Housing Chapter

Removed by moderator.

I appreacite the work the city has done on this area. Thank you.

I would like to see Bellingham put more of a focus on "for purchase" homes in the city.

I do not like seeing the city of Bellingham putting so much into building big blocky apartment buildings. I would like to see the city focus more on encouraging developers to build 1000sqft homes on 2,500 sqft lots. These will naturally be more affordable and they can create denser neighborhoods which helps transit, public infrastructure, and lessons the impact on the environment.

I worry about the destruction of the green space. Wildlife, ecosystem, etc., to build some of these bigger units. I hope the city is thoughtful about trying to maintain these important elements in their plans for expansion.

I would like to see existing neighborhoods remain single family. I don’t agree with tearing down current housing to build multiple units. Having a variety of housing types should also include single family homes with larger yards.

The proposals for increased variety of housing allowed are a solid start. Bellingham's housing affordability problem is a housing supply shortage problem and self-inflicted by city and state policies. Continue the momentum on loosening restrictions by examining what other zoning and growth management regulations can be relaxed, reducing high permit fees charged by the city for impact fees, reducing property taxes which increase housing and rental costs, relaxing requirements for low-income housing in larger projects--because any increase in housing improves affordability and low-income mandates disincentivize building, streamlining and minimizing project approval requirements and processes, and eliminating rent control ordinances as rent control reduces housing supply by disincentivizing builders and landlords and thereby decreases affordability.