📋 Committee Meeting
Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee
← Back to All Meetings
Meeting Summary
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.
Study Guide
## 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
---