Potential Sudden Valley land sale would widen protected watershed at Lake Whatcom
Sudden Valley Community Association officials have been in discussions recently with the city of Bellingham about selling three pieces of property in the Lake Whatcom watershed to protect them from further development.
Sudden Valley is a community of about 6,000 people and 3,000 homes on 8 square miles on the south shore of Lake Whatcom, according to the 2020 census and its update, the 2024 American Community Survey. It’s about 8 miles east of downtown Bellingham.
A member of the homeowners association’s Long-Range Planning Committee brought a proposal to the community association’s governing board of directors on June 11. The board voted 6-1 to move forward, asking the association’s general manager to continue talks with Bellingham officials.
Sites under consideration for sale include:
- A site known as Area Y, consisting of 43.88 steep and forested acres on the southwest intersection of Lake Louise Road and Lake Whatcom Boulevard valued at $178,560.
- A former campground on 34.35 acres located on the north side of Lake Louise Road, west of the entrance to Gate 13, valued at $280,450. It’s being used as a disc golf course known as Mossy Roc.
- An unused airstrip on 21.63 acres located off Older Avenue and near a waterfront seaplane base, valued at $351,906.
According to documents provided for the June 11 meeting, if Bellingham officials move forward with the purchase, they would pay for appraisals and make an offer of 85% to 96% of the land’s fair market value. Trail access and current recreational activities would continue to be allowed if the land is sold, according to the meeting agenda.
Sudden Valley could also enter into a conservation easement, where the community association retains title to the land, but further development would be prohibited. Such easements usually offer property tax advantages for the landowner.
Bellingham officials can’t discuss details of the talks, Public Works Department spokeswoman Stefanie Cilinceon told The Bellingham Herald.
“The city is not able to comment on potential property acquisitions until the City Council approves the acquisition in an open public meeting. We are happy to provide more information about an acquisition once it has been publicly approved by council,” Cilinceon said.
Such land acquisitions normally involve private sellers or corporations and aren’t discussed openly in advance.
Purchases of land in the watershed are part of the city’s Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition and Preservation Program, which has bought 3,680 acres of land since 2001 through a surcharge on residential utility bills.
Lake Whatcom is the drinking water source for about 100,000 people in Bellingham and surrounding areas, including Sudden Valley, whose residents are served by the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District.
