FAIRHAVEN COMPREHENSIVE IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE
Under Washington State law one of the duties of a port district is to adopt a Comprehensive Improvement Plan, formally called a Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements, before creating any improvements. The current Fairhaven Comprehensive Improvement Plan was adopted in 1991 and nearly all of the objectives from that plan have been accomplished. In addition, this update to the Fairhaven Comprehensive Improvement Plan will also take into consideration the 2004 Waterfront Futures Group Vision & Framework Plan and the City of Bellingham’s 2006 proposed changes to its Shoreline Master Program regulations.
The Port’s holdings in Fairhaven include approximately 33 acres of fee simple owned land and approximately 65 acres of State owned tidelands under Port of Bellingham management authority. Port facilities in Fairhaven consist of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, Fairhaven Station, Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park, a shipyard, a fish processing facility, distribution and warehousing facilities, Marine Park, a public boat launch and associated parking areas.
A community goal-setting meeting was held on Monday, October 23, 2006 at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Avenue, to hear public comments about the improvements the public would like the port to consider in this update. The meeting launched the very beginning of the planning effort and included a brief presentation about the planning process and the Fairhaven properties. As the Port’s property in Fairhaven continues through the planning process an appreciation and balance of history, culture, public access, environmental restoration and a dynamic waterfront economy will continue to be priorities.
While most of the property is already developed, the updated Fairhaven Comprehensive Improvement Plan will guide future developements and capital improvements, as well as, strive to improve connections both physically and visually between the core of Fairhaven and the waterfront.
