April 20, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact Carolyn Casey: 360-676-2500
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
