Housing Chapter
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Chapter Summary Released | Updated Plan Material Released | Open for Online Commenting Below | Planning Commission Discussion Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| | February 20 - March 20 >> See meeting materials and draft policies >> See February 20 Meeting Recording/Presentation (pdf) >> See March 20 Meeting Recording/Presentation (pdf) |
Each package of material for Planning Commission includes draft goals and policies. View the Planning Commission packets for details.
What's on this page?
Here you will find material for the existing Housing chapter of the Comprehensive Plan.
- We recommend viewing the Housing Chapter overview from Planning Commission before diving into the slides below.
- The most recent chapter material is featured in the embedded slides. You can comment on them at the bottom of this page. Commenting is open through February 27, 2025.
- You can view older material below that, but we are no longer considering comments from them.
A quick note about the slides
If you click to view them in full screen, you will be taken to a new window that does not include an option to comment and will need to come back to this page to leave a comment.
View the above Housing slides as a pdf.
View the November 2024 Chapter Summary.
Accessible versions available upon request.
Page last updated: 25 Mar 2025, 07:22 AM
High up on the list is to encourage homeownership opportunities. How can we create ownership for those in the 30-50% AMI bracket? Code should be revised to allow for co-housing development without the current restrictions of minimum lot size and minimum number of units. Acquisition of a parcel large enough to meet the minimum requirements is cost prohibitive as land values increase.
I would like to see tiny home/park model home villages added to the list of affordable housing
The ultra-expensive tiny home community on South Lake Whatcom is formidable for most
Co-housing communities with a shared kitchen/common room are currently privatized, but could provide very reasonable options for the city if well-designed/managed
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.