucas, thank you for this. I just wanted to say, thank you for all the work on this. This is something I've been hearing about a lot from folks on the island. I think a lot of you probably have been to the gathering place. It's also where they hold the advisory committee meetings." Scanlon described the practical impact on local entrepreneurs: "And I know there are a number of also home base, food businesses where there were some folks who previously traveled to Bellingham or Ferndale to do that work. And there are more people who want to be able to do their, their food based business on island. And so I know that helps out with a lot of that, those businesses and potentially economic development on the island." The council member's comments revealed how the amendment would reduce the burden on small business owners who currently have to travel off-island — via ferry — to access commercial kitchen facilities. For an island community where every trip to the mainland involves ferry schedules and transportation costs, having local food preparation facilities could significantly support entrepreneurship and economic development. Scanlon also acknowledged the deliberative process: "So I'm really happy this is, coming to us. I think we all wish it could have happened faster, but I understand we have processes and we have to do our due diligence and go through planning commission." Chair Rienstra echoed the gratitude and enthusiasm: "Being none, I will echo council member Scanlon's gratitude for your work on this and very excited to see this move forward." The amendment was scheduled for introduction at the next full council meeting and a public hearing two weeks later, following the standard legislative process for code amendments. ## Closing & What's Ahead The meeting concluded efficiently with no additional business to discuss. Chair Rienstra adjourned the committee at 11:58 a.m., just two minutes before the scheduled noon deadline. The brief session accomplished its organizational goals while advancing a thoughtful piece of legislation that addresses the unique needs of Whatcom County's most isolated community. The new leadership team — Rienstra, Elenbaas, and Galloway — demonstrated the collaborative approach that characterizes effective committee work, and their diverse experiences promise thorough consideration of the planning and development issues that will come before them. The Lummi Island food preparation amendment represents the kind of targeted, community-responsive governance that local committees can provide — understanding specific geographic and infrastructure constraints while balancing rural character preservation with economic opportunity. As the legislation moves toward public hearing and final consideration, it carries the unanimous support of the committee that will shepherd it through the process.

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** WHA-CON-PDV-2026-01-13 ### 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 | ### Background Context Lummi Island faces unique challenges as a rural community accessible only by ferry service. The island lacks typical commercial infrastructure like grocery stores and restaurants, making it difficult for residents to access fresh food and for local food entrepreneurs to operate businesses. The Gathering Place was built in 2023 as a community center with a commercial-grade kitchen, but current zoning only allows food preparation for on-site consumption at community center events. Local residents have been asking for expanded food preparation options to support island-based food businesses and reduce the need to travel to the mainland for commercial kitchen access. The island's septic-only wastewater system creates additional challenges for commercial food operations, but The Gathering Place has a modern septic system designed to handle commercial kitchen use. ### What Happened — The Short Version The committee started by electing new leadership. Both Ben Elenbaas and Jessica Rienstra nominated themselves for chair. Rienstra won the vote 5-2 and became the new committee chair. The committee then appointed both Elenbaas and Galloway as vice chairs. The main business item was a discussion of a proposed code change for Lummi Island. Planning staff member Lucas Clark explained that the code amendment would allow The Gathering Place community center to use its kitchen for off-site food preparation as a conditional use. This would let food trucks, restaurants, or local food entrepreneurs rent the kitchen space to prepare food for sale elsewhere on the island. Clark explained that the island's lack of public sewer service normally makes commercial kitchens difficult, but The Gathering Place has a modern septic system that can handle the additional use. Council member Scanlon thanked staff for the work and noted that many island residents have been asking for this change to support local food businesses. ### What to Watch Next - The ordinance will be introduced at the full County Council meeting following this committee discussion - A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for two weeks after the introduction - The Planning Commission will also review the proposal as part of the standard process for zoning amendments ---

## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Meeting ID:** WHA-CON-PDV-2026-01-13 **Q:** Who was elected as Chair of the Planning and Development Committee? **A:** Jessica Rienstra was elected Chair by a vote of 5-2, defeating Ben Elenbaas. **Q:** How many Vice Chairs were appointed to the committee? **A:** Two Vice Chairs were appointed: Ben Elenbaas and Kaylee Galloway. **Q:** What is the Rural Residential Island (RRI) zoning district? **A:** RRI is the zoning designation for Lummi Island, designed to preserve the island's rural character while allowing limited development. **Q:** What specific code change is being proposed for Lummi Island? **A:** The proposal would allow food preparation for off-site consumption as a conditional use when located within an approved community center. **Q:** What is The Gathering Place? **A:** The Gathering Place is a community center on Lummi Island completed in 2023 that currently hosts community events and prepares meals-on-wheels. **Q:** Why is commercial food preparation challenging on Lummi Island? **A:** The island lacks public sewer service and relies on septic systems, which are typically stressed by high-volume commercial food operations. **Q:** How do people access Lummi Island? **A:** Ferry service is the only way to reach Lummi Island, creating geographic barriers to typical commercial services. **Q:** Who presented the staff report on the code amendment? **A:** Lucas Clark from Whatcom County Planning and Development Services presented the staff report. **Q:** What current food preparation does The Gathering Place already do? **A:** They currently use the kitchen for on-site community center events and for preparing meals-on-wheels for residents. **Q:** Why does The Gathering Place have an advantage over other potential commercial kitchens on the island? **A:** The Gathering Place has a new, modern septic system specifically designed to support commercial kitchen use. **Q:** What type of businesses would benefit from this code change? **A:** Local food trucks, restaurants, and home-based food entrepreneurs who currently travel to Bellingham or Ferndale for commercial kitchen access. **Q:** What is the next step in the approval process? **A:** The ordinance will be introduced at the full County Council meeting, followed by a public hearing in two weeks. **Q:** Which council member specifically thanked staff for work on this proposal? **A:** Council member Jon Scanlon thanked Lucas Clark and noted that many island residents have been asking for this change. **Q:** What makes this a "minor" code amendment? **A:** It applies to a specific geographic area (Lummi Island only) and adds one conditional use to an existing zoning district. **Q:** What was unique about this committee meeting structure? **A:** This was the first meeting with the new 7-member committee structure, with all council members serving on the Planning and Development Committee. ---