Land Use
See our latest Land Use chapter updates and provide feedback.
Land Use: Existing chapter
The Bellingham Plan's land use section will guide how land in Bellingham can be used in the future. It determines the activities that are best for different areas as the city grows. The Land Use chapter is an important part of the Growth Management Act (GMA). The GMA makes cities show how they will ensure land is appropriately zoned for uses that can support 20 years of community growth.
What changes will happen in the Bellingham Plan?
A key portion of the Comprehensive Plan update will focus on changing the City’s land use map, which guides zoning across the city. Updates to the map will be informed by the 2022 Buildable Lands Report, which evaluated growth from 2016 to 2021 and provided assessments on how well the current plan’s policies are working. The land use update will also include an analysis of existing capacity, updates to the land use map, and a demonstration of how the new map can handle growth over the next 20 years (through 2045). It is likely that the new 2045 allocations will require changes to the land use map. This is to make sure we have enough space for expected jobs and housing. These changes will accommodate population growth across all economic and social ranges.
Watch this 3-minute video about the ways Bellingham could grow!
While all events contributed to our proposed land use chapter updates, the following sessions related most directly. The “Community Vision” event set the stage for conversations about how we want our City to grow in the next 20 years, and what kind of land uses will be allowed where. The “Housing Affordability” session included opportunities to talk about what housing types are needed as we plan for housing needs across the city. The open houses concluded with a final session, “How We Will Grow,” which focused on different ways we can grow to accommodate a range of land uses and changing housing needs.
- Community Vision – February 22, 2024
- Housing Affordability – April 16, 2024
- How We Will Grow – July 17, 2024
Project Priorities
Show us on the map!
What legacies should be left by this project for future generations? Share your "big picture" ideas by placing a pin on the map where you would like to see change. We are looking for high-level ideas for locations around the city. For example, "Bring more mixed uses to this area of town!" or "I would love to see a community event center here!".
If you have a general project priority/legacy that does not have a specific location, use the "General Comment" pin and drop your pin in Bellingham Bay!