Cities to present growth plans to County Council, Planning Commission

JARED PABEN - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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All of the county's seven cities have proposed visions for their growth over the next two decades, and now they'll present their ideas to the County Council and county Planning Commission.

County leaders will hear presentations from the cities and from county staff Tuesday, June 16, before they hold a public hearing on the recommendations a week later.

The plans from each of the cities are recommendations to the County Council, which will make a final decision by Dec. 1 on whether and how to revise each of the urban growth areas. The county is under a state board order to update growth areas to accommodate the next 20 years of residential and business growth.

Following is a summary of growth area change proposals from each city (Birch Bay, Columbia Valley and Cherry Point proposals are from county planners):

- Bellingham: No change to its urban growth area, which totals 23,700 acres.

- Birch Bay: No change, 4,375 acres.

- Blaine: Subtract 2,622 acres of growth area, which currently totals 6,878 acres.

- Cherry Point: No change (this is industrial area only with no residents), 7,000 acres.

- Columbia Valley: Net decrease of 150 acres, currently 1,489 acres.

- Everson: Net decrease of 25 acres, currently 1,462 acres.

- Ferndale: Add 60 acres, currently 7,554 acres.

- Lynden: Add 326 acres, currently 3,805 acres.

- Nooksack: No change, 656 acres.

- Sumas: No change, 1,039 acres.

Note: For cities, acreages above include both inside city limits and unincorporated urban growth area.

ATTEND THE MEETING

What: The County Council and Planning Commission will have a joint meeting to hear presentations from each of the county's cities on proposals for urban growth area updates. This is not a public hearing; no public comment will be accepted.

When: 4 to 9 p.m.

Order of presentations: Everson at 4 p.m., followed by Nooksack, Sumas, Columbia Valley and Cherry Point. One-hour break set for 6 p.m., followed by Birch Bay, Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden and Bellingham.

Where: County Council Chambers, 311 Grand Ave. in Bellingham.

For more information: Go to Whatcomcounty.us and click on "Whatcom 2031."