Environment Chapter

The Environment goal of GMA (RCW 36.70A.020(10)) was amended in 2023 to require the enhancement of the environment, not just protection. We do not see anything in your November 2024 Environment Chapter Update Summary that indicates the measures you propose to enhance the environment in Bellingham.

Answers to some of our questions are often found in the environmental review of proposed plans, where the public and decision-makers can see “one or more alternative means of accomplishing that goal {GMA Update] and the environmental effect can be meaningfully evaluated.” (WAC 197-11-784) The project timeline does not include any reference to when you will comply with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The growth alternatives in the Whatcom County Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle miles traveled, fish and wildlife corridors should be available before you move forward with many elements of your plan.

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Hello. Thank you for your commitment to the natural environment of Bellingham, and for providing this opportunity to provide input. The following excerpts from the Environment Chapter's Update to the Bellingham Plan are of particular importance to my wife and I, our family and friends.

"....a healthy natural environment is a major strength of Bellingham...."
"We care about trees...[they need to be honored and respected] to be balanced with growth and increased density."

"Balance natural resources with development – speaks to importance of balancing competing interests...."

"Promote native plants" [Preserving existing, healthy, flourishing old-growth trees certainly qualifies as promoting native plants (e.g. The trees at Lat: 48.745535 Lon: -122.460902)].

"Stewardship"
"Environmental equity."
"....minimize environmental burdens...."
"Consider the environmental...value of trees; encourage tree preservation...." [a good place to interject something "big missing" which is including for consideration the already-threatened habitat for the animal wildlife of our fair city; they are so dependent on the existing ecosystems that are ever-dwindling]

"Promote urban tree canopy."
"Outdoor air quality."

Thank you.

The Human Health objective is tightly tied to existence of tree canopy. Street trees as they are being planted now are not meeting any of these objectives, because the species are to small, and will never provide the kind of benefits we are looking for - an example is downtown with the street lined with Sycamore trees, and then the area of Holly St uphill from State St. There are trees there but they are providing no benefit. Substantial tree rules that use metrics such as the 3-30-300 rule can help avoid outcomes that do not map to our values and policy statements.

I love this part of the new Bellingham Comprehensive Plan. You have put a great deal of thought into this lan and this part is the best. I see most people agree. As a child, it was thrilling to watch the salmon negotiating the fish ladder under the Guide near Cornwall Park as Squalicum Creek flowed underneath. I applauded your efforts as well as the state’s to increase salmon populations by improving culverts and other fish passages.

Please spare the large deciduous trees near the current Carl Cozier school. These lend magnificent shade to an area with so much concrete and asphalt. What s great location for picnics and story time.

Please keep the digesters and acid ball. They are a big part of Bellingham’s industrial history. As someone who worked there for a few years thus enabling me to fund my college education, I would like then to remain. Seattle has its Gasworks Park, we have the remnants of GP.

Yes, to everything outlined in the Environment chapter. Honestly, I’d love to see a car-free downtown (bring back the trolley on Railroad Ave!) as much as possible, coinciding with an increase in trees, native plants, and downtown nature parklets. It would also be lovely if we could remove the last vestiges of the old GP plant (digesters? Acid ball? Really?) and convert that area into a public mixed-use space with waterfront views and access (maybe a Coast Salish museum? A PNW native plant park? For a city surrounded by water, it sure has a limited number of places to get near the water!

Focusing population growth in the City of Bellingham will reduce the potential for sprawl into the rural areas. By allocating the majority of population growth to the City we can reduce the carbon footprint associated with driving into town for work, housing incursions into flood prone areas, ag lands, resource lands and open spaces throughout the county.