Bellingham sets a one-year ban on multi-family construction in this neighborhood
Multi-family construction in the Silver Beach neighborhood is on hold for a year because of concerns that certain kinds of large development could harm the Lake Whatcom watershed.
Bellingham City Council members unanimously approved an emergency ordinance on July 11, restricting permits and applications for multi-family construction in Silver Beach while planning officials study the land use and zoning in four “sub areas” at the west end of the lake.
Blake Lyon, director of the Planning and Community Development Department, told the council that it was necessary to scrutinize zoning in the area and align it with the city’s stated goals to protect the lake, which is the source of drinking water for 100,000 Whatcom County residents.
“We did some zoning work recently for (multi-family) and that allows for in some instances a minimum requirement for development, no maximum densities and — in some cases — excessive heights in that particular area which seems to be in contradiction to some of the goals and policies that we have in the comprehensive plan to protect the watershed around Lake Whatcom,” Lyon said.
Lake Whatcom water is considered safe to drink, but the reservoir is listed as “impaired” under the federal Clean Water Act because of threats from chemicals such as phosphorous, mercury and PCBs.
Because the measure was enacted as an emergency ordinance and took effect immediately, a public hearing is required within 60 days.
During the meeting, Lyon displayed a zoning map that showed the four affected areas in Silver Beach:
▪ A tract just south of Bloedel-Donovan Park.
▪ An area north of Scudder’s Pond.
▪ A narrow strip along Springland Lane west of Britton Road.
▪ Waterfront property south of where Britton Road meets Northshore Drive.
Councilman Michael Lilliquist said city officials could still consider proposals that “make sense with regard to the lake,” even with the moratorium in effect.
“This is not intended to stop development in the watershed, but just to make sure that, while there’s concern about the appropriateness of the current zoning, no new applications vest,” Lilliquist said during the discussion on the topic.
Councilwoman Lisa Anderson praised the “foresight” to reconsider population density in the watershed.
“Now is a good time for us to take a look at this basin and decide what appropriate level of development we want in our watershed, and get this right before we end up faced with an issue,” Anderson said.
This story was originally published July 20, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
