May, 7, 2008
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Developing Highlands would be a crime
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THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
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Several years ago, I foolishly lectured a Bellingham City Council member about not developing the Fairhaven Highlands property (aka Chuckanut Ridge). Very quickly I was on the receiving end of a succinct but thorough tutorial on local power politics. The council member took no position but did suggest that development appeared likely.
Last year, I frequently walked along the edge of the property’s wetlands on the Interurban Trail. One sun-bright autumn afternoon, I gazed west over the marsh pond at sunset. My senses were dazzled into focus.
Just then, I wondered how many times a person should listen to Bach’s Brandenburg concertos in a lifetime. And, of course, how many times should one listen to and see wetlands and forests at sunset?
According to the dominant paradigm, all underdeveloped “infill” properties within the city limits are of essentially equal intrinsic worth. This mindset unequivocally dictates bringing in the bulldozers and developing the Fairhaven Highlands. So now is the time to take care. Our community is confronting the incremental disaster of urban sprawl. In the process, let us not commit a crime against nature (which includes us all) on the way to doing the right thing.
Jim Kent
Bellingham
