BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A pair of ordinances were dealt different fates at Tuesday night’s Whatcom County Council meeting.

Councilmembers voted 5-2 on June 23rd to approve a temporary land use moratorium on the development of new civil detention facilities. Primary ordinance sponsor Jessica Rienstra explained that the pause provides an opportunity to refine land use code that may not be easily defined.

“That gives the county time to evaluate land use that’s not currently defined or specifically regulated under our code, and to determine whether additional zoning standards, citing criteria and mitigation measures are necessary.”

Councilmember Ben Elenbaas voted against the ordinance, in part because he doubted the ordinance’s true intentions.

“One thing that’s been clearly illustrated to me and reinforced by the emails that I’ve received and listening to public comment tonight, that this didn’t have anything to do with Whatcom County land use policy. It had more to do with giving people that agreed with other a great big platform to yell their position.”

Councilmember Mark Stremler was the only other “no” vote for the moratorium, which does not apply to the Whatcom County Jail.

The second public hearing, which involves proposed changes to Whatcom County’s fireworks laws, ended with a motion to move the matter for additional discussion. Councilmembers agreed to speak with other communities that implement their own rules for fireworks purchase and use to determine the best path forward.