Community Wellbeing

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See our new Community Wellbeing chapter updates and provide feedback.

Community Wellbeing: Proposed new chapter in the plan

This topic is a proposed addition to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, to be included in the updated Bellingham Plan. Feedback from the public in 2023 and 2024 identified several themes related to the wellbeing of the community.

While many of these themes exist in the 2016 plan, their importance has only increased in 2023 outreach responses. They promote a safe, healthy, and supported community. This is a key priority for Bellingham. Community members have continually emphasized the importance of human or community services, general wellness, public health, food systems, community safety, and feeling welcomed in a diverse community.

What changes will happen in the Bellingham Plan?

You will see a new chapter in the draft Bellingham Plan material representing this topic. It will include the following:

1) A consolidation of existing goals and policies from the 2016 Comprehensive Plan that relate to community wellbeing and are still relevant. For example, we have a number of existing policies about healthy food access that will move to this new chapter.

2) New policies that reflect feedback we are hearing about this topic. For example, we want the Bellingham Plan to reflect the values and priorities of the community, such as community cohesion.

3) New policies that reflect work the City is already doing to support community wellbeing initiatives.

Related Past Events:

The topic of community wellbeing was touched on at our initial “Community Vision” session as we explored what safety means to community members. We dove into the wellbeing topic in much greater detail at the “Vibrant, Equitable, and Welcoming Community” event, where we discussed how our community can be more welcoming, healthy, and lively. This event touched on diversity, arts, culture, food systems and more.

See our new Community Wellbeing chapter updates and provide feedback.

Community Wellbeing: Proposed new chapter in the plan

This topic is a proposed addition to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, to be included in the updated Bellingham Plan. Feedback from the public in 2023 and 2024 identified several themes related to the wellbeing of the community.

While many of these themes exist in the 2016 plan, their importance has only increased in 2023 outreach responses. They promote a safe, healthy, and supported community. This is a key priority for Bellingham. Community members have continually emphasized the importance of human or community services, general wellness, public health, food systems, community safety, and feeling welcomed in a diverse community.

What changes will happen in the Bellingham Plan?

You will see a new chapter in the draft Bellingham Plan material representing this topic. It will include the following:

1) A consolidation of existing goals and policies from the 2016 Comprehensive Plan that relate to community wellbeing and are still relevant. For example, we have a number of existing policies about healthy food access that will move to this new chapter.

2) New policies that reflect feedback we are hearing about this topic. For example, we want the Bellingham Plan to reflect the values and priorities of the community, such as community cohesion.

3) New policies that reflect work the City is already doing to support community wellbeing initiatives.

Related Past Events:

The topic of community wellbeing was touched on at our initial “Community Vision” session as we explored what safety means to community members. We dove into the wellbeing topic in much greater detail at the “Vibrant, Equitable, and Welcoming Community” event, where we discussed how our community can be more welcoming, healthy, and lively. This event touched on diversity, arts, culture, food systems and more.

Your Safety Story

Safety is a common theme in our Phase 1 feedback. What does safety mean to you? In what context don't you feel safe in Bellingham? What causes you to feel that way?

You will be prompted to provide an anonymous screen name and email (not verified). All stories will be moderated to ensure compliance with Engage Bellingham's moderation policy and then posted to this page. If you want to share your story, but do not want it posted publicly, please feel free to email us at thebellinghamplan@cob.org. If you do not see your story posted, it may be due to moderation compliance or relevance to the topic. Please reach out to us if you have any questions.

We look forward to hearing from you!

The views and opinions expressed in the stories below are those of the storyteller and do not represent the views and opinions of the City of Bellingham. Information found below may not be factual.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.

All stories will be moderated to ensure compliance with Engage Bellingham's moderation policy and then posted to this page.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at TheBellinghamPlan@cob.org

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Safety and Homeless on Facebook Share Safety and Homeless on Twitter Share Safety and Homeless on Linkedin Email Safety and Homeless link

    Safety and Homeless

    by Nusia, about 2 months ago

    I have two thoughts today.

    The first is about Holly St. Thanks to those who listened to me and moved the street side of the restaurant off the road and made the left turn lane available. But the other changes are just bad. Take the top of the road for example: the parking is up next the curb and the bike lane is clearly visible since it is on the 'outside'. At the bottom of the street, it is behind cars and potential cyclists are simply not visible! If a car needs to turn right, it is a huge... Continue reading

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    Thoughtful Solutions that Help Homeless People and Keep Our Community Safe and Clean

    by Bobarino, 8 months ago

    It use to be I could go anywhere in Bellingham and feel safe. Now there are places where I perceive a lesser degree of safety. The recent article in the Bham Herald reveals some of the safety issues of concern as they relate to the Homeless Camp by Walmart. Certainly this is on private property and the city is trying to do something about it, as it appears. However, I don't understand why we as a city don't immediately respond to illegal encampments. It seems we allow people to set up a tent here or there and we don't respond... Continue reading

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    Pedestrian Safety

    by NatureRocks, 8 months ago
    Pedestrian safety is two fold for me. I love to walk places but never do so when it's dark out. It's not necessarily the houseless that make me afraid. It's just people in general. You can't trust anyone these days not to jump you. I'd feel safer if there was more light on sidewalks. Even just walking along Old Fairhaven Dr while there are some lights, it's not very lit. I think having the police call stations like they have on campus, around town could also be helpful.

    The other side of that is physical safety crossing the roads and... Continue reading

  • Share Pedestrian and bicyclist safety on Facebook Share Pedestrian and bicyclist safety on Twitter Share Pedestrian and bicyclist safety on Linkedin Email Pedestrian and bicyclist safety link

    Pedestrian and bicyclist safety

    by K D, 8 months ago

    I would like to see Bellingham be much safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Physical dividers on bike lanes, intuitive crosswalks that stop traffic instead of just confusing many drivers, and more. Making our streets safer for non-motorized traffic will motivate more people not to drive, which is better for congestion and safety.

  • Share Safety on Facebook Share Safety on Twitter Share Safety on Linkedin Email Safety link

    Safety

    by BhamBornAndRaised, 8 months ago

    Safety:

    -I feel safe when I can walk and run through town parks anytime day or night without the worry of who is living in the bushes or sleeping on the sidewalk.

    -I feel safe when there is a low risk of car break ins when parked around town.

    -I feel safe when there is protection and support for business owners in downtown from lawless actors.

    -I don’t feel safe when I know the homeless do not have a number of different options for housing and support.


    -I don’t feel safe when Bellingham doesn’t have clean streets and business districts.

    ... Continue reading

  • Share Safety on our roads on Facebook Share Safety on our roads on Twitter Share Safety on our roads on Linkedin Email Safety on our roads link

    Safety on our roads

    by DV, 8 months ago

    Progress and growth of a small town can bring both positives and negatives. Discovering Bellingham for the first time in 2003 while visiting WWU with our son, we found ourselves drawn to the lifestyle of a city of 60,000 people. The pace of life and feeling safety in a small community convinced us to purchase our home here.

    Returning in 2014 after retiring from a career that includes living in various international communities, we were amazed and somewhat disappointed to see what growth had brought with it.
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  • Share What safety means to us. on Facebook Share What safety means to us. on Twitter Share What safety means to us. on Linkedin Email What safety means to us. link

    What safety means to us.

    by J, 8 months ago
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    2. Employees... Continue reading

  • Share Possible crosswalk on Facebook Share Possible crosswalk on Twitter Share Possible crosswalk on Linkedin Email Possible crosswalk link

    Possible crosswalk

    by mylamuss, 8 months ago
    I live in Festival Square, a 55+ condo complex. Many homeowners cross Stuart at this intersection to walk their dogs in the field. About three years ago I contacted Hannah Stone asking how we could get a crosswalk at this location. Her advice was to contact public works. When I emailed them the response was that I needed to have 60% of the homeowners sign a petition for it to be considered. I let it drop because I felt that it wasn't my responsibility to do this.


    This is a dangerous intersection because of the amount of traffic and the... Continue reading

  • Share Safety on two wheels on Facebook Share Safety on two wheels on Twitter Share Safety on two wheels on Linkedin Email Safety on two wheels link

    Safety on two wheels

    by Katie_Harris, 9 months ago
    The place where I feel least safe in Bellingham is riding my bike. I want to use my bike for transportation because it aligns with my personal environmental values, and it helps my city by not contributing to pollution, reducing the need for parking, and so much more. I appreciate the work that Bellingham has done with bike infrastructure, and we need more. I’d like to see a connected network of protected bike lanes throughout Bellingham so that people of all ages and abilities see biking as a valid transportation choice. Riding with cars is a choice only a few... Continue reading
Page last updated: 04 Nov 2024, 02:59 PM