February 8, 2010
Addendum to the Environmental Impact Statement
The Port of Bellingham issued an Addendum to the Environmental Impact Statement for The Waterfront District redevelopment project on Feb. 8, 2010. To view the document click here.
December 15, 2009
Final Adaptive Reuse Assessment for 11 Waterfront Structures
The Port and City received a final report assessing the potential for preservation and adaptive reuse of eleven structures in The Waterfront District. This assessment includes consideration of historic resources, cost of construction, market feasibility and compatibility with other planning objectives for The Waterfront District. To read the report, click here.
July 7, 2009
Port Commission and City Council Approve Next Steps
Both the Port Commission and the City Council, in separate meetings, approved the next steps of The Waterfront District planning effort.
The Port Commission meeting was on July 7 and the City Council meeting was on June 29. Both governments executed the 6th Supplemental Agreement (link to document) to the Interlocal Agreement, which is a comprehensive agreement that describes how the two governments will work together on the planning and redevelopment of the 220 acre waterfront property alongside Downtown Bellingham.
The latest supplemental agreement provides funding to complete work on the key planning documents and to share the cost of that work equally. This includes completion of the Master Plan, the supplemental and final Environmental Impact Statement, a site-wide storm plan and a study of the adaptive reuse potential of the existing buildings. The Port's 50% share of this work is $332,500. The money for this work already was in the 2009 waterfront budget, but the new agreement moved the money into specific project areas.
The Commission and Council also approved a set of Planning Assumptions that serve as the basis for developing the final planning documents.
6th Supplemental Interlocal Agreement - Adopted
Waterfront Planning Assumptions - Adopted
Waterfront Framework Planning Map - Adopted
Port Commission and City Council Move Forward on Waterfront Planning
April 20, 2009 The Bellingham City Council and Port Commission voted to move forward on joint waterfront planning efforts today. In a joint meeting on April 20, 2009, the two governing bodies voted to adopt the proposed Planning Framework and Planning Assumptions as a basis to move the waterfront redevelopment master planning process forward for further development and public review, including referral to the Waterfront Advisory Group. 
They also agreed that final decisions will be made only after publication of the final Environmental Impact Statement. A joint public information session on the Planning Framework and Planning Assumptions will be at 6:30 p.m., April 29, at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal 355 Harris Avenue in Fairhaven. In addition to the staff presentation, there will be opportunities for people to ask questions and share ideas.
The Waterfront Advisory Committee also will review these planning documents at its regular meeting on May 13.
In March 2009, the Bellingham City Council and Port of Bellingham's Board of Commissioners were presented a report by a group of local volunteer architects regarding waterfront redevelopment concepts. Since that time, City, Port, Western Washington University, members of the local volunteer architect group, and others have discussed priorities and options that would support finalizing a waterfront master planning process.
At the April 20 meeting, Port and City staff presented their recommendations with a planning framework that identified key arterials, full-development parks and view corridors. This framework will be used to restart the master planning effort. It is anticpated that the Port Commission and City Council will have another joint meeting later this spring to approve the next steps toward creation of a master plan, development regulations, development phasing and completion of an environmental impact statement.
April 20 2009 Joint Port City Waterfront Framework Presentation
April 20, 2009 Approved Port City Waterfront Framework Planning Assumptions
April 20, 2009 Adopted Port City Waterfront Planning Framework Map
Latest Waterfront Redevelopment Plans & Reports
Architect Report March 2009 Architect Presentation March 2009
Build Bellingham Federal Stimulus Proposal: December 2008
City's Comment Letter to the Port on the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement
The Proposal: The Port's Preferred Alternative for site redevelopment - published June 10, 2008
Updated Road Grid Cost Comparison Charts- published October 2008
Port Commission Waterfront Update Presentation - Oct. 7, 2008
Waterfront Advisory Group Development Planning Update - Oct. 8, 2008
The Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement - published Oct. 14, 2008
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement - published January 2008
Public Comment Summary Report
Waterfront Redevelopment Latest News Updates
The Port has been adding regular updates to this site as the planning and development process moves forward. Check often for updates: click here.
Click here to read the latest Bellingham Herald news articles on The Waterfront District.
Visit The Waterfront District real estate development website.
